Aircraft in Serengeti

This time we bring you some interesting aircraft photographs taken by my sister, Dr. Pilvi Lassila. She is a veterinarian who frequently travels to exotic locations, and on her recent visit to Tanzania she managed to capture some images of aircraft operating at the Serengeti National Park.

Regional Air -operated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (5H-REG, c/n 208B0443) at the Kogatende Airstrip.

The park has several small airstrips that allow tourists to be flown in and out. These pictures are from the Kogatende Airstrip. It is serviced by several airlines, including Regional Air, Auric Air, Air Excel, and others. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan seems to be the aircraft of choice here, although Pilatus PC-12s were also spotted.

As some of these pictures show, the airstrips are simple without any sophisticated facilities. One of the challenges is that from time to time, wildlife crossing the runway has to be chased away to let aircraft operate safely. As these pictures show, the aircraft are often unable to land due to the sheer number of animals, especially at the time of the Great Migration of wildebeest.

Another one of Regional Air’s Grand Caravans (5H-BYO, c/n 208B0443).

A couple of Auric Air Services’ Cessna 208B Grand Caravans (5H-AAC, c/n 208B2371 and 5H-KKC, c/n 208B2207) and in the foreground Air Excel’s Grand Caravan (5H-XLL, c/n 208B1192).

Grand Caravan 5H-KKC (see previous picture) has to “go once around” while the runway is cleared of a herd of wildebeest.

The rim of the Ngorongoro crater, seen from above en route from Kogatende to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO/HTKJ).

Local fliers.