In Tanzania, I took three “small” flights in total (9 pictures, evenly distributed). The first flight was from Kilimanjaro to Sasakwa in the central region, the second flight was from Sasakwa to Kog in the north, which is where the Mara River and the Great Migration are, and the third flight was from Kog to Zanzibar.
1. Although they are all called small planes, the models are completely different, naturally some are larger and some are smaller. The easiest way to distinguish them is that the propellers of the “small” planes are at the front, while those of the “large” planes are on the sides. Planes without propellers are not within the scope of this note.
2. The first two flights, as shown in the pictures, were true small planes with four rows of seats, three people per row, no air conditioning, no flight attendants, no toilets, and even no boarding passes; the last flight had a flight attendant (an uncle), air conditioning, and a toilet, and even provided snacks, which was very touching.
3. Time consciousness does not exist: the schedule can still change the night before, and because the planes are too small, you cannot find them on various apps, so keep an eye on your email. Even if it changes, it may not be followed, late departures are understandable, but there are also early departures (like my third flight).
4. The itinerary can also change, think of it as a minibus that can stop anywhere with a wave (note, it’s not a bus on a fixed route). Although the itinerary does not show it, none of them are direct flights, and they will stop at small airports based on the ticket sales of the previous day.
5. The funniest thing is that you might even have to switch planes in the middle.
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6. Before boarding, make sure to watch your luggage closely, and see them being loaded onto the plane with your own eyes. On my first flight, the wrong luggage was loaded, but fortunately, the staff asked me if it was mine, and I said no.
7. There are many airlines, and I chose UI, initially for a simple reason – it was recommended by Singita, and it was one of the few with a 20kg luggage allowance per person.
Moreover, the official website did not specify the size of the suitcase or whether it must be a soft case. I checked in a regular Xiaomi 28-inch suitcase.
Despite many complaints, I still recommend taking these flights because they save time and effort, but those who get motion sickness should definitely prepare medicine in advance (the bags on the small planes are not garbage bags, they are vomit bags…).
In short, keep a calm mindset, go with the flow, and as long as you and your luggage arrive safely, it’s fine.
That sounds like such a unique way to experience Tanzania! I never realized how much the small plane flights added to the overall safari vibe, feeling both adventurous and luxurious at the same time.
Flying on small planes sounds thrilling! It must be amazing to see Tanzania’s landscapes from above while getting up close to wildlife. I’d love to try it someday!