Heli-safaris; Kenya and beyond...
We can arrange helicopter trips up Mt Kenya, to the numerous conservancies in Laikipia, to the coast, to the Masai Mara, to JKIA International Airport and then further afield in East Africa. Our pilots are happy to discuss options and itineraries with you. There is a hell-pad at the house.
Below costings based on the Airbus H125 Helicopter at 2019 rates
Mt Kenya PER HELI
Total flying time 2.0 hours @ $2,500 per hour = $5,000 (Nett $2,300 per hour = $4,600)
Mt Kenya Landing Fee @ $260
Mt Kenya Park Fees @ $67 per person
This excursion is 2 hours flying time. Often clients like to land on the mountain by Lake Michelson for breakfast and trout fishing. The time on the ground depends on the clients and also the weather. This excursion is done in the early morning with pick up from your lodge at 7:00am to be on the mountain by 7:30am. We do not operate this excursion in the afternoon due to weather conditions and July/August can be difficult with cloud cover.
* PLEASE NOTE WE ONLY ALLOW 4 PAX FOR OUR MT KENYA EXCURSION IF CLIENTS ARE LANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN. Should it only be a scenic flight over the mountain then we can accept 5 pax. This is a strict policy due to safety with landing on the mountain at altitude.
Samburu Scenic Sundowner PER HELI
Total flying time 2.5 hours @ $2,500 per hour = $6,125 (Nett $2,300 per hour = $5,750)
Namanyuk Conservation Fees @ $35 per person
Naitodo Landing Fee @ $100 per helicopter
This excursion is 2.5 hours flying time. A spectacular scenic flight flying North over Samburu National Reserve, famous for its vast elephant herds and the lifeblood of the North the Ewaso Nyiro River -which provides year round water for the people, livestock and wildlife of the arid North. You will then touch down and explore the summit of Ol Lolokwe. A giant flat topped massif sacred to the Samburu people. Its summit has a high altitude mist forest with giant cycads and unusual birdlife including Kenya’s largest nesting colony of Ruppell’s Vultures. You continue your journey on to Naitodo - another iconic granite outcrop, that featured extensively in David Attenborough’s ‘Africa’ series and has 360 degree views over Samburu.
Suguta & Matthews Half Day Trip PER HELI
Total flying time 5.0 hours @ $2,500 per hour = $12,500 Nett $2,300 per hour = $11,500
2 x Remote fuel @ $150 = $300
Optional: Visit to Reteti Orphanage @ $30pp
Mathews Conservation Fees @ $35 per person
This excursion takes 5.0 hours flying time and is our most popular day trip. Again we collect clients at 7:00am before it gets too hot. The flight takes them up the stunning Suguta, Hoodoo and Painted Valleys cutting back down the Ndoto Mountains and Mathews range. Clients will make two or three stops along the way including a picnic stop. There is also an option to land for a walk in the Cycad forest in the Matthews and also visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage.
Suguta, Turkana & Matthews Trip PER HELI
Total flying time 5.5 hours @ $ 2,500 per hour = $13,125 Nett $2,300 per hour = $12,650
Remote fuel = $450
Mathews Conservation Fees @ $35 per person
Optional: Lunch Koros - $87 per person with a minimum of 4 pax
This excursion takes 6.0 hours flying time. We collect clients at 7:00am before it gets too hot. The flight takes them up the stunning Suguta, Hoodoo and Painted Valleys across the Suguta Sand Dunes and to the southern tip of Lake Turkana stopping at Nabyutom Crater. Then cutting back down the Ndoto Mountains and Mathews range where the clients will make a stop to land for a walk in the Cycad forest.
Mathews Reteti and Ol Lolokwe half day PER HELI
Total flying time 3.0 hours @ $2,500 per hour = $7,500 Nett $2,300 per hour = $6,900
Reteti orphanage visit @ $20 per person
Mathews Ol Lolokwe Conservation fees @ $35 pp
Optional: Singing wells @ $200 per helicopter
This excursion is 3 hours flying time. We suggest collecting from the lodge at 8am with a picnic breakfast. You will fly north across the Ewaso Nyiro river cutting between the Ol Lolokwe and Warigus mountains touching down at the Reteti elephant sanctuary just before 9am. Here you will view the morning feeding session and learn about the programme. A short flight and you will land on the top of the Mathews for a walk in the ancient cycad froest and picnic breakfast before returning to Laikipia via another stop on Ol Lolokwe.
