When you go on safari, it often involves flying on tiny planes from even tinier airports. I was browsing some old pictures and came across these.
A couple of years ago, I went with my family to Kenya on Safari. That was the first time we flew Qatar Airways, after which I became a big fan. As the trip progressed, the planes became smaller and smaller. We left Singapore in one of Qatar’s (then) brand new Dreamliners. From Doha we flew to Nairobi in an A320. Our next flight was this.
The Airport
It was an open field in the middle of nowhere. The only sign of it was a bench on which we sat and waited for the plane.
There is no security check at this airport.
Neither are there any airport staff. The only living things around are the deer.
The lounge is the bench.
The Plane
I was expecting something small, but when it came, it was a shock. The Cessna Caravan was about as big as a minivan.
The pilot loads the bags. As the plane is small, there are strict limits on the weight, but it was enough for even us. As you can see from my post on luggage http://travelupdate.com/best-luggage-picks-different-trips/, I am a Rimowa fan, even in the middle of the jungle!
In this plane you can sit in the cockpit.
Right next to the pilot. It was great listening to his conversations with air traffic control.
There is no inflight entertainment. My kids complained! However, there were seatbelts and even Fasten Seatbelt signs.
The plane flies so low that you can see the trees below you clearly.
Here is the runway of the airport we landed at.
And the ground crew to greet us!
It was a short but awesome flight that I will never forget. If you get the chance, you must try something like this.
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I’m trying to figure out what I am missing in this article? When last flew on a 16-day ‘Flights over Kenya” safari in 1992 Xmas, nothing has changed – and who would have expected it to? The airports in the Masi Mara, as in most other regional locations – are nothing more than grass or rough dirt runways – with absolutely no other facilities, most without even a bench to sit on – unless you or someone else decides it is cost effective to have ‘security’, which will not happen in our lifetime.
Hi, it was just a unique experience for me and my family. Seems to be working fine and should stay as it it. Regards