Tropic Helicopters Launches New Flights Over Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
Tropic Helicopters is thrilled to announce new flights over Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, offering guests an unrivalled opportunity to see Africa from the air. Since opening their office in Usa River two years ago, Tropic Helicopters has become widely known as a new pioneer of exciting experiences and destinations in Tanzania. Through their long-term relationship with TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority), this exciting new opportunity has opened up, allowing Tropic Helicopters as the only operator of helicopter flights over Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Discussions with TANAPA continue to allow the opening up of high-end tourism development in more remote destinations around Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro Flight
The flight takes passengers in close proximity to the rugged, towering Mawenzi Peak, which is one of Kilimanjaro’s most dramatic features. From there, the flight circles behind Mawenzi’s peak for a breathtaking view before continuing to ascend, and as it passes through 17,000 ft, Kibo - the highest peak of Kilimanjaro - comes into view. The helicopter glides across the gap between the peaks, showcasing the mountain’s immense scale. If conditions are good, passengers enjoy a close-up view of the icy glaciers of the Reusch Crater.
Tropic Helicopters has spent many hours finding the perfect place to land, and the “Cathedral” on the southwest Shira Plateau offers panoramic views, making it ideal for a picnic breakfast and a short walk. Giant groundsels, lobelias, everlasting flowers, and possibly even a bushbuck or klipspringer can be seen.
The flight returns to our Tango Tango Zulu base at Usa River, Arusha, or continues to Mt. Meru.
Mount Meru Flight
As Africa’s fourth-highest peak, Mt. Meru dominates the Arusha National Park landscape and is one of East Africa's largest stratovolcanoes. This flight goes over the ancient Afromontane forest, where giant Podocarpus trees cling to impossibly steep slopes. The flight circles the mountain clockwise, ascends above the treeline, and drifts over a wonderland of giant heather clothed in hanging moss.
Higher up, the vegetation gives way to high-altitude scree slopes, eroded into near-vertical runoff gullies. Gazing down at Arusha Town, nearly 10,000 feet below, the extreme angle of the volcano’s outer slope is breathtaking. Mt. Meru’s summit, “Socialist Peak,” hangs precariously over its vast caldera, which is revealed as the flight follows the curve of the summit ridge. Rising a kilometre above its base, the pyramid-shaped Ash Cone towers over the caldera, offering a perfect landing spot - perhaps Africa’s most stunning picnic location.
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, the flight continues, exploring the vertical walls of the caldera, and descending to land on the banks of the Engare Nanyuki River for an enchanting walk through a fairytale landscape.
These two flights can be taken individually or combined. The best time to take these flights is in the early morning, with a recommended departure of 07:00. Depending on the length of the stop, the entire excursion lasts 4 - 5 hours.
Tropic Helicopters can collect guests from: Arusha Airport, Legendary Lodge, Tango Zulu Heliport in Dolly Estate, Kilimanjaro International Airport, and Moshi Airport. The flights are available year-round, although weather conditions in April and May can limit flying.
For an ideal experience, we recommend 4 passengers, which allows us to land. If there is no landing, we can accommodate up to 6 passengers.
Please contact us for further information, images and rates.
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Notes: For further information, images and rates, please contact [email protected] or call +255 745 466 255
Tropic Helicopters is the sister company to Tropic Air Kenya.
Tropic Helicopters is East Africa's leading helicopter charter operator. Our full-time pilots are highly trained experts with extensive experience flying in mountainous terrain, conducting up to 300 climber recovery and rescue flights off Mt. Kilimanjaro each year.
With in-depth knowledge of the landscape, weather patterns, and mountain winds, we ensure safe navigation throughout the flight.
*Supplemental oxygen is provided for all passengers on flights above 14,000 ft.
