Scenic Air Safaris
Scenic Air Safaris is a privately held Kenyan flying-safari operator that provides private charters, scenic flights, and bespoke cross-border itineraries to high-net-worth leisure and corporate travelers across East and Southern Africa using an executive-configured Cessna fleet.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersVipingo, Kenya
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Scenic Air Safaris does
Scenic Air Safaris is a privately held Kenyan air charter and specialist flying-safari operator founded in 2009 and headquartered at Vipingo with primary operations out of Wilson Airport, Nairobi. The company provides private air charters, scenic aerial experiences, bespoke cross-border safaris, and premium shared air transport to high-net-worth individuals, couples, photographers, and corporate groups seeking access to remote wildlife and cultural destinations in East and Southern Africa.
The underlying technology is a small fleet of executively configured Cessna aircraft — primarily the Cessna 208 Executive Grand Caravan (up to 8–9 passengers) and the Cessna 206 Stationair (up to 3 passengers) — equipped for panoramic wildlife viewing with professional guide narration during flight. The company layers its aviation asset base with a curated portfolio of named safari itineraries (Ultimate Across Africa, Endangered Species Flying Safari, Ethiopian Tribes of the Omo Valley, Suguta Valley & Lake Turkana, Chimpanzees of Rubondo Island, Snows of Kilimanjaro) and supports sales with an online cost-calculator tool plus VCS/CCBS-validated carbon offsetting.
Revenue is generated through quote-based, per-flight private charters, pre-packaged multi-day safari itineraries, day scenic flights, the Scenic Wilderness shared charter service, and the Execufly Africa corporate membership program. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website, phone, email, and online payments through PesaPal, with no third-party reseller or marketplace presence. Marketing relies on earned media in luxury travel publications and content on the company's YouTube channel rather than paid acquisition.
Scenic Air Safaris firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scenic Air Safaris
- Legal name
- Scenic Air Safaris
- Website
- https://scenicairsafaris.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scenic Air Safaris is a privately held Kenyan flying-safari operator that provides private charters, scenic flights, and bespoke cross-border itineraries to high-net-worth leisure and corporate travelers across East and Southern Africa using an executive-configured Cessna fleet.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scenic Air Safaris industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Flying Safari and Air Charter Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Experiences (Charters, Scenic Flights, Helicopter Tours) (THAJALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies (THAKAFAG), Scenic/Tour & Aerial Sightseeing Flights (TLAFABAJ)
Keywords
Where Scenic Air Safaris is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vipingo
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Scenic Air Safaris business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Private Air Charter: Full private charter services for individuals and groups, offering cost efficiency, time savings, and ultimate convenience for safari travel
- Flying Safari Packages: Pre-packaged safari itineraries including Ultimate Across Africa (10-13 days), Endangered Species Flying Safari, Snows of Kilimanjaro, Suguta Valley & Lake Turkana, Ethiopian Tribes of Omo Valley, and Chimpanzees of Rubondo Island
- Premium Shared Air Charter (Scenic Wilderness): Kenya's first premium shared air charter service connecting key safari destinations at scheduled times
- Corporate Membership Flying (Execufly Africa): Corporate membership program providing access to private flying services for businesses
- Chimpanzee of Rubondo Island Package: 3-night unique exploration trip including flights, accommodation at Rubondo Island Camp, all meals, guided chimpanzee habituation experience, nature walks, and fishing
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cessna 208 Executive Grand Caravan - Private Charter |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cessna 206 Stationair - Private Charter |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Scenic Flying Experiences |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Rubondo Island Chimpanzee Safari |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Scenic Air Safaris product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scenic Air Safaris operates a fleet of executive-configured Cessna aircraft to deliver private air charters, premium shared scheduled flights, and bespoke multi-day flying safaris across East and Southern Africa. Its portfolio includes tailor-made itineraries combining air transport, exclusive camps, wildlife viewing, and cultural experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana, with a carbon-neutral commitment validated under VCS and CCBS standards.
