WILSON – MASAI MARA – KISUMU – ENTEBBE – BWINDI AND BACK MAKE FOR A GREAT CROSS BORDER SAFARI COMBINATION
(Posted 07th August 2019)
In a meeting with Evelyn Chesimet, the new Marketing Manageress of Air Kenya at Wilson Airport – long serving Cheryl de Souza, until recently the PR and Communications Manageress, left the company last month after over 13 years of service – did information come to light that the new service connecting the Great Heards of the Masai Mara with the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda, is taking shape better than anticipated.
While a minimum of two passengers booked is required for a confirmation are already now several flights a week taking place.
The initial flight for tourists is the one from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to their chosen airstrip in the Masai Mara to – at this time of the year – see the great migration of wildebeest and zebras – staying at one of the many lodges or tented safari camps. Take off from Nairobi to the Mara is at 08.00 hrs (8 a.m.) and the flight to the Masai Mara normally takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the aircraft used.
Then, those who decided to combine their Kenya visit with a quick trip to see the Ugandan mountain gorillas, will fly from their respective airstrips at 08.45 hrs (8.45 a.m.) on to Kisumu after completing their stay in the Mara. It is in Kisumu where immigration and customs formalities are taking place to exit Kenya. Visitors already in possession of the common East African tourist Visa simply depart from Kenya and on arrival in Entebbe do not need to apply for a Visa to enter Uganda.
Departure from Kisumu to Entebbe is scheduled for 10.30 hrs (10.30 a.m.) with a flying time to Uganda across Lake Victoria of about 1 hour.
On landing are the tourists then going through immigration and customs procedures before boarding an Aerolink flight – a sister company to Air Kenya – from Entebbe to Bwindi, arriving there at 13.55 hrs (1.55 p.m.) in good time to meet their transport to the safari lodges near Buhoma, the main park entrance gate to Bwindi.
This routing is of particular interest to such visitors with an open jaw ticket, which sees them fly into Nairobi but then returns back home from Entebbe, of course with an airline serving both airports.
Air Kenya and Aerolink are working on additional packages whereby tourists initially landing in Uganda can also take advantage of the return flights from Entebbe via Kisumu to the Masai Mara and then on to Wilson Airport from where multiple additional safari and beach destinations can be reached.
Watch out for more information about these new cross border packages as and when they are published.
