Tanzania Helicopter Safaris
There’s no way you can bypass Tanzania if you are looking for a pristine, wildlife-rich country. Whether it’s your first trip or you’re a returning traveller, you can try to be different. That means going beyond ordinary safari tours, like traditional game drives, and opting for unique safari activities like Tanzania helicopter safaris that only comes once in a lifetime. At Focus East Africa Tours, we prefer taking our guests beyond the obvious. In this article, we talk about helicopter safaris in Tanzania, safaris that go beyond the ordinary. Let’s dive in.
What’s a helicopter safari?
A helicopter safari is a unique adventure that allows you to float in the air while watching the vegetation and Tanzania’s greatest landscapes. You can enjoy this tour in any safari destination, from the wildlife-rich Serengeti to the highest mountains like Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Unlike full-day game drives, this aerial adventure typically lasts for about one to two hours. However, you may find some operators offering 7-day helicopter tours. In these packages, you will spend almost 1-2 hours flying on a high-end helicopter, preferably in the morning, and the rest of the day doing other activities.
Why a helicopter tour?
We know you have been on several flights, but this flight is quite different. With a sky-dominating helicopter, you’ll experience a bird’s eye view of your favorite safari destination. And unlike balloon safaris, which depend on the wind direction, a helicopter follows the pilot and, of course, you. This safari also enables you to access remote regions that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Best Places for Tanzania Helicopter Safaris
Lake Natron
Lake Natron is one of the wonderful natural wonders in Africa. It is famously known as an alkaline lake that turns animals into stone. This lake is extremely alkaline (pH value at 11: very close to that of aqueous ammonia). And during the dry season, this lake changes color to reddish-brown due to a high concentration of algae. Its extreme alkalinity is due to the fact that it’s nourished by springs and streams from the Ol Doinyo Lengai and has no outlets. That makes soda highly concentrated.
Swimming is impossible in this lake, but that doesn’t prevent you from exploring it. A helicopter safari is always the best way to explore Lake Natron. The adventure starts in the Rift Valley escarpment and goes through the edges of this soda lake. Enjoy the picturesque scenes of this soda lake. This tour often takes three hours and includes other places, such as Ol Doinyo Lengai, Ngorongoro Crater, and Maasai villages.
Serengeti National Park
No doubt the Serengeti is everyone’s go-to safari destination. People rush to catch just a glimpse of the world’s spectacular event, the wildebeest migration, or simply the Great Migration. This event, which features over 2 million wildebeest and zebras, is living evidence of how nature has been throughout centuries up to date. On top of the migration, people also come here to watch the Big Five animals: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.
Instead of relying on a traditional game drive, you can soar above the ‘endless plains’ on a hovering helicopter. You can do this while transferring from one camp to another. Most helicopter safaris have numerous stops along the way before arriving at the final destination. This aerial adventure will give you a glimpse of the striking landscape of Serengeti National Park. Most helicopter tours are offered in the south of the Serengeti, Ndutu, and Mwiba Wildlife Reserve.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is a wonder in itself, enough to convince you to book a helicopter safari over the crater. The crater rims rising 600 meters high and the highlands decorate the scenes with a misty, green landscape. The tour often starts in Kilimanjaro or Arusha and takes about three hours.
While on the flight, you’ll get to watch Olmoti Crater, fly over the Empakai Crater, and the Ndutu Plains. You will also watch boma-style Maasai villages from atop. Don’t want a long flight? No worries, your pilot will have numerous landing sites to allow for fresh air and to get lunch. If you would love an overland safari down the crater floor to search for the Big Five, do it the very next day.
Kilimanjaro National Park
A helicopter safari on Mount Kilimanjaro is a must-do. This flight explores the rainforest zone on the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. This one is short, usually taking just 60 minutes, and the starting point is Moshi Airport. Soar above the scenic forests, explore all the climbing routes, and discover Lake Chala.
How Much Does a helicopter safari cost?
It depends on your favorite destination. The average cost starts at around $3,500 p.p. for a 60-minute Kilimanjaro flight to around $9,000. The overall cost depends on the length of the flight and the destinations included. Should you stress about booking? No, your Focus East Africa Tours experts are here to help you out. Let’s start planning something extraordinary.
