The Northern Frontier
Lake Turkana and the Suguta Valley
The jade sea, the volcanic cones of the Suguta and some of the most remote country in Africa, reached in a morning from Laikipia and returned by dusk.
The Short Answer
What a helicopter safari is.
A helicopter safari uses a private helicopter and pilot to move between camps and reach places no road can. We arrange helicopter transfers between the Maasai Mara, Laikipia and Amboseli, flights in the northern Serengeti, island hops in the Seychelles and Mauritius, and days out to Lake Turkana and Mount Kenya. As a guide for 2026 to 2028, flying costs around USD 3,500 to 4,500 per hour.
Every flight is designed around your camps and quoted exactly for your route. See the transfers, where we fly and what it costs.
By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi. Updated September 2026, with guides for 2026 to 2028.
Where We Fly
The places worth flying to.
The landscapes we fly guests to most often. Every flight is designed around your safari, and each one can be added as a single day.
Mount Kenya
The High Tarns
Across the moorland to the glacial lakes near the summit, with breakfast beside Lake Alice or Lake Ellis and trout fishing at Lake Rutundu.
Northern Tanzania
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai
The flamingo shallows of Lake Natron beneath the only active carbonatite volcano on earth, across the border in a single flight.
The South Rift
Lake Magadi and the Nguruman Escarpment
Pink soda flats, the hidden waterfalls of the Nguruman Escarpment and the Rift Valley floor, an easy flight from Nairobi or the Mara.
The Maasai Mara
Above the Escarpment
A breakfast or a picnic on the rim of the Oloololo Escarpment with the whole of the Mara below you, and transfers between camps.
Camp to Camp
Helicopter Transfers
Replace a long road day with an hour in the air, Maasai Mara to Laikipia or Amboseli, landing close to camp in time for the afternoon drive.
Helicopter Transfers
Camp to camp, by helicopter.
Most of our guests first fly by helicopter on a transfer. These are the routes we arrange most, with approximate flying times.
Helicopter transferFlying timeWhy guests fly it
Maasai Mara to LaikipiaAbout 1 hour 15 minutesThe most requested helicopter transfer in Kenya, replacing a full day by road with a morning in the air over the Rift Valley.
Maasai Mara to AmboseliAbout 1 hour 15 minutesFrom big cat country to Kilimanjaro, landing close to camp in time for the afternoon drive.
Nairobi to the Maasai MaraAbout 1 hourStraight from Wilson Airport or your Nairobi hotel to the camp, over the Ngong Hills and the escarpment.
Nairobi to Laikipia or LewaAbout 50 minutesPast Mount Kenya to the private conservancies, where helicopter country begins.
Laikipia to SamburuAbout 25 minutesA short hop north to the Ewaso Nyiro, often combined with the Mathews Range.
The northern SerengetiBy arrangementTransfers between camps and airstrips in the Lamai and Kogatende area, and flights over the Mara River in the crossing season, within park rules.
The SeychellesMinutes between islandsFrom Mahe to the private islands and to Praslin and La Digue, and scenic flights over the granite coast.
MauritiusMinutes from the airportFrom the airport straight to your resort, and excursions over Le Morne, the lagoons and the southern cliffs.
Flying times are approximate and depend on the aircraft and the weather. Luggage is limited to soft bags on transfers, and heavier bags can travel by road.
Helicopter Safari Destinations
Where to fly in Kenya.
The places a helicopter reaches that nothing else can, with typical flying times from Laikipia, where most helicopter safaris begin.
Lake Turkana and the Suguta Valley
About 1.5 hours each way from Laikipia
Lake Turkana is the largest permanent desert lake in the world, the jade sea of the northern frontier. On the way, the Suguta Valley opens beneath you: the flamingos of Lake Logipi, the sand dunes of the Suguta desert, Cathedral Rock, the cones of Teleki's Volcano and the Nabuyatom Crater on the southern shore. Almost none of it can be reached comfortably by road, which is why guests remember this day above all others.
Mount Kenya and the High Tarns
About 30 to 45 minutes from Laikipia
An early departure, around half past seven before the cloud builds, takes you past the peaks of Batian and Nelion to land beside the glacial lakes near the summit: Lake Alice, Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson. Breakfast on the mountain, then trout fishing at Lake Rutundu for those who want it.
Samburu, the Mathews Range and the Ndoto Mountains
About 30 to 60 minutes from Laikipia
Forested mountains rising out of dry country, the cycad forests of the Ndotos, the flat top of Ol Lolokwe, and the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, the first community owned elephant sanctuary in Africa. The Singing Wells of the Samburu people make an unforgettable stop.
The Chalbi Desert and Mount Kulal
A long day from Laikipia
Salt pans, wind carved rock and the forested island of Mount Kulal rising from the desert. Some of the emptiest country in Kenya, visited by very few people, and usually combined with Lake Turkana.
Lake Magadi, the Nguruman Escarpment and Lake Natron
Reached from Nairobi or the Maasai Mara
Pink soda flats at Lake Magadi, hidden waterfalls on the Nguruman Escarpment, and, across the Tanzanian border, the flamingo shallows of Lake Natron beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active carbonatite volcano on earth. Crossing the border requires clearance, which we arrange.
