#16
AIR KENYA
THE AIR KENYA EXPERIENCE
Air Kenya is a reputable safari airline in East Africa with nearly 20 years of experience of flying passengers around the region’s world-famous destinations – from the wildlife wonderlands of Masai Mara and Serengeti to the mountainous home of gorillas Bwindi.
Based at Nairobi’s legendary Wilson Airport – as Air Kenya Express – Air Kenya provides both scheduled and charter services in collaboration with its subsidiary airlines, Regional Air Services in Tanzania and Aerolink in Uganda.
Recognised as a designated carrier by the Kenyan Government, the airline is also authorised to fly the length of Africa—from Egypt in the north to Zimbabwe in the south—as a COMESA-approved operator. COMESA is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African states. A number of important destinations where Air Kenya flies to are now described in the following paragraphs.
Main Routes
Masai Mara
A destination Air Kenya flies to four times a day, it is Kenya’s most famous and visited game reserve. It offers breath-taking views and an extraordinary density of wildlife such as the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Masai Mara is the celebrated site of the Great Migration. Every year, from June to October, over two million Wildebeests and thousands of zebras and antelopes swarm the now verdant plains of Mara in search of fresh new grass after the rains. Their dramatic river crossings with predators in their wake go beyond what visitors view in National Geographic channels. Game viewing is excellent year-round. So is birding.
Serengeti
You cannot think of the Masai Mara without Serengeti coming into play. A partner in the annual migration, Serengeti is Tanzania’s most visited Park offering a fiesta of wildlife sightings right from the onset. Despite its sheer size, it is renowned for its abundance of predators.
For bird watchers, the prolific birdlife in the quiet plains is an experience you cannot forget. Take breakfast in the Masai Mara and hop into one of Air Kenya’s daily flights to enjoy your lunch at the Serengeti.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Home to half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, Bwindi offers an experience you are unlikely to forget. Although the Park, situated in southwest Uganda, is most famous for mountain gorillas, it is also home to chimpanzees, mountain elephants and unique birdlife. Take your breakfast in the Masai Mara and hop on one of Air Kenya’s daily flights for lunch at one of the lodges in Bwindi National reserve.
Amboseli
Amboseli is famous for its breath-taking scenery of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain. The Park is also well-endowed with elephants and other wildlife like giraffes. Birdlife is abundant, especially on the shallow lakes and swamps where waterbirds are in plenty. The Madagascar Squacco Heron shows up at intervals while the long-toed lapwing is resident in small numbers.
Catch one of Air Kenya’s daily flights to experience the natural diversity and overwhelming beauty of Amboseli.
Samburu
Samburu is a magical haven in Kenya’s northern frontier. Its wildlife includes several species unique to the region known as the Samburu Special Five – Beisa oryx, Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk and the blue shanked Somali ostrich. The reserve is also home to the Big Cats, buffaloes, elephants, olive baboons, waterbucks, and plenty of birdlife. Samburu and its neighbouring Buffalo Springs have recorded over 400 species of birds.
The Samburu landscape is a blend of rugged hills and a mix of woodland, grassland and riverine forest. At sunset, Doum palms form breath-taking silhouettes against the red and gold-streaked sky. Enjoy this and more with Air Kenya’s daily flights to Samburu.
Meru
Meru National Park is wild and beautiful. It straddles the equator, bisected by 13 rivers and numerous mountain-fed streams. Its diverse scenery ranges from woodlands at 3,400ft (1,036m) on the slopes of the Nyambeni Mountain Range, northeast of Mt Kenya, to wide open plains with meandering riverbanks dotted with doum palms.
The National Park is most famous for its association with the legendary Joy Adamson of the Born Free fame. It boasts some of the best sightings for big cats, the endangered black rhinos, elephants, oryxes, and different antelopes such as the rare Lesser kudu and duiker. Dik-diks, one of the smallest antelopes in Africa, are a common sight.
Meru offers unparalleled adventure—fishing, bird walking, biking, hiking, boat rides and rafting. With Air Kenya’s daily flights, indulge in this exhilarating experience.
Lewa Downs/Laikipia
Wild and sparsely populated, Laikipia is the gateway to Kenya’s Northern frontier. Many of the large privately owned ranches that occupy this spectacular region have guesthouses, homestays and private camps.
Lewa Downs is a privately owned ranch of 16,000 hectares converted into a wildlife conservancy. Today, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is the home ground to conservation efforts of several endangered wildlife species – from Black and White Rhino breeding to translocations, rescue and treatment of injured wildlife. Ranching activities are still maintained and the ranch is now divided equally between cattle ranching and tourism, with profits going to the local Samburu community. Board one of Air Kenya’s daily flights to explore the wonders of the Laikipia wilderness.
Nanyuki / Lewa Downs / Loisaba
Set against the backdrop of Mt Kenya, the Laikipia plateau extends over 9500 sq. km of semi-arid plains, dramatic gorges and acacia-thicket-covered hills. This patchwork of privately owned ranches, wildlife conservancies and small-scale farms has become one of the most important areas for biodiversity in the country, boasting wildlife densities second only to those found in the Masai Mara. It is also the last refuge of Kenya’s African wild dogs and the location of some of the most effective conservation work in the country. These vast plains are home to some of Kenya’s highest populations of endangered species, including half of the country’s black rhinos and half of the world’s Grevy’s zebras.
Nanyuki serves as a gateway to the Laikipia plateau, one of Africa’s most important wildlife conservation areas. Despite being a market town, it is probably the most cosmopolitan city in the area outside of Nairobi, with its share of international tourists, British Army soldiers (there is a training facility nearby) and Kenyan Air Force pilots (this is the site of the country’s main air-force base).
Lewa Downs is a stunning valley set in the middle of the Laikipia Plateau, deserving a special mention, as it features probably the second-best game viewing in Kenya. It was initially a 16,000-hectare ranch that was turned into a wildlife conservancy whose efforts span conservation of endangered wildlife such as black rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, elephants, lions, giraffes, and wild dogs among other wildlife. It is also home to more than 400 species of birds. As it is private land and not a national park, the added benefit is that the wildlife-watching experience is enhanced with walking safaris, night game drives, horse and camel rides. It offers a great alternative or complement to a safari in the Mara.
Another of its attraction is the Lewa Marathon, its flagship event held annually to raise funds for numerous community development and wildlife conservation efforts. Since its inception in 2000, the endurance race has become widely known for its difficult terrain and harsh climate, drawing competitors and spectators from all over the world.
Loisaba is a 57,000-acre wildlife conservancy located in Laikipia. With abundant wildlife, exquisite accommodation and adventurous activities, Loisaba promise ‘to revive your mind, rejuvenate your body and revitalize your soul’.
Core Values
At Air Kenya, flight and ground safety are paramount. It is Air Kenya’s policy that all employees participate in and adhere to the Flight Safety Program, which supports the firm’s continuous efforts to improve on safety levels and enhance the management of risk within its structure. This has resulted in an excellent safety record.
All Air Kenya pilots and engineers are trained by Flight Safety International and stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world, with continuous refresher and simulator training. When you step aboard an Air Kenya aircraft, you know you are in good hands.
The Fleet
Bombardier DHC 8-202 also known as Dash 8
The DHC 8-202 is a classic turboprop, first manufactured by de Havilland Canada, modelled after the Dash 7.
De Havilland Canada Dash 7-100
The De Havilland DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a regional aircraft built to service short-haul travel.
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a regional aircraft that can operate nearly anywhere.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Emarti Primary School
Air Kenya has been part of this school’s journey for almost a decade during which it has been transformed from basic tin-panel structures to a modern eight-classroom facility.
Taekwondo Waithaka Club
Taekwondo Waithaka Club was founded in 1998 by Master George Mureu to provide children and young adults in this deprived community of Nairobi with a facility where they would learn discipline and self-reliance.
The Samburu Water Project
Air Kenya is delighted to have a role in the work of The Samburu Project to transform the lives of women and girls in this remote region of Kenya by providing clean sources of water.
SERVICES
Scheduled Services
AirKenya prides itself on being the pioneer in Kenya’s safari airlines’ industry. Air Kenya offers daily scheduled services to 10 destinations in Kenya, including Amboseli, Kilimanjaro, Lewa, Loisaba, Masai Mara, Meru, Migori, Nanyuki, Samburu, Kisumu and Entebbe.
The destinations Air Kenya fly into gives one an expansive choice when it comes to circuit itineraries, for example from all the northern destinations (Lewa, Loisaba, Meru, Samburu, Nanyuki) you can go into the Mara with a direct scheduled flight, from Amboseli via Wilson, you can fly to the northern destinations of Kenya then end up in the Mara. Most of the morning scheduled services will connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport where one can continue to explore Tanzania.
Air Kenya’s biggest achievement, perhaps, was the expansion of the route network to link up the three East African countries – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. This enables Air Kenya to offer the widest range of connections to and all the region’s attractions. For example, the Masai Mara to Serengeti flights connects you to the destinations of Kenya and Tanzania. You can also begin your journey from Serengeti into the Masai Mara. Air Kenya also introduced flights between the Masai Mara and Entebbe, where you can enjoy both the African savannah experience and the tropical rainforest of Uganda.
Charter Services
Air Kenya’s charter service meets the needs of the clientele who requires private, tailor-made services. Clients whose nature of travel requires more than what the schedule services can offer – from individual needs to incentive groups to high-level corporate requirements.
Air Kenya’s highly trained staff will guide you in selecting a suitable aircraft, taking into account your travel logistics, ground handling, passenger comfort, catering requirements and any other preference or requirement.
Air Kenya’s exclusive passenger terminal has a lounge and a cafe, where food and refreshments are available. There is also a boutique fully stocked with travel items and souvenirs. Clients enjoy free Wi-Fi access and can, therefore, get in touch with their contacts before embarking on their long-awaited safari.
Connecting Flights
Air Kenya flies to Nanyuki, Lewa Downs and Loisaba twice a day. Travellers can connect to Masai Mara directly or to Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) via Wilson Airport from either of these three destinations.
During the low season, these flights can route via Wilson to connect Masai Mara departure at 1400hrs.
Seasons
High:
21st December 2020 – 31st March 2021
1st July 2021 – 31st October 2021
Low:
1st April 2021 – 30th June 2021
1st November 2021 – 20th December 2021
