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BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Flying Times:
Namibia & Botswana

​Reach the remote places, without losing time on the road. A fly-in safari uses light aircraft, by private charter or scheduled seat-rate flight, to move between destinations efficiently and scenically.

Blue Crane Fly in Safaris

A fly-in safari means travelling between destinations by light aircraft, either by private charter or scheduled seat-rate flight. It is one of the most efficient and memorable ways to experience Namibia and Botswana, especially when your itinerary includes remote lodges, private concessions or wilderness areas that are difficult to reach by road.

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Flying does more than save time. It changes the rhythm of the journey. Long distances become scenic transitions. Desert, delta, salt pan and savannah unfold beneath you. Instead of spending full days in transit, you arrive with more time for game drives, sundowners, guided walks, mokoro excursions or simply settling into camp.

Namibi and Botswana map showing flying times

Why Choose a Fly-In Safari?

Fly-in safaris are ideal when comfort, time and access matter. They are especially useful for:

  • Reaching remote safari camps and private concessions

  • Combining several regions without long road transfers

  • Maximising time at lodges and on safari activities

  • Avoiding difficult or seasonal road conditions

  • Creating a smoother journey for senior travellers, families or honeymooners

  • Adding a scenic aerial perspective to the itinerary

In Namibia, flying can shorten long desert distances between Windhoek, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha and the far northwest. In Botswana, light aircraft transfers are often the most practical way to reach the Okavango Delta, private concessions, Chobe, the Makgadikgadi and other remote safari areas.

Namibia Flying Times

Namibia's highlights are spread across a vast landscape. By road, routes can be beautiful but long. Flying allows travellers to experience more of the country with less fatigue, especially when combining the desert, coast, wildlife areas and remote northern regions.

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Typical fly-in safari routes may connect:

  • Windhoek

  • Sossusvlei and Sesriem

  • Swakopmund / Walvis Bay

  • Damaraland

  • Kaokoland

  • Skeleton Coast

  • Serra Cafema

  • Etosha National Park

  • Wolwedans and the NamibRand region

For travellers with limited time, flying can make a major difference. A route that might require several long driving days can become a smoother sequence of scenic flights and carefully paced lodge stays.

Botswana Flying Times

Botswana is one of Africa’s best fly-in safari destinations. Many of its most rewarding camps are remote, small and set inside private concessions or wilderness areas where road access can be limited, seasonal or time-consuming.


Light aircraft transfers are commonly used to connect:

  • Maun

  • Okavango Delta

  • Chobe National Park

  • Kasane

  • Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

  • Victoria Falls connections

Flying is particularly valuable in the Okavango Delta, where lodges may sit on islands, floodplains or private concessions that are best reached by air. From the sky, travellers also get a powerful first impression of Botswana’s landscape: channels, pans, woodland, rivers and floodplains stretching across the horizon.

Private Charter or Scheduled Seat-Rate Flights?

Most fly-in safari routes use either private charter flights or scheduled seat-rate flights.


A private charter offers the greatest flexibility. It can be timed around your itinerary and is often useful for families, private groups, high-end journeys or routes that need more precise coordination.


Scheduled seat-rate flights are commonly used on established safari routes. They are shared with other travellers and help make fly-in logistics more cost-effective while still giving access to remote camps and lodges.


Blue Crane Safaris will recommend the most practical option based on your route, budget, travel dates, lodge selection and comfort preferences.

Important Fly-In Safari Notes

Light aircraft travel is different from standard commercial flying. It is comfortable and scenic, but it does require a little preparation.


Travellers should usually expect:

  • Soft-sided luggage requirements

  • Strict luggage weight limits

  • Small aircraft seating

  • Possible stops at other airstrips en route

  • Weather-dependent timing adjustments

  • Transfers between airstrips and lodges by safari vehicle or boat

  • Spectacular views along the way

Exact flying times can vary depending on aircraft type, routing, weather, airstrip stops and operational requirements. The times shown in the graphic should be treated as approximate planning guidance.

Flying times.jpg

When Flying Makes the Most Sense

A fly-in safari is usually the best choice when the route includes remote regions, limited travel time or a strong focus on comfort.


It is especially recommended for:

  • Okavango Delta lodge combinations

  • Namibia desert-and-safari itineraries with limited days

  • Luxury safari routes

  • Honeymoons and special occasions

  • Multi-country combinations

  • Travellers who prefer not to self-drive long distances

  • Journeys where lodge time is more important than road time

For some routes, self-drive remains part of the adventure. For others, flying is what makes the itinerary work.

NEED GUIDANCE?
Need Help Choosing the Right Route?

Blue Crane Safaris can help you decide when to fly, when to drive and when to combine both.


Tell us where you want to go, how much time you have and what kind of travel pace you prefer. We will help shape a route that makes the most of your time on the ground and the views from above.

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