The Maasai Mara and Amboseli
Transfers and scenic flights outside the parks
In the Mara and Amboseli, helicopters are used mainly for transfers between camps, for breakfast on the Oloololo Escarpment, and for flights along the boundaries. Low flying over wildlife inside the national reserves is not permitted, and we plan every flight within the rules.
What It Costs
How much a helicopter safari costs in Kenya.
Helicopter time is charged by the flying hour, including the aircraft reaching you and returning to base. These are guides for 2026 to 2028, per aircraft rather than per person.
Helicopter experienceFlying timeGuide, per aircraft
Short transfer, such as Laikipia to Samburu25 to 45 minutesUSD 1,800 to 3,500
Maasai Mara to Laikipia or AmboseliAbout 1 hour 15 minutesUSD 4,500 to 6,500
Mount Kenya breakfast flight1.5 to 2 hoursUSD 5,500 to 9,000
Samburu and the Mathews Range2 to 3 hoursUSD 7,500 to 13,000
Suguta Valley and Lake Turkana day3 to 4 hoursUSD 12,000 to 18,000
Island transfers, Seychelles and MauritiusMinutesQuoted per transfer
A multi day helicopter safariBy the dayQuoted for your route
As a guide, the turbine helicopters used on safari cost around USD 3,500 to 4,500 per flying hour in Kenya, as a guide for 2026 to 2028. An aircraft carries up to four or five guests, so the cost divides. We quote the exact figure for your route, including positioning, landing fees and any border clearance.
Why by Helicopter
What a helicopter gives you.
A helicopter is not a faster road. It is a different way of seeing the country, and for some places the only one.
Places no road reaches
Lake Turkana, the Suguta Valley and the Mount Kenya tarns cannot be reached comfortably any other way on a safari.
Your own hours
The aircraft waits for you. Leave at first light, land for lunch where you choose, and return when you are ready.
Time returned to you
A transfer that would take a day by road becomes forty minutes, and the rest of the day becomes a game drive.
A new scale
From the air, the Great Rift Valley and the northern volcanoes finally make sense. Guests say it changes how they see the whole trip.
Landing where you like
Within the rules of the land and the owners, the helicopter lands where the view is, not where the airstrip happens to be.
Part of the safari
We design helicopter days around your camps, so the flying fits the journey rather than interrupting it.
How We Plan It
From the first idea to the landing.
Five steps, with a designer in Nairobi and a named pilot at each one.
- Tell us what you want to seeThe landscapes, the number of guests, the camps you are considering and the days you have.
- We design the flying daysRoutes, landing sites, timings and weight, planned with the operator around your camps and the weather.
- You receive an exact quoteFlying hours, positioning, permits and every landing, in writing, before anything is booked.
- We hold the aircraft and pilotYour pilot is named, your flights are filed, and a spare morning is built in for weather.
- We look after the dayTransfers to the helipad, the picnic, the camera briefing and a satellite link to our team throughout.
Good to Know
The practical part, plainly.
What every guest should know before a helicopter day, so nothing on the morning comes as a surprise.
Weight and luggage
Soft bags only, usually around 15 kilograms per guest including cameras. Heavier luggage can travel by road to your next camp.
Seats
Most aircraft take up to four or five guests with the pilot. Heat, altitude and fuel affect what can be carried, and we plan around it.
Weather
Pilots fly by sight in the highlands. If cloud or rain closes in, the flight moves to the spare morning we build into every plan.
Wildlife rules
There is no low flying over wildlife in the national reserves, and landings follow the rules of each park and landowner.
The cost
Charged by the flying hour, including the aircraft reaching you and returning to base. Short hops are efficient; long positioning is not.
Operators
We work with licensed Kenyan operators based in Laikipia and Nairobi, chosen for their safety record and their knowledge of the north.
Best Time
The best time for a helicopter safari in Kenya.
Visibility decides a helicopter day more than anything else, so the season matters.
June to October
The best flying of the year: dry, clear and settled. Mount Kenya can have more morning cloud in July and August, so we fly early.
December to March
Hot and clear, with superb visibility over the northern frontier and Lake Turkana.
April and May
The long rains bring cloud to the highlands. Flying is possible on good days, and we always keep a spare morning.
November
Short afternoon showers, with clear mornings that suit early flights well.
Compared
Helicopter, light aircraft or road?
Three ways to move between places on a Kenyan safari, and what each one gives you.
| Helicopter | Light aircraft | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | Anywhere with a safe landing site, including Lake Turkana and Mount Kenya | Airstrips only | Roads only |
| Time | The fastest door to door | Fast between airstrips | The slowest |
| Luggage | Around 15 kilograms in soft bags | Around 15 kilograms in soft bags | No practical limit |
| Cost | Highest, by the flying hour | Moderate, often by the seat | Lowest, by the day |
| Best for | Remote landscapes and a day you will never repeat | Linking camps efficiently | Seeing the country between the parks |
Read road or fly in, honestly compared, or see luxury road safaris.
