subject: Scheduled Flights Masai Mara|Samburu|Tsavo|Meru|Nanyuki|Chyullu Hills|Amboseli And Into Major Cities In Kenya [print this page] Kenya is a major tourist's attraction in East Africa region with one of its Game Reserve the famous Masai Mara being named as "the seven wonders of the world". Tourists visiting Kenya have a variety of National parks and Game reserves to visit depending on their favourite wild animals, birds, trees and flowers they want to scenic.
For the tourists to be able to reach these national parks and game reserves some opt to use road packages due to their budget and others use commercial flights and private charter flights.
In Kenya there are three major airports where the scheduled flights depart and air operators are based namely,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,Moi International Airport Mombasa and Wilson Airport ,Nairobi.
Out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport we have scheduled flights departing and arriving for domestic, regional and international .It is from there that flights to Kisumu,Eldoret,Kitale,Mombasa,Lamu,Malindi,Lokichogio depart and arrive. The airfares depend with each airline as there several airlines operating on these routes and the pricing strategy depends on the airline. These flights depart on a timetable which is published and use different aircrafts with varying capacity of 50, 70,100,120 seats and also it depends with the airport they are operating into.
Most of the scheduled flights to national parks and game reserves depart and arrive at Wilson Airport, Nairobi.There are three flights departing in the morning to Masai Mara at 0945 hrs, 1000 hrs and 0930 hrs and in the afternoon two flights at 1445 hrs and 1500 hrs and aircrafts used are the Dash 7, Dash 8, Cessna Caravan and these flights can take up to 200 passengers on each service. Flights to Samburu, Meru, Nanyuki, Lewa Downs, Loisaba, Shaba, Chyullu Hills, and Tsavo East/West are operated one service daily in the morning and early afternoon with two flights operating at different times.
Moi International Airport, Mombasa serves the Coastal region and there are scheduled flights arriving and departing domestic, regional and international. Scheduled flights to Masai Mara departs from Moi International Airport,Mombasa at 0730 hrs via Ukunda(Diani) and Malindi to Amboseli,Tsavo and Masai Mara once daily. These scheduled flights will only go via Malindi with a minimum of 5 passengers for either pick or drop or alternatively you pay for 5 seats otherwise you will have to board your flight from Mombasa. Those in Lamu will have to board from Mombasa or Malindi to Masai Mara.
On scheduled flights you purchase air tickets based on one-way or return and there are also air packages which are available that comprises ticket,accommodation,meals,game drives and park entry fees which will work out cheaper than purchasing each service separately. For the scheduled flights you need to reserve you seats well in advance especially during the migration of wildebeest in Masai Mara from mid June to Mid Dec every year.
Also scheduled flights to major cities are to be reserved in advance due to high demand as if you book a few days to the date of departure you will be charged the business class fare as economy and special fares are offered those who book in advance. Also the luggage allowance on the scheduled flights is 15 kilos per person in soft bags for flights to national parks and game reserves and if you have more luggage like 75 kilos you pay for a seat and if it is about 10 kilos you will pay as excess baggage but subject to availability of space.
There are luxurious and budget camps and lodges and you can book an accommodation depending on your budget. Also be alert that if you miss your next flight to the national parks or game reserve your travel will be subject to availability of space and there is no refund of the ticket. Airfares are calculated on the distance of the destination and the capacity of the aircraft used.
There are wild animals, trees, flowers, insect and birds to be viewed in these national parks and game reserves but we will briefly talk about Eagle birds and their species.
There are seven species of the Eagle bird as follows,
Long-Crested Eagle
A Bird of forest edges and woodlands of all types throughout East Africa .Easily recognized by the long loosely feathered crest and dark brown-black plumage which covers the entire bird with the exception of whitish feathering on the thighs, on the thighs, on the under wing coverts and the wing edges at the shoulders. The tail is brown-black with three broad grey bands. The eyes are golden yellow, the cere, legs and feet are yellow. They feed mainly on rodents, lizards and large insects. The sexes are similar, the female being slightly larger than male.
