When you first think about a trip to Africa, a hundred questions can come to mind and when you couple the idea of that trip with piloting your own aircraft in Africa, another hundred questions jump in.

Here are some of the most common questions we have been asked and a few we thought of on our own. If after reading our list and perusing the web site, you have other questions, we would like to hear from you. No question should go unanswered when it comes to planning what might be a once in a lifetime adventure. A self fly safari takes planning and preparation and we encourage you to ask all the questions you want and we will do our best to give you prompt, direct responses. Please email your questions to: Questions@AfricanFlyingSafaris.com

What areas of Africa do your self flying safaris include?

For self pilot safaris we remain in the southern countries of Africa. These include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. We do not currently have self pilot safaris in East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) due to aviation difficulties in those areas. We plan to expand to East Africa as soon as we determine it is safe, feasible, and affordable. In the meantime, we offer extensions to our self pilot safaris to take in the splendors of other areas of Africa such as East Africa and beyond.

How long is a self pilot safari?

Our preplanned itineraries range from 14 days to 30 days. This includes travel time to and from North America - up to 3 calendar days for the round trip. Our shorter trips include 8 – 9 nights on safari. Our Grand Tour of Southern Africa 30 day adventure includes a variety of city life, wine country, coastal fun, and of course lots of bush safari activities.

How many people and airplanes are in a self pilot safari group?

In general we plan for two people per airplane. Our best group size is 8 – 12 guests but we will accommodate up to 16 guests in 8 aircraft. When group sizes get above 8, we will necessarily either forego certain accommodation preferences or will split the group within the same game reserve. Some camps and lodges are small and intimate and can only accommodate 8 guests in four “rooms.”

Can I take a self pilot safari on my own, or must I be part of a group?

African Flying Safaris works primarily with groups for self pilot safaris. Our experience shows group travel to be more lively, fun, and provides an extra degree of safety as well. However, if you are an experienced pilot and desire to venture out on your own, we are experienced in preparing a successful, adventure filled, self flying safari for you.

Do all self pilot safaris have a guide pilot?

All of our group self pilot safaris include a guide pilot who will work with the group from the time of obtaining your validation through the entire self flying adventure. Our guide pilot also helps lead the “flight-seeing” adventures along the way. If you choose to take a self pilot safari on your own, outside of a group, we are happy to provide a guide pilot for you, either in your same plane or in a separate aircraft.

What kind of aircraft do you use for your self pilot safaris?

Primarily we use Cessna 182’s. We also have available and will sometime select Cessna 172’s, 206’s or 210’s. The Cessna 182 is a perfect aircraft for all of our destinations and provides sufficient power and performance for the high density altitude environment of Southern Africa. If you wish to have more than 3 people in your group, we highly recommend stepping up to a 206 or even a 210. We ask prior to selecting your aircraft about your and your flying companion(s) weight so that we are able to make an informed decision as to the proper aircraft for the trip selected. Cessna 172’s are our least used aircraft but are available on request.

How does a pilot on a self flying safari navigate in the remote lands of Africa?

Although Africa does have some VOR navigation and some ADF navigation, the preferred navigation and what we use for all of our trips is GPS navigation. It’s always a good idea though to be “up to speed" on ADF and VOR navigation so that you may use these options as a cross reference while flying on a self pilot safari.

What is included in the price of an African Flying Safari?

With 20 years experience in the travel business, Robin knows the importance of ensuring a vacation is as free from surprises as possible. We have therefore structured our pricing to include ALMOST everything. We do not include the cost of your airline ticket to and from South Africa although we have access to great discounts fares for that part of the trip. We also do not include the cost of trip insurance which we require for all travelers. We have multiple companies we work through for travel insurance and are happy to give you rates based upon your individual needs. In addition, you will need to bring a credit card and some cash for: Tips, some internet connections, curios, other miscellaneous items of a personal nature. We might occasionally have an excursion or adventure become available while en route. Participation would be at your option and there might be an extra charge for such excursion.
In general our trips include all meals, pilot validation, aircraft rental, aircraft insurance, fuel, lodging, and just about every other major part of the trip.

