Bush Flying in Kenya: How Small Aircraft Connect the Safari Circuit

Bush flying is how most serious safari travellers move between destinations in Kenya and Tanzania. Small aircraft — typically six to twelve seats — connect remote airstrips that are inaccessible by road in any reasonable time. Understanding how the system works removes the most common sources of traveller frustration.

How Bush Flights Work

Scheduled services operate on hub-and-spoke routes from Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Arusha Airport in Tanzania. Operators such as SafariLink, AirKenya, Fly540, and Coastal Aviation run multiple daily flights to the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo, Serengeti, and other destinations. Flights are short — typically 30–90 minutes — and may stop at multiple airstrips en route.

Weight Limits and Luggage

The universal rule: 15 kg total baggage allowance, including hand luggage, in a soft-sided bag. This is a safety requirement, not a preference — aircraft weight and balance calculations depend on it. Excess baggage can sometimes be left in Nairobi or transported on a later flight. Pack your essentials (medication, optics, one change of clothes) in your carry-on in case checked bags are delayed.

The Experience of Flying Low

Bush flights typically cruise at 3,000–5,000 feet — low enough to see wildlife, topography, and the patchwork of conservancies and farmland below. The approach to a Mara airstrip, descending over a wildebeest herd, is itself a memorable safari moment.