Safari by Private Jet: Kruger, Okavango, Mara, Serengeti

Safari by private jet, a two-leg journey

Each major safari region is built around an international hub, relayed to the camp airstrips. The table below places them.

For the long-haul leg to Africa, lean on our ultra-long-range jets and our full fleet.

The last leg: the bush plane

This is the heart of the journey, and our differentiator. From the hub, the trip to the camp is by light aircraft or turboprop, typically a Cessna 208 Caravan, able to operate from short, unpaved strips of dirt, gravel or grass. Two constraints shape everything: bush airstrips are unlit, so operations are daytime only, and payload is limited, hence strict soft-bag baggage allowances: on the order of 15 kg out of Wilson in Kenya (operators Safarilink, AirKenya), and up to 20 kg in Botswana, in a single bag with no wheels or frame. Excess is stored at the hub office. On this, see our guide to private jets and luggage.

South Africa: Kruger and Sabi Sand

South Africa offers the most established access. The business aviation hubs are Johannesburg (JNB), Lanseria (HLA), which concentrates more charter operators than any other airport in the country, and Cape Town (CPT). For Kruger, three airports relay to the reserves: Kruger Mpumalanga (MQP), Skukuza (SZK), the only commercial airport inside the park, and Hoedspruit (HDS). From there, a relay flight of 15 to 30 minutes serves the Sabi Sand airstrips (Arathusa, Ulusaba, Londolozi), the heart of the private reserves. The dry season, from May to September, offers the most reliable viewing, with wildlife concentrating at waterholes. See our Johannesburg airport and Cape Town airport pages.

Botswana: Okavango and Chobe

In Botswana, everything runs through Maun (MUB), gateway to the Okavango Delta and one of the busiest light-aircraft hubs in Africa. From there, a light relay reaches the delta camp airstrips in around thirty minutes. Further north, Kasane (BBK) opens access to Chobe National Park, at the "Four Corners" where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet. The baggage allowance here rises to up to 20 kg in a soft bag, with dimensions of around 65 x 40 x 30 cm.

Kenya and Tanzania: Mara and Serengeti

In Kenya, the distinction is essential: Nairobi Wilson (WIL) is the light-aviation hub from which bush flights leave for the Maasai Mara, Amboseli or Samburu, while Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) handles long-haul. The Mara is reached via airstrips such as Ol Kiombo or Keekorok. The Great Migration is seen there from July to October, with the Mara River crossings most reliable from August to September and a frequent peak in August; the herds follow no calendar, though, so buffer days are wise.

In Tanzania, entry is via Kilimanjaro (JRO), then a light flight of around 1h45 to the Serengeti airstrips (Seronera). The calving season, in the Ndutu region and the southern plains, concentrates from late January to mid-March, peaking in February when hundreds of thousands of births follow one another within a few weeks.

From Europe: which jet, which access?

The first leg calls for an ultra-long-range jet (Global, Gulfstream, Falcon). Allow around 11 to 12 hours to Johannesburg or Cape Town, a fuel stop remaining possible depending on aircraft and payload, and 8 to 9 hours to Nairobi or Kilimanjaro. These times are indicative and vary with aircraft and winds. The second leg requires the bush plane, with its short strips and daytime hours. Add the coordination of overflight and landing permits across several African countries: that is exactly what we take on. See our guide to range by aircraft category.

Planning your safari with IBC Aviation

A successful safari comes down to linking the two legs: the long-haul jet, the connection to the bush plane timed to daylight hours, and a baggage allowance respected from the start. We are the ones who arrange the flights and coordinate every step, working with the bush operators and our concierge services. For the logistics and permit planning, discover the added value of a charter broker and all our private jet destinations.

Private jet charter with IBC Aviation:

Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and requirements, and organise your trip to or from the bush. Available 24/7:

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
• Bangkok: +66 81 808 2866
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Frequently asked questions

Can you reach a safari camp directly by private jet?

Rarely. The long-haul jet lands at an international hub (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Maun, Kilimanjaro); the last leg to the camp airstrip is by light aircraft or turboprop, because bush airstrips are short, unpaved and reserved for light aviation.

What is the baggage allowance for the bush flight?

It is strict: on the order of 15 kg out of Wilson in Kenya, and up to 20 kg in Botswana, in soft bags only, with no wheels or frame, at dimensions of around 65 x 40 x 30 cm. Excess is stored at the hub office, for example in Maun.

When can you see the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara?

The best period runs from July to October. The Mara River crossings are most reliable from August to September, with a frequent peak in August. The herds follow no calendar: it is wise to plan buffer days.

Do bush flights operate at night?

No. Bush airstrips are unlit: operations are daytime only, which shapes the connection times from the hub. In the rainy season, some dirt strips can become waterlogged and force a diversion to an all-weather strip.

What is the difference between Wilson (WIL) and Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) in Nairobi?

Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) is the long-haul international airport; Wilson (WIL) is the light and business aviation hub from which bush flights leave for the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu and the conservancies.