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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 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 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. One-on-one
planning, high customer involvement in
decision-making process both before and during the
safari Brigitte
Cross, Cross Country Air Safaris 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. |