Over The Waters of Africa An Exclusive Flying Safari Nairobi to Nairobi to Livingstone August 17 - September 02  printable version (908 KB)

Read about my last trip to Ewaso - September 2004 - "A low level study of the Waters of Africa - from Cape to Cairo" - Tim Lapage

This unique, low-level flying safari will explore the great "Waters of Africa." I will personally fly only four fortunate people over Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, the Luangwa River, the Zambezi River, and the Victoria Falls. An option will be continue on to the Okavango Delta, the Atlantic Ocean's Skeleton Coast, finishing in luxury in Cape Town.

I have flown throughout Africa all my life, and the last two years my guests have further explored the great watercourses of Africa. From the source of the Nile to the southern tip of this continent, these waterways define life in Africa. On this year's trip, our flight plan will cover eight of the greatest game countries on earth.

Thu Aug 17 - Sat Aug 19
Rekero Tented Camp - Maasai Mara, Kenya

Thursday - Arrive Nairobi JKIA on Kenya Airways KQ 101 at 6:30am from London. Met upon arrival by your driver from Bush Homes who will drive you to the Aero Club for breakfast. After breakfast you will be taken for check in at 9:30am to depart on Air Kenya at 10:00am to the Masai Mara, arriving Ol Kiombo airstrip at 10:45am. You will be met upon arrival and game drive to Gerard and Rainee Beaton's luxury tented camp. They and their Maasai partner Jackson Looseyia will host you at Rekero Tented Camp, here at the height of the wildebeest migration.

A trip to Africa without nights under canvas is simply not complete. Tents are brand new and very comfortable, with flushing loo and bucket shower attached to the rear of the tent. Rekero tented camp is located in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Talek River in an area of the Mara visited by few other tourists. Your hosts have lived in the area for years and have close relations with the local Maasai people who will introduce you to their culture.

Your days will be spent game driving and taking walks amongst the greatest concentration of wildlife anywhere on earth.

Imagine an early morning hot air balloon ride floating above the Mara and evenings spent sitting around a campfire under the unforgettable African stars.

Sat Aug 20
Rusinga Island - Lake Victoria, Kenya

Depart from Rekero Tented Camp on our flight to Rusinga Island for a day of fishing and exploring the lake. It is a 30 minute charter flight to Rusinga Island, located just off the East shore of Lake Victoria, the world's second largest lake.

Rusinga is a wonderful place from which to explore the lake, do some fishing for up to 200 lb giant Nile perch, or even windsurf and water ski. You can cruise along the lakeshore witnessing superb bird life, fishing villages of a time gone by, have close encounters with Fish Eagles, take boat trips to bird-nesting islands, sail in a traditional dhow, or just relax in the tropical gardens and recharge your batteries whilst on safari.

Mon Aug 21 - Wed Aug 23
Mahale Mountains - Western Tanzania

Monday - Depart from Rusinga Island, a short flight to Kisumu to clear customs, and on along the shores of Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, to Mwanza, on the southern end of the lake, to clear customs into Tanzania. Airborne again, we fly southwest along the Burundi border, joining the Great Rift Valley and the crystal blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, 4,700 feet deep and the world's longest lake.

Landing in the Mahale Mountains in western Tanzania, we take a dhow, and will spend three days at the Greystoke Camp, in elegant comfort right on the lake shore. Tropical forests hang full of vines, waterfalls course down the mountain slopes and thousands of butterflies flutter like confetti. Here you will explore the national park on foot and go fishing from a traditional Arab dhow. Trekking up through lowland and montane forest, we will spend time with the oldest habituated group of chimpanzees in Africa. Some are so accustomed to human presence that they allow you to sit amongst them. There are other primates too, including Colobus and Blue Monkeys.

The shores of Lake Tanganyika lie at the foot of the Rift Valley's eastern wall, territory well known to Stanley and Livingstone. Surrounded by spectacular forests and a daily crescendo of powerful sunsets, the lake's clear waters are home to a vast number of cyclids, vividly-colored tropical fish, offering superb snorkeling and fishing.