How much and what type of Insurance is carried on the aircraft?

What happens if an airplane has a mechanical failure?

We have tried to make a plan for every contingency of mechanical failures. Although our aircraft are superbly maintained, as pilots we know, things break.
Often times it is something simple that our guide pilot is able to correct. If it is something more difficult, we have our mechanic on standby and he will fly to us with the goal of repairing the aircraft. In rare instances that the aircraft cannot be repaired, it may be necessary for us to get a replacement aircraft in order for the trip to be continued. Whatever the situation, we will do everything possible to correct any problems or repair any airplane so that our customers are able to continue their trip as planned.

Do you provide trip/travel insurance?

As mentioned above, we require all our customers have some form of trip/travel insurance. This is an invaluable part of your total trip in case of medical emergency, trip delay, or if you need to cancel at the last minute. We work through several companies which in our experience are professional and provide a quality insurance product. As policy prices are based upon the cost of the trip as well as the customers age, we must quote this insurance individually by customer.

Can you help with arrangements to get to and from Africa?

Through our affiliated travel agency, we have access to wholesale rates for airline tickets to South Africa. We encourage you to at least check our pricing prior to purchasing tickets on your own. We do not “mark up” or charge a fee for airline tickets purchased by African Flying Safari customers.

Africa is a long way away. How long does it take to get there?

From the west coast your trip to South Africa will occur over 2 calendar days. You will fly first to the East Coast of the USA or maybe to Atlanta. Depending on the flights you choose, your next leg maybe into the United Kingdom or Europe. After changing planes you will then continue to South Africa. The flights from the east coast to South Africa are generally 8 – 10 hours each leg IN THE AIR. A personal favorite routing is via New York or Atlanta using South African Airways. It is a direct flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town and o change of planes is required. These flights however keep you in the airplane for about 18 hours. The best part of the direct flight however is it completely eliminates any necessary layover that might otherwise occur in the UK or Europe. Some customers choose to break up the travel time by stopping over in London or Europe. The return flights are generally the same length of time and you should plan to be traveling for approximately 25 – 30 hours before finally arriving back home – if you are based in the western USA.

How many hours a day do you fly on an African Flying Safari?

This answer depends greatly on the itinerary of your chosen trip. In general though we relocate to a new camp every 2 – 3 days. While at any given camp we will include flights on one or two days while at that camp. These extra flights are generally 1 – 2 hours in length. Our pricing for a self fly safari usually allows for up to 2 hours of flight time per day.

How many miles does an African Flying Safari cover?

Again, this is based upon the itinerary of your chosen trip. We suggest you review our Itineraries page for more detailed information about miles to be flown on each itinerary.

What should you pack or bring with you on an African Flying Safari?

Outside of your adventurous mentality, we suggest you bring enthusiasm, excitement, and your flying knowledge. We will provide to you all the maps and flight plans you will need en route as well all necessary equipment – GPS, headsets, etc. If you have a personal flight tools you wish to bring along, please feel free. We also will provide to you a list of suggested clothing based upon your itinerary and season.

I am very busy with my business and it’s difficult to be away with no communication. How can I stay in touch?

Although Africa seems remote, they are mostly technologically up to date. We can arrange for you to rent a cellular phone upon your arrival in South Africa at very reasonable rates. The phone number will be provided to you prior to leaving your home so that you may pass it on to family and business associates. Most camps have internet access and thus we usually have access to email although it is quite slow. We suggest you keep your communications as limited as you possibly can and always advise the folks at home that you may be out of touch for several days at a time. If there is an emergency, you will have a complete itinerary to leave behind so that a message can be gotten to you no matter what the cell phone coverage or internet capabilities are. All camps and lodges have telephones or two way radio communication capability for use in an emergency.

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