KENYA
With its lush western boundaries, palm-fringed eastern coast, glittering northern deserts and expansive southern plains, Kenya offers unique opportunities for adventure. From the air, it is simply breathtaking, a kaleidoscope of ever-changing vistas.
Kenya's culture is equally diverse, it has more than forty tribes each with their own rich traditions and ceremonies.
Whether you fly with us for a couple of hours, a day trip or on one of our longer experiences, Tropic Air's helicopter safaris will fill you with wonder.
See Mt Kenya up close as you navigate its snow-capped peaks, tumbling moorlands and touch down on a picturesque lake. Fly over billowing dunes, through deep canyons, past soda lakes and oases of the magical northern frontier.
Join us for a flight of discovery.
MT. KENYA
Straddling the equator and rising to 5199 metres, Mt Kenya sits in spectacular contrast to the rest of Kenya. From glaciers and forbidding snow-covered rocky crags to ruddy moorland and dense forest on the lower slopes, the mountain is stunning from the air.
We fly at dawn to circle the twin peaks of Batian and Nelion, touching down later at Lake Michaelson or Lake Alice for breakfast, hot coffee and maybe a spot of fly fishing for rainbow trout.
SUGUTA VALLEY
Stretching from lake Baringo to the south of Lake Turkana, the Suguta Valley is hot, remote and truly spectacular. Unspoiled and hard to access, it is an exclusive area dominated by volcanic lava flows, colourful sediments, sand dunes, fossil beds and salty springs lined with doum palm.
In the south of the valley, we visit Silale Crater, a vast caldera carpeted by grass and shrubs. The valley's eastern side boasts the amazing rock formations and pastel hues of the Hoodoo and Painted valleys. Continuing north, we reach the shallow waters of Lake Logipi and thousands of dazzling pink flamingos.
TRIBAL VISITS WITH THE POKOT, SAMBURU & TURKANA
The barren landscapes of the north are populated by a number of proud pastoralist tribes surviving entirely off their camels and goats. Among the toughest people on Earth, they celebrate life’s milestones with ceremonies dating back to antiquity. Visit them in their homes, learn about their beliefs and priorities, and feel their warmth and charm firsthand.
TURKANA
Lake Turkana is the world's largest desert lake. Formerly known as Lake Rudolf and often referred to as the Jade Sea, its stunning green colour is striking in contrast to the dark lava and craters that make up the shoreline. Massive Nile Crocodiles glide lazily through the clear alkaline waters of the lake while furious winds whip up desert sands and the smell of hot earth.
Owing to its remoteness and scale, this region demands time. Koros camp is perfectly located as a base to explore... Widely regarded as the place where man first stood up, the hominid fossils found there draw direct links to our ancestral past. The cratered islands are curious and beautiful, a paradise for breeding crocodiles and the fishing is incredible. If you're feeling brave, take a quick dip!
KOROS CAMP
This wonderful simple camp in the far reaches of northern Kenya boasts six airy thatched cottages. An ornithological paradise, its tranquil surroundings, exceptional food, and evenings by the campfire will create lasting memories.
THE ISLANDS OF LAKE TURKANA
The black lava beaches on the three crater lakes of Central Island are an ideal breeding ground for Nile crocodile, giving it the informal title of Crocodile Island. Menacing but magnificent, Central and South Islands are designated World Heritage Sites protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service. We stop here for coffee, a picnic, fly camping or fishing.
ROCK ART SITES
Dating back some 2,000 years, northern Kenya’s abundant rock art sites are not only a treasure trove of beautiful, thought-provoking imagery, but also an invaluable historical record. With their many images of giraffe, elephant, gerenuk and other animals, they show that the harsh desert we see today was once teeming with game.
SIBILOI NATIONAL PARK
Located to the east of Lake Turkana close to the Ethiopian border, Sibiloi is where anthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey made the profound discovery that the origin of human evolution was centred in Africa, not Asia, as had previously been thought.
At the Koobi Fora Museum on the shores of the lake, you can experience a detailed insight into the dawn of mankind. Surrounding the semi-arid plains of the site lie volcanic formations including Mt Sibiloi, on which lie the remains of a petrified forest.
FISHING ON LAKE TURKANA
Deep in the waters of the world’s largest desert lake lurk creatures we normally only dream of. You can catch enormous Nile perch, tilapia for the barbecue and admire the needle fangs and glistening stripes of tiger fish.
KAROLI SPRINGS
The Karoli Springs in the Chalbi Desert west of Lake Turkana are a crucial water point for the Rendille, a semi-nomadic people who move with their camels and goats in pursuit of grazing and water. Here, we wait for thousands of sandgrouse who also arrive to quench their thirst, having flown miles over the seering heat of the desert.
QUAD-BIKING - L'ATTITUDE ADVENTURES
Charging up dry river beds astride the bulky, reassuring weight of a quad bike is a thrill like no other; an opportunity to get up close with the dusty, sun-baked terrain of northern Kenya. Experience the local culture, witness extraordinary night skies and discover miraculous life forms that continue to thrive despite the harsh conditions. Whether part of a day-trip or a longer safari, a quad bike adventure is a great addition to any trip to the north.
MT NYIRO & THE NDOTOS
Surrounded by desert, the forest-topped mountain of Nyiro is a perfect escape from the desert heat. Our trips often touch down here for a picnic and walk under the tropical forest canopy.
Further south, the Ndoto's and Matthews mountain ranges stretch 100 kilometers across Samburu county. Fresh water streams trickle down rocky cascades in the shade of giant cycads - the world's oldest plant species. Flying the ridge-lines, we look over the lush canopy forest, to the desert below - a striking contrast of topography.
RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
Orphaned elephant calves are a common issue often connected to abandonment from drought, falling in man-made wells or the mortality of the mother due to human-wildlife conflict or natural death. Visit and learn how the local people rear and prepare the elephants for their release back to the wild.
E-BIKING
Feel the wind whistling in your hair and the sandy soil crunching beneath your wheels as you take your safari to a whole new level. Bringing the e-bikes with us, we land where we like and set off well supplied with snacks and drinks into the remoteness of Kenya’s north, returning only when we’ve had our fill of exploration.