Thu Aug 24
Katavi - Southern Tanzania

Flying low along the rugged shores of Lake Tanganyika and southern Tanzania we will land on the vast open plains of Katavi, a wild and remote home to some of the best game in Africa. Here we refuel and proceed to a fly camp near Katavi Chada to spend the night.

At this time of year you will be stunned by the most spectacular congregations of hippo and crocodiles anywhere in Africa.

Fri Aug 25 - Sun 27 Aug
Tafika - Luangwa Valley, Northern Zambia

We continue on to across the scenic highlands to Mbeya to stretch legs and clear customs out of Tanzania. Winging south over the hills of northern Zambia, we will follow the western shore of Lake Malawi. Crossing the famed Nyika plateau we will notice how much this remote countryside has changed, before landing at Mfue two hours later for Zambian customs. Our final short hop is to Tafika on the sandy, lazy Luangwa River.

In Zambia's remote South Luangwa Park lies Tafika, the home and unique safari camp of John and Carol Coppinger, nestled on a sweeping bank of the Luangwa River. Whilst here, John will take you for a fly along the river in his micro-light to see the vast pods of hippo, giving you yet another perspective.

Our first evening we will set off on a game drive by car and on foot to spot the great black - maned lions lounging on the river bank, elephants, massive herds of buffalo, and always-elegant giraffe. The next morning we will walk through some of Africa's wildest country with an armed safari guide to Crocodile Bush Camp for the night - a wilderness haven. We return for a second night at Tafika, having experienced first hand many of the African bush's glories.

Mon Aug 28 - Tue Aug 29
Sausage Tree Camp - Zambia

Flying low on over the wild northern Zambian bush, we pick up the Luangwa River again, merging dramatically into the Zambezi coming in from our left. Half an hour later, we descend over the stark Zambian escarpment and over the Zambezi itself; our circling brings us over Zimbabwe's Mana Pools before settling on the sandy strip at Jeki. Here we will be met and board our boat to take us gently upstream, casting our lines for tiger-fish and marveling at the elephant forging across this mighty river.

Here we will spend two days getting to know this mighty river and the great quantities of game, birdlife and fish that rely upon it.

Wed Aug 30 - Fri Sep 01
Sindabezi - Zambia

We skim low along the river observing the massive flow of this African powerhouse and two hours later the spray from Victoria Falls announces its thunderous cauldron. We fly overhead the Falls for unforgettable Views, crowned with rainbow effects, before landing at Livingstone.

Located 10 miles upstream from the Victoria Falls, Sindabezi Island offers magnificent views overlooking other islands and a nearby floodplain of the Victoria Falls National Park. Sindabezi is unique, being the only island lodge on the Upper Zambezi River in the Victoria Falls area. There is the chance here to experience elephant, hippo, and awaken to the dawn chorus - possibly the best wildlife experience in the Victoria Falls region.

Home to a maximum of ten guests, Sindabezi's comfortable chalets are built from local timber, reed and thatch, each with a spectacular private view over the Zambezi.

Whilst here we will game view by boat, canoe, or on foot (all with a professional guide) fish, star gaze, and simply relax in Sindabezi's superb setting, entertained by Horace the camp hippo.

We will boat up river to have a cordon bleu lunch on Livingstone Island, and plunge into a rock pool on the very lip of the Falls. Other options are the thrill of a full or half day's white water rafting on one of the most exciting rivers in the world, and or stimulating your adrenalin with a bungee jump!

Sat Sep 02
Return Home

From here you will either take a commercial flight onto Johannesburg for your flight home, OR you may elect to continue on to Botswana and Namibia. I will fly the aircraft back to Kenya via Malawi and Tanzania.

Please call me for the cost and options for this unique, once in a lifetime safari.

For more information about myself - your pilot and guide: click here

"Skimming low over vast, abstractly-patterned waterways and spending 3 weeks on the banks of these wondrous rivers and lakes, I saw the starkly obvious: No water, no life. No one other than Tim could offer such a unique view of Africa, given his piloting expertise, professional safari knowledge and bush experience. The thrill of exploration overlays the privilege of being part of each one of these brilliantly dawning days and Southern Cross starlit nights."