Lakes, Pokot & Silale Crater Half Day Trip PER HELI
Total flying time 4.0 hours @ $ 2,500 = $10,000 Nett $2,300 per hour = $9,200
Lake Bogoria park fees @ $50 per person
Lake Bogoria landing fee @ $25 per helicopter
Remote fuel @ $150
Visit to the Pokot Tribe @ $1,000 per group
This excursion is 4 hours flying time and again we do like to start in the early morning before it gets too hot. This is a lovely scenic flight over the Rift Valley lakes including a stop on the edge of Lake Bogoria and a stop to visit the Pokot Tribe. The Pokot in our view is the best tribal experience in Kenya. A picnic breakfast and refreshments can be enjoyed along the way. Note: This trip can be reduced to 3 hours if you do not want to include the Pokot Cultural experience.
Lake Turkana Overnight Trip PER HELI
Total flying time 8.5 hours @ $2,500 = $21,250 Nett $2,300 per hour = $19,550
4 x Remote fuel @ $150 = $600
Mathews Conservation Fees @ $35 per person
Accommodation at Desert Rose @ $570 per person double / $666 single (2019 rates)
Pilot Accommodation Desert Rose @ $185 per pilot pn
Pilot Per Diem @ $250 per pilot pn
This excursion is 8.5 hours of flying time split between two days with the majority of flying done on the first day. It is the ultimate overnight helicopter trip you can do in Northern Kenya and comes with our highest recommendation. This flight takes guests across to the Silale Crater, up the Suguta, Hoodoo and Painted Valleys to Mt Nyiro and their accommodation at Desert Rose. They arrive in time for a leisurely lunch by the rock pools and swim. Later in the afternoon, they take a stunning scenic flight along the Southern Shores of Lake Turkana, Lake Lopipe to see the flamingoes and land on the Suguta dunes for sundowners before returning back to Desert Rose. The following morning they fly down the Ndoto Mountains, Matthews ranges and back to their lodge. There is an option to land for a walk in the Cycad forest in the Matthews and also the Samburu Singing Wells.
Lake Turkana Overnight Trip PER HELI
Total flying time 10 hours @ $2,500 = $25,000 Nett $2,300 per hour = $23,000
7 x Remote fuel @ $150 = $1,050
Accommodation at Lobolo @ $525 pp pn
Accommodation pilot @ $175 pp pn
Pilot Per Diem @ $250 per pilot per night
Fishing Central Island @ $600 per boat, $25pp conservation fees
Siboli National Park Fees @ $22pp
Pilot Per Diem @ $250 per pilot pn
Mathews Conservation Fees @ $35 per person
This excursion is 10 hours of flying time split between two days with the majority of flying done on the first day. It is the ultimate overnight helicopter trip you can do in Northern Kenya and comes with our highest recommendation. This flight takes guests across the remote Northern Rift Valley beginning with the fist stop at the Silale Crater then on to the Hoodoo and Painted Valleys through the Suguta and Lake Logipi to see the flamingoes and onto their accommodation at Lobolo Camp on the Western shores of Lake Turkana. The guests will arrive in time for a leisurely lunch in camp. Later in the afternoon, they will take a stunning scenic flight across to the Eastern shore of the lake to explore the fossil sites of Kubi Fora and the petrified forest in Siboli National Park and then stop to enjoy a sundowner overlooking the Jade Sea before returning to camp to overnight. The following morning they will head across to Cental Island at first light for some Nile Perch fishing before returning to camp for a lake breakfast. Upon departing camp they will fly South via the Ndoto Mountains, Matthews ranges and back to their lodge. There is an option to land for a walk in the cycad forest in the Matthews and also visit the Samburu Singing Wells.