Product overview
Scenic Air Safaris is a specialist flying safari operator offering a portfolio of aviation-based tourism services in Africa. The core offering consists of private charter flights (Flying Privately), premium shared air charter (Premium Seat In Flying), and corporate membership programs, all using executively configured Cessna aircraft. These are complemented by experiential scenic flights and bespoke tailor-made safari itineraries across Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana, and Malawi. Named safari products include multi-day trans-African journeys (Ultimate Across Africa Southbound/Northbound), wildlife-focused trips (Endangered Species Flying Safari, Chimpanzees of Rubondo Island), cultural expeditions (Ethiopian Tribes of the Omo Valley), and landscape-focused experiences (Suguta Valley & Lake Turkana, Snows of Kilimanjaro). A cost calculator tool supports booking planning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flying Privately (Private Air Charter) Private charter flight service using Cessna 208 Executive Grand Caravan (8-9 passengers) and Cessna 206 Stationair (up to 3 passengers), offering cost efficiency, time savings, and door-to-safari convenience for individuals and groups.
- Scenic Flying Experiences Experiential scenic day flights over African wildlife and landscapes including Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Mt. Kenya, and Rift Valley lakes, designed to add an aerial viewing component to a safari adventure.
- Bespoke Flying Safaris Customized cross-border flying safari experiences with tailor-made itineraries for travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path African destinations and multi-country journeys.
- Premium Seat In Flying (Scenic Wilderness) Kenya's first premium shared air charter service, offering scheduled seats on routes connecting key safari destinations as a cost-efficient alternative to full private charter.
- Corporate Membership Flying (Execufly Africa) Recurring corporate membership program providing businesses with access to private flying services, executive transport, and lifestyle benefits across African safari destinations.
- JetConnect Connecting service for seamless air travel coordination across destinations, complementing the company's charter and scheduled safari operations.
- Ultimate Across Africa - Southbound (10-Day Safari) 10-day trans-African flying safari covering Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and optionally Botswana, traveling on a private Cessna Grand Caravan with ground game drives and luxury lodge stays.
- Ultimate Across Africa - Northbound (13-Day Safari) 13-day trans-African flying safari through Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, and Tanzania featuring game drives, boat excursions, and stays at stylish lodges.
- Endangered Species Flying Safari 9-day Kenyan wildlife adventure featuring sightings of Lion, Cheetah, African Elephant, Wild Dog, Grevy's Zebra, and critically endangered Black Rhino at conservation-focused reserves.
- Out of Africa Flying Safari Quintessential Kenyan flying safari featuring flights over Amboseli, Tsavo, and Maasai Mara, combining luxury camps with Big Five wildlife viewing.
- Snows of Kilimanjaro and Flamingos of Lake Natron Scenic day flight over the Great Rift Valley, Lake Magadi pans, Shompole swamps, and Lake Natron breeding grounds for lesser flamingos.
- Suguta Valley & Lake Turkana Safari 9-day exploration safari of Lake Turkana, Suguta Valley, Matthews Mountains, and the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya, covering one of the most rarely visited regions in East Africa.
- Ethiopian Tribes of the Omo Valley 10-day cultural safari from Nairobi or Addis Ababa covering Omo Valley tribes, Lake Turkana, and Bale Mountains, covering over 2,750 km across East Africa.
- Chimpanzees of Rubondo Island Safari 3-night exploration trip to Rubondo Island on Lake Victoria in Tanzania, featuring a guided chimpanzee habituation experience, nature walks, fishing, and over 300 bird species, with maximum 9 passengers in a Cessna Executive C208 Caravan.
