Microlight Flight in Mombasa Kenya
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:09 am
Jambo from the Reef Hotel in Mombasa Kenya
Just thought I would share my “Kenyan Microlight experience” with you
It all started when we decided to visit Mombasa as our yearly family holiday destination. After booking I started wondering if there were any microlighs flying in Mombasa. I started googeling for microlights in Kenya and came across Kenya Wild and got in contact with Marc the owner. After emailing Marc and him giving me a link to his Facebook page I decided to hook up with him when in Mombasa.
Marc suggested we meet at 14h00 at Lantana beach resort on the South coast where he operates from. This was to be the start of a great adventure for me. My hotel is on the North coast and would be only a 50km drive for me so I thought that this in no problem.
Well my trip started at 11:30 when Fred my Taxi driver picked me up and we drove towards Mombasa Island where we then boarded the ferry for a 5min sea crossing to the South coast. All and all it was a 1h45 minute trip to do the 50km and cost $50US. If I was driving we would have made it in 1 hour and would have had at least 100 run over Kenyans and 10 turned over Tuk Tuk’s ( local for the 3 wheeled motorbike taxi’s).
When we got to the beach there was no sight of Marc but the local beach hawkers said that he would be there just pule pule ( again Swahili for just be patient or slowly slowly ) . If there is something I learned is all day is Pule Pule in Kenya nothing happens fast ……
I then heard the familiar sound of the Rotax 582 over the palm trees and got visual of Marc approaching in his Aquilla 582. He came in and did a perfect beach landing and I was 100% certain that at least he can land.
With all the greetings done Marc explained where we would be flying to and I got in the back seat and was ready to roll.
We got airborne in not ever 70m and we were off to explore the coast line. Marc has a registered runway less than 5nm from the beach and has 2 Aquillas,he also said that it was quite a story to start flying in Kenya as they don’t have a license for flying microlights , so you need a PPL you to fly them.
Business is generated by flying at 11am over the beach alongside all the hotels and landing for a coffee where he waits for the phone calls for flips….. now that is living
I can’t remember all the things Marc showed me as I was so amazed at the wonderful colors the reef and sea makes.
My flight was 1 hour long and we flew mostly at 1000ft ASL as we were close to the local strip where all the planes leave to take tourist to the Masai Mara.
After another perfect landing my flight came to an end with another tourist waiting for a flip. The flip cost me $140US and it was now time again for the 50km or in this case 2h00 drive back to my hotel where an ice cold Tuskers beer was waiting for me.
There is just something special about seeing the earth from a microlight but to see the beauty of Kenya’s coast line from a microlight will be something I will remember forever……………….
They say a picture says 1000 word so you judge for yourself.
Just thought I would share my “Kenyan Microlight experience” with you
It all started when we decided to visit Mombasa as our yearly family holiday destination. After booking I started wondering if there were any microlighs flying in Mombasa. I started googeling for microlights in Kenya and came across Kenya Wild and got in contact with Marc the owner. After emailing Marc and him giving me a link to his Facebook page I decided to hook up with him when in Mombasa.
Marc suggested we meet at 14h00 at Lantana beach resort on the South coast where he operates from. This was to be the start of a great adventure for me. My hotel is on the North coast and would be only a 50km drive for me so I thought that this in no problem.
Well my trip started at 11:30 when Fred my Taxi driver picked me up and we drove towards Mombasa Island where we then boarded the ferry for a 5min sea crossing to the South coast. All and all it was a 1h45 minute trip to do the 50km and cost $50US. If I was driving we would have made it in 1 hour and would have had at least 100 run over Kenyans and 10 turned over Tuk Tuk’s ( local for the 3 wheeled motorbike taxi’s).
When we got to the beach there was no sight of Marc but the local beach hawkers said that he would be there just pule pule ( again Swahili for just be patient or slowly slowly ) . If there is something I learned is all day is Pule Pule in Kenya nothing happens fast ……
I then heard the familiar sound of the Rotax 582 over the palm trees and got visual of Marc approaching in his Aquilla 582. He came in and did a perfect beach landing and I was 100% certain that at least he can land.
With all the greetings done Marc explained where we would be flying to and I got in the back seat and was ready to roll.
We got airborne in not ever 70m and we were off to explore the coast line. Marc has a registered runway less than 5nm from the beach and has 2 Aquillas,he also said that it was quite a story to start flying in Kenya as they don’t have a license for flying microlights , so you need a PPL you to fly them.
Business is generated by flying at 11am over the beach alongside all the hotels and landing for a coffee where he waits for the phone calls for flips….. now that is living
I can’t remember all the things Marc showed me as I was so amazed at the wonderful colors the reef and sea makes.
My flight was 1 hour long and we flew mostly at 1000ft ASL as we were close to the local strip where all the planes leave to take tourist to the Masai Mara.
After another perfect landing my flight came to an end with another tourist waiting for a flip. The flip cost me $140US and it was now time again for the 50km or in this case 2h00 drive back to my hotel where an ice cold Tuskers beer was waiting for me.
There is just something special about seeing the earth from a microlight but to see the beauty of Kenya’s coast line from a microlight will be something I will remember forever……………….
They say a picture says 1000 word so you judge for yourself.
- Tuk Tuk's
- Ferry to South Coast
- Boarding the Ferry
- On Board the Ferry
- The sound of the 582
- Just about to touch down
- the South coast from the air
- Camel toe's in the sand ;)
- Some of the hotels - empty !!
- Island with hotel on - at low tide they take you over by tractor snd high tide with a boat
- one verry happy PAX
- Marc taking the next tourist up
Awesome TC! Now this is what I miss! The site has become quiet and no one is posting their stories anymore! Whars happening guys? 
