Masai Mara, Kenya | Apex Photo Safaris

Getting to Kenya

Home of the Masai Mara Game Reserve

Kenya safari guide

Companies: 1203 operators
Tour packages: 2474 tours
Parks: 9 parks
Currency exchange
Capital: Nairobi
Population: 38 million
Total area:582,650 km² (224,962 miles²)
Languages: English, Swahili
Airports: Nairobi (NBO), Mombasa (MBA)

Recommended vaccinations


MMR

Voltage and plug type

Type G (220V)


About Kenya

Kenya is located in east Africa and is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. The savannah plains of Amboseli, the Maasai Mara and Tsavo are often what spring to mind when one pictures an African safari. It is heavily-reliant upon tourism and over 60% of its GDP comes from foreign tourists who come mainly for safaris and beach holidays. Kenya lies on the equator and its climate ranges from tropical in the coastal and lower-elevation areas to temperate and more arid in the highlands. Its weather is generally sunny and warm, with the lower humidity in the highlands making them particularly comfortable to travel in.

Kenya has a well-established tourism industry, much more than that of its neighbor, Tanzania, and visitors will have ample choice of professional tour operators from which to choose their Kenyan safari. Kenya is a country blessed with an abundance of terrain from which to choose, from open savannahs such as the Maasi Mara to equatorial forests to stunning beaches and coral reefs. Kenya is home to the African safari ‘big five’: buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. The term ‘big five’ originates from big game hunters who ranked these animals in terms of their difficulty to hunt. Those wishing to experience the great migration of the white-bearded wildebeest (also called the blue wildebeest) can witness this spectacle first-hand in the Maasai Mara when the migration passes into southern Kenya from July through late October. Over two million herbivores make their way north from the Serengeti in Tanzania into Kenya as they follow the annual rain patterns in their endless search of lusher, greener grass.

Kenya’s well-developed tourism infrastructure makes it an attractive option for first-time safari goers and for less-seasoned travelers. While Kenya accommodation generally tends to be slightly higher in price than that of its Tanzanian neighbor, its standards tend to be slightly higher than those of its southern neighbor. Kenya is highly recommended as an African safari destination for first-time and well-travelled safari goers alike. 

Located in the Loitoktok District of Kenya’s Rift Valley province, home to the Masai, Amboseli National Park—previously known as Masai Amboseli Game Reserve—is located 140 km (87 miles) sou… read more

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is located in the north of Kenya in the hot and arid lowlands of Mt. Kenya. In 1948, the reserve was established as part of the Isiolo - Samburu game reserve with the present… read more

While the remote Laikipia Plateau, located on the eastern escarpment of Kenya’s Rift Valley, is not officially protected by the Kenyan government, its collective of cooperating private ranches and farm… read more

Lake Nakuru National Park lies about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Nairobi and can be reached in two hours if driving from Nairobi City. The park was created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru and has sinc… read more

Originally established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1948 and as a national park in 1974, the Masai Mara (also sometimes spelled Maasai Mara) is the most-visited park in Kenya. It is also one of the most well-k… read more

Eponymously named for the mountain it houses, Mount Kenya National Park is located in central Kenya. Mt Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa, after Mt Kilimanjaro. Its elevation is 5,200 meters, or… read more

Nairobi National Park, sometimes called Kifaru Ark or ‘Rhinoceros Sanctuary’, was Kenya’s first national park, established in 1946. Only 7 kilometers (4 miles) south of the centre of Nairob… read more

Located in Northern part of Kenya about 350 kilometers from the capital city Nairobi, Samburu National Reserve has an area of 165 km² (103 miles²) and rises to an altitude of 800 m to 1230 m (2625 … read more

Established in 1948 and divided into Tsavo East National Park and Park Tsavo West National Park by road and railway is southeast Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. The park is the namesake of the Tsavo River… read more

Kenya is a very accessible travel destination. From the US and Canada, there are ample airlines that provide flights with one stop-over. From within Europe, most flights are either direct or one-stop and this is also true for the Middle East. Most flights will land in Nairobi at NBO (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). NBO is East Africa's busiest airport and there are many intra-Africa flights that pass through here. It is possible to fly direct from Tanznia, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

East African tourist visa. If you will be visiting Uganda and/or Rwanda on your trip to Kenya, it is recommended that you purchase an East African tourist visa. This allows entry into all three countries.

Driving to Kenya from Uganda

There are regularly-scheduled buses from Kampala, Uganda to Nairobi that are around 10 to 14 hours in duration, depending on the level of the bus. 

 

Shuttle bus to Kenya from Tanzania

There are regular buses from Nairobi to Arusha, which vary in price and comfort. The average duration is around six hours, which includes the border crossing. Here is an incomplete list of companies that offer bus service to and from Nairobi and Arusha. Your African Safari is not affiliated with any of these.

The following airlines travel to Kenya


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AeroLink Uganda Limited is a domestic airline offering both scheduled and charter flights into Uganda's national parks. From its base at Entebbe International Airport, AeroLink