Quantifiable outcome
- Carbon offset program validated under VCS and CCBS standards
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Scenic Air Safaris
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Scenic Air Safaris technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Scenic Air Safaris partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KATO (Kenya Association of Tour Operators)coreAssociation of Kenya Tour Operators - an official bonded member providing industry credibility and network access within Kenya's tourism sector
- ATTA (African Travel and Tourism Association)coreAfrican Travel and Tourism Association - continental tourism body providing networking and marketing support across Africa
- KAoA (Kenya Association of Air Operators)coreKenya Association of Air Operators - industry association for aviation operators in Kenya
- WAA (We Are Africa Travel)minorWe Are Africa Travel - pan-African travel marketing collective for luxury safari operators
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Scenic Air Safaris competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AirKenya Express: Kenyan safari air charter operator flying scheduled and on-demand services to game parks and coastal resorts with a similar Cessna fleet. Comparable in route network, aircraft type, customer segment, and charter-vs-scheduled service mix.
- Coastal Aviation: Tanzania-based safari air charter and scheduled operator connecting bush airstrips, Zanzibar, and Serengeti circuits. Comparable as a regional safari-focused air operator using Cessna Caravans in the same East African geography and serving overlapping luxury safari customers.
- Mombasa Air Safari: Kenya coastal safari flight operator offering scheduled and charter services between Mombasa and key safari/air parks. Comparable in business model (small fleet, safari-focused routes, premium tourist clientele) and East African geography.
- Safarilink Aviation: Kenya-based domestic and cross-border safari airline operating scheduled and charter flights between major safari destinations using Cessna Grand Caravans. Directly comparable as a safari-focused air carrier serving the same Kenyan and East African routes and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- &Beyond: Large multi-country luxury safari operator with extensive lodge portfolio and private air transfer services across Africa. Comparable in luxury HNW safari customer segment and multi-country itinerary design, though it operates as a broad incumbent rather than an air-first specialist.
- Great Plains Conservation: Luxury safari operator with camps across Kenya, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, offering fly-in itineraries via partner air charter. Comparable in premium positioning, conservation-aligned branding, and reliance on light aircraft for guest movement across multiple countries.
- Wilderness Safaris: Major pan-African luxury safari and conservation group operating camps across multiple African countries with extensive fly-in itineraries. Comparable in premium safari positioning, multi-country footprint, and use of light aircraft for guest transfers, but at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- Governors' Camp Collection: Long-established Kenyan luxury safari camp operator in the Maasai Mara with associated fly-in packages. Comparable in Kenya luxury safari customer overlap and use of light aircraft connections, though primarily a lodge operator rather than an air carrier.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scenic Air Safaris social profiles
Digital presenceScenic Air Safaris compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Scenic Air Safaris financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scenic Air Safaris leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Scenic Air Safaris funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scenic Air Safaris M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scenic Air Safaris
What does Scenic Air Safaris do?
Scenic Air Safaris operates a fleet of executive-configured Cessna aircraft to deliver private air charters, premium shared scheduled flights, and bespoke multi-day flying safaris across East and Southern Africa. Its portfolio includes tailor-made itineraries combining air transport, exclusive camps, wildlife viewing, and cultural experiences in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana, with a carbon-neutral commitment validated under VCS and CCBS standards.
Is Scenic Air Safaris a public or private company?
Scenic Air Safaris is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Scenic Air Safaris founded?
Scenic Air Safaris was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scenic Air Safaris based?
Scenic Air Safaris is headquartered in Vipingo, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Scenic Air Safaris make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Private Air Charter is the primary driver. The others are flying Safari Packages, premium Shared Air Charter (Scenic Wilderness), corporate Membership Flying (Execufly Africa) and chimpanzee of Rubondo Island Package.
Who are Scenic Air Safaris's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AirKenya Express, Coastal Aviation, Mombasa Air Safari and Safarilink Aviation. Broad incumbents are &Beyond, Great Plains Conservation and Wilderness Safaris. Governors' Camp Collection is listed as a regional player.
Does Scenic Air Safaris have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scenic Air Safaris.
What industry is Scenic Air Safaris in?
Scenic Air Safaris's product category is Luxury Flying Safari and Air Charter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJALAF, Private Aviation Experiences (Charters, Scenic Flights, Helicopter Tours), with a secondary code of THAKAFAG, Safari & Wildlife Travel Agencies. Its NAICS code is 481211 and its SIC code is 7900.