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Regional Air Safaris in Northern Tanzania 

During our media "flightseeing tour" of the Serengeti Plain, Rift Valley, Ngorongoro Crater and other famous areas of Northern Tanzania (group photo above), we had the opportunity of meeting and getting to know an exceptional personality. In fact, she was our pilot and captain for two great days of fun in the sun, at one of Africa's most treasured game reserves. We stayed at Serena's rustic, yet elegant Serengeti Lodge, which was a real payoff after a hectic week of Congress business in Arusha.

 

Iris McCallum (left), General Manager and Chief Pilot of Regional Air Services, based in Arch, Tanzania, has been flying for 23 years, with over 13,000 flying hours. Regional Air launched its first charter in June, 1997 after successfully obtaining an Air Operator's Certificate from the Tanzania Directorate of Civil Aviation. Scheduled services began the following month, with a Piper nine- passenger twin engine turboprop aircraft operating on a three times weekly basis to Lake Mantra, Serener and Gamete River CampIn the brief period since, the airline's service increased to five, then six times weekly and twice daily on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Regional Air acquired a grand caravan 13-passenger single engine turboprop aircraft at the end of July, 1997. A twin Otter deHavilland DHC-6 eighteen passenger aircraft was added to Regional Air fleet in January, 1998. Both aircraft are exceptional for bush flying and can operate safely into and out of the demanding bush airstrips of the Serengeti. For information on Regional Air Services call 255 57 3453.


From Seattle, USA to the Heart of Africa
Eco Expeditions' 17-day Africa by Air Safari is designed to capture the timeless nature of this rugged continent, tracing Africa's Great Rift Valley via an exclusively chartered, beautifully restored Douglas DC-6 propliner. Beginning in South Africa, passengers will travel through a host of countries - Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia - exploring the wonders of each. Highlights include majestic Victoria Falls, the snowcapped grandeur of Kilimanjaro, the living rock churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia, and the Chobe, Serengeti, and Murchison Falls National Parks.

Also featured will be one of the most magnificent wildlife spectacles on Earth - the annual great plains migration. From the air, participants will see herds of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles (together with their ever-watchful predators), all make their way across the beautiful African plains. Now adventurers can climb aboard a vintage DC-6 propliner to see Africa from a bird's eye view or explore the outback of Australia's Kimberley region via boat. Zegrahm DeepSea Voyages takes participants to a world unlike any other, a silent world filled with famous shipwrecks, erupting volcanic chimneys, and beautiful alien-like creatures. This deep ocean world can now be seen up-close and in one-atmosphere comfort from the viewport of an "inner spacecraft." Details to come on new dates and prices.

Cross Country Air Safaris, South Africa
Letter to the Editor:
We have conducted fly-in safaris for 23 years. We have thrived, since then, on personal recommendations from one client to the next. 98% of our customers travel with us for that very reason. The very people who design the itinerary are the ones who travel! Thus we can base our suggestions on personal, up-to-date knowledge of the venues, game concentrations, water levels. We continue to update and will suggest - and implement - changes if a venue chosen 8 mon

 

Cross Country's outstanding feature is the genuinely individual design of every safari. We elicit from the client his/her exectations, interests, focus. We then suggest a variety of routes and venues, describing the lodges and procedures in detail. Once this has been moulded into what we trust is the optimal itinerary for that particular client and that particular season at the destination, we go out there and do it with him.

The aircraft and pilot stay with the group. The pilot is highlyknowledgeable of the area, can act both as tour guide and game guide if and when required. We do, if necessary, fade into the background. Even then, however, we see to it that our clients get the best accommodation, guides, activities at every venue.

Having the aircraft at heel gives us wondrous flexibility. We have an unbeatable advantage over the common way of safari travel. We fly when it suits the client! We adjust our ETA's at the next lodge to suit lions on the hunt, not charter companies' schedules. We have even been known to change a lodge on the itinerary while out on safari!

The pilot/guides of our small, dedicated team are out there with the client because they, too, enjoy Africa. They are far more highly qualified than the average pilot providing transport between lodges - none has fewer than3.000 flying hours, one has as many as 22.000 flying hours! Aircraft: Twin-engined Piper Seneca, Beechcraft Baron, Cessna 402, Kingair, Cessna Citation. Countries in which we specialize: Botswana, Mocambique, Namibia, South

Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Cost: The cost of an 'own aircraft fly-in' safari compares favourably withthe more common 'airline + charter' arrangements. Depending on route, duration and season, cost is $ 350 - 480 per travelling day.

Summary of Advantages of an 'own aircraft fly in safari' with CCAS

One-on-one planning, high customer involvement in decision-making process both before and during the safari
25 years of expertise at clients' disposal
Small, dedicated, highly experienced team
Current, personal information on venues.
All venues tried-and-tested
Individual attention throughout
Guide throughout, if and when required
Immigration formalities, paperwork, etc. handled by pilot/guide
Flexibility unmatched by any other mode of travel
More direct routing available to light aircraft. Thus 'travelling time'
reduced in favour of 'Safari time'
Luggage can not get lost - it is right there with the client at all times

Brigitte Cross, Cross Country Air Safaris
Tel 27 12 460 3740, Fax 27 12 346 3473
www.airsafaris.co.za

In Canada: Africa by air offers a wonderful opportunity to pack your tour agenda with a whole bag of surprises. The Canadian World War II Canso bomber (above) is one of two of these rare sub chasers that were being refitted at Nanaimo, BC, Canada as 'flying boats' for duty on African Air Safaris.
Our first Air Safari with Chief Pilot Iris McCallum of Regional Airlines in Arusha, combined with our delightful stay at Serena's Serengeti Lodge, followed by a balloon safari, was an unforgettable experience. Our journey to historic cities along the fabled Holy Route as guests of Ethiopian Airlines and the Ethiopian Tourism commission . It's was something totally different. Photo Credits: Regional Air / Muguette Goufrani / Pulse Africa