African Crowned Eagle
The largest of Africa's eagles, frequenting areas of highland forest and woodlands throughout the region. The male has has the forehead and crown dark brown with crest feathers tipped with black. The remainder of the head and neck is pale to mid-brown. The chin and throat are dark brown. The breast, belly, thighs, legs and under parts is buff-white heavily barred and blotched with dark brown and black. The back and wing coverts are charcoal grey/black, the primary and secondary flight feathers are brown, barred and tipped with black. The long tail is charcoal black broadly barred with grey.The eyes are yellow and the bill is blackish with the gape and cere yellow. The large powerful feet are dull yellow. The female is larger than the male, has a shorter crest, a longer tail and is usually more heavily barred on the underside. Immature birds have the head and under parts white, with a hint of brown on the breast and black spotting on the lower flanks, thighs and legs.
Martial Eagle
A very large eagle, widespread throughout East Africa frequenting reverine forests, dry bush and lightly wooded savannas. The head, neck, back, wings and upper breast are dark brownish grey-black. The lower breast, belly, thighs and undeparts are white conspicuously spotted dark brown-black. The tail is brown-black barred with grey-black. The eyes are bright golden yellow. The cere and feet dull yellow-green. The sexes are similar, the female being slightly larger and with bolder spotting on the breast. Immature birds are generally paler, have a white throat and lack the spotting on the underside.
Tawny Eagle
The commonest eagle of the region. The plumage is subject to tremendous variation and can be anything from light buff to dark brown. The primary wing feathers are usually dark brown. The eyes are pale tawny-yellow and the feet are yellow. The bill is grey tipped with black and the cere is yellow. The sexes are similar, the females being larger and often darker than the males.
Verreaurs Eagle
Found in small numbers throughout the region in the vicinity of rocky outcrops and inland cliffs. The only eagle in the region almost entirely black both above and below. A white V' shaped line extends from shoulder to shoulder across the upper back and the base of the primary wing feathers on the underside are greyish.The eyes are dark brown with a yellow eyebrow. The cere and feet are yellow. The sexes are similar. They feed almost exclusively on rock hyrax in areas where hyrax densities are high, but will also take dik dik and young klipspringer as well as the occasional bird.
Wahl bergs Eagle
A small, slender eagle of woodlands, reverine forests, wooded savannahs' and bush over much of the region. A bird of uniform brown plumage with a variable amount of streaking and flecking. Usually paler on the head, wing coverts and underparts.The long tail is dark brown with sporadic banding. The eyes are mid brown, the cere and feet are pale yellow-grey .The sexes are similar, the female being slightly larger than the male. At a distance it could well be mistaken for a tawny eagle, but the narrow wings, long tail and smaller size aid identification. Feeds on a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
African Fish Eagle
Widely distributed in the vicinity of both alkaline and freshwater lakes, swamps, marshes and rivers. A dult birds (A) are unmistakeable having pure white head, neck, mantle and breast contrasting with rofous brown underparts and dark brown back and wings. The primary wing feathers are blackish. The tail is pure white. The bill is grey-blue tipped with black. The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are yellow. The female is larger than male. Immature birds have the crown and upperparts brown, cheeks and neck white, breast and under parts buff to brown heavily streaked with black. The tail is off-white with a brown terminal band. The immature (B) plumage stages are subject to extreme variation. The cere, legs and feet lack the intense colour of the adults, being dull grey-yellow. Feeds mainly on fish but will also take some water birds including flamingos.
For birding safaris you can be able to view different species of birds in Kenya and East Africa we were concentrating only on Eagles and you can read more on birds species in the articles.
Scheduled Flights Masai Mara|Samburu|Tsavo|Meru|Nanyuki|Chyullu Hills|Amboseli And Into Major Cities In Kenya
