There’s something extraordinary about seeing Kenya from the air. Below, the landscape shifts dramatically from the savannahs of the Masai Mara to the stark and harsh volcanic landscape of the Suguta Valley in the far Northern Frontier District of Kenya, while the horizon stretches endlessly in every direction. A helicopter safari is a completely different way to experience the country. The land becomes alive where you can see things which you would never see from the ground: centuries-old migration routes, the remnants of flash floods, and so much more. If you’ve been on safari before and want to experience something truly special, or if you’re short on time but hungry for that extra kick of adventure, this might just be the ultimate way to do it.
What we love about heli-safaris is the freedom. You’re not bound by roads or fences, and the flight itself becomes part of the experience. It’s fast-paced and thrilling one moment, slow and scenic the next. You can stop for breakfast on top of Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu, land on the shores of a Great Rift Valley lake, or circle over a herd of elephant at sunrise. It’s Kenya on your terms. Intimate, unfiltered, and unforgettable.
Put simply, a helicopter safari is a private flying experience that lets you explore wild and remote corners of Kenya that are otherwise unreachable. Unlike scheduled light aircraft flights (which connect camps but don’t stop along the way), a heli-safari is flexible, personalised, and often spontaneous. You’re flying with a pilot who knows the terrain inside out and can read the weather and wildlife like a book.
These aren’t big commercial helicopters - they’re small, agile models that seat four to six people, ideal for couples or families looking for something unique. You can cover vast distances in a short amount of time, making it easy to combine diverse regions without the fatigue of long drives or multiple connecting flights.
Some trips last a few hours, others a few days, often incorporating overnight stays in remote lodges or mobile camps. No two routes are the same, and that’s part of the magic.
Flying in a helicopter over Kenya is not just a unique mode of transport. The experience is immersive - the sound of the engine, the smooth lift-off, the sudden perspective shift as the ground drops away beneath you. Without the fixed flight paths of commercial planes, pilots can follow wildlife through the bush, skim low over lake shores, or climb dramatically over escarpments for jaw-dropping views.
Visibility is exceptional, with either wide windows and minimal obstructions or with the doors removed completely if you want that extra breeze. It’s a photographer’s dream, and the kind of experience where you find yourself torn between taking it all in and not wanting to blink.
Kenya is one of the most diverse landscapes on Earth, and a helicopter reveals its full complexity in ways no land-based safari can. Here are just a few of the regions you might explore:
The Suguta Valley: Otherworldly and almost entirely inaccessible by road, this area is one of the wildest places in Kenya. Expect Martian-like volcanic cones, endless sand dunes, and lava flows that look like frozen rivers. This is raw, elemental Africa.
Lake Turkana: Known as the Jade Sea for its striking colour, Lake Turkana is vast, remote, and utterly hypnotic. Home to crocodiles, flamingos, and ancient hominin sites, it’s both a natural wonder and a place of deep history.
Mount Kenya: Snow-capped rocky peaks that tower over Laikipia. Flying around Mount Kenya is in my opinion, a top of the bucket list. With lake Alice and Elice below, thick cedar forests and harsh highlands.
Mathews Range: Lush forested hills rise out of the arid northern plains like a mirage. This is a haven for elephants, rare monkeys, and birdlife, and one of the most tranquil places you can land for a picnic or bush walk.
The Great Rift Valley: From active volcanoes like Mount Longonot to shimmering soda lakes such as Lake Magadi or Lake Natron, this dramatic scar across East Africa is a feast of colour, shape, and geological drama.
Chyulu Hills: Between Tsavo and Amboseli lies this green and hilly region, with views stretching to Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days. Perfect for a scenic stop or horseback ride.
One of the great joys of a helicopter safari is the ability to land almost anywhere. Your pilot may set down on a rocky ridge for breakfast with panoramic views, on the shores of a lake on Mount Kenya for a quick fishing trip whilst your lunch cooks or on a sand dune to watch the sunset.
These landings turn a flight into a fully immersive journey. You might visit a Samburu community, trek through forested hills with a guide, or sit in perfect silence beside a desert spring. Everything feels more intimate when you’ve arrived by air.
While helicopter safaris aren’t always about ticking off the Big Five (although you might spot several from the air), they offer a unique way to observe wildlife behaviour in context. Picture a herd of elephants snaking through the forest, giraffes scattered like chess pieces across open plains, or thousands of flamingos shifting en masse on a mirror-like lake.
You can combine air time with on-the-ground game drives, giving you the best of both worlds. And because you’re covering more ground, you have a better chance of spotting rarer species or witnessing something extraordinary. Keeping this in mind, the hero of the show in the landscape.
The best time for a helicopter safari in Kenya is during the dry seasons: January to March and July to October. Skies are clearer, conditions are more predictable, and visibility is fantastic. Rainy seasons (April to June and November) can bring low cloud and unpredictable flying weather.
Many travellers opt for a half-day or full-day heli adventure as part of a longer safari. Others build in a multi-day flying safari, overnighting in remote lodges or camps. The key is flexibility - you can tailor it entirely to your interests and timeframe.
If you’re planning a honeymoon, celebrating a milestone, or just want to see Kenya from a fresh angle, even a short helicopter experience can be a highlight.
Some lodges are particularly well positioned to offer heli-safaris, often with helipads on site or close by. Here are a few we recommend:
Each of these properties offers more than just a place to sleep. They’re springboards into vast, untamed landscapes, and most can help tailor your helicopter journey as part of a wider itinerary.
Helicopter safaris are ideal for travellers who are looking for something beyond the classic safari circuit. If you’re curious, adventurous, and keen to explore places that few others get to see, this is for you.
They’re particularly popular with photographers, couples celebrating special occasions, families with older children or teens, and return safari-goers looking to go deeper.
Physically, they’re accessible to most people. Boarding involves a short step and a quick safety briefing, but once in, you’re seated comfortably. If you’re prone to motion sickness, let us know in advance so we can plan flight duration and routes accordingly.
A helicopter safari is one of the most extraordinary ways to experience Kenya. Yes, it’s a splurge, but it’s also a rare chance to see a side of the country that few others ever will. From the elemental beauty of the north to the iconic savannahs of the south, flying reveals the true scale and diversity of Kenya’s wild spaces.
We often recommend it as part of a longer itinerary, especially for those looking to mark a special occasion or simply take their adventure to the next level. The feedback we get is always the same: awe, gratitude, and a sense of perspective that stays with you long after you’ve landed.
If you’d like to include a heli-safari in your Kenya trip, we’d be delighted to help shape the experience around you - whether that’s a scenic flight from your lodge, a multi-day aerial expedition, or something entirely off the map.
and start planning your tailor-made holiday