Is It For You
When a helicopter is worth it, and when it is not.
We would rather place you correctly than sell you flying you do not need.
Take the helicopter if
- You want to see Lake Turkana, the Suguta Valley or Mount Kenya.
- You photograph and want a view no one else has.
- You have less time than money, and want to spend it in camp rather than on a road.
- You are celebrating something and want a day you will never repeat.
- You are staying in Laikipia or Lewa, where helicopter country begins.
Keep to the ground if
- Your safari is entirely in the Maasai Mara reserve, where low flying is not permitted.
- You prefer to travel light on cost rather than time.
- Small aircraft make you uneasy.
- You are travelling with more luggage than you can separate for a day.
Questions We Hear
Helicopter safaris, answered.
Straight answers from our team in Nairobi. For your own plans, a designer replies within 24 hours.
+254 711 471 757 Call or WhatsApp, Nairobi Speak to an ExpertHow much does a helicopter safari cost in Kenya?
Helicopter time is charged by the flying hour, including the time the aircraft takes to reach you and return. The cost depends on the aircraft, the route, the number of guests and the landing permits needed. We quote the exact figure for your route before anything is booked.
How many people fit in a safari helicopter?
Most safari helicopters carry up to four or five guests with the pilot, though heat, altitude and luggage reduce what an aircraft can lift. Larger parties fly in two aircraft together. We plan seating and weight with the operator in advance.
Is a helicopter safari safe?
We work only with licensed operators whose pilots fly the Kenyan highlands and northern frontier every week, with maintained aircraft, satellite tracking and a flight plan filed for every day. If weather or visibility is not right, the pilot does not fly, and we move the day.
Can you fly a helicopter over the Maasai Mara?
Low flying over wildlife in the national reserve is not permitted, and landings are restricted to approved sites. Helicopters are used in the Mara mainly for transfers and for escarpment picnics outside the reserve. The true helicopter country is Laikipia, the northern frontier and Mount Kenya.
What luggage can we take on a helicopter?
Soft bags only, and weight is limited, usually around 15 kilograms per guest including camera equipment. Heavier bags can travel separately by road to your next camp. We confirm the limit for your aircraft in writing.
Can children fly on a helicopter safari?
Yes. Children fly with a parent, with ear defenders and a proper harness. The pilot briefs everyone before take off. Tell us the ages of your children and we will plan flights of a length they will enjoy.
Can you take photographs from the helicopter?
Yes, and it is one of the finest vantage points in Africa. Some flights can be arranged with doors removed for photography, subject to the aircraft and the operator. Tell us your equipment and we will brief the pilot.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Your pilot decides on the day, and safety always comes first. We build a spare morning into helicopter itineraries, so a cloudy day moves rather than disappears.
Can I add a helicopter day to a road or fly in safari?
Yes, and that is how most guests use it. A single day from Laikipia to Lake Turkana, or a helicopter transfer between camps, transforms a journey without changing the rest of it.
How far ahead should we book?
Three to six months for most dates, and longer for the July to October peak and the festive season, when aircraft are in demand across the country.
Can we fly by helicopter from the Maasai Mara to Laikipia?
Yes, it is the transfer we arrange most often. It takes about an hour and a quarter over the Rift Valley, compared with a full day by road, and the helicopter lands close to your Laikipia camp. The Maasai Mara to Amboseli transfer takes about the same time.
Are there helicopter flights in the Serengeti?
Yes, mainly in the northern Serengeti, for transfers between camps and airstrips in the Lamai and Kogatende area and for flights in the crossing season, always within the rules of the national park.
Can we use a helicopter in the Seychelles or Mauritius?
Yes. In the Seychelles, helicopters link Mahe with the private islands, Praslin and La Digue, and fly scenic routes over the granite coast. In Mauritius, they fly from the airport straight to your resort and over Le Morne and the lagoons. We arrange both as part of your beach stay.
What is the best helicopter safari in Kenya?
For most guests, the Suguta Valley and Lake Turkana day from Laikipia: Lake Logipi, Cathedral Rock, Teleki's Volcano and the jade water of the largest desert lake in the world, none of which is easy to reach by road. A Mount Kenya breakfast flight is the best shorter option.
How long is the helicopter flight to Lake Turkana?
About an hour and a half each way from Laikipia, usually with stops in the Suguta Valley, so a Lake Turkana day is three to four flying hours in total and returns before dusk.
Can a helicopter land on Mount Kenya?
Yes, at approved sites beside the high tarns, such as Lake Alice and Lake Ellis, weather permitting. Flights leave early, around half past seven, before cloud builds on the mountain.
What helicopters are used for safaris in Kenya?
Mostly single engine turbine helicopters such as the Airbus H125, which carry up to five guests with the pilot and cope well with the altitude of the Kenyan highlands. The operator confirms the aircraft and its seating for your flight.
Begin
Plan your helicopter safari.
Tell us what you would like to see from the air and where you are staying, and a designer in Nairobi will send a flying plan and an exact price within 24 hours.
Travelling further? See private jet journeys, luxury road safaris and safaris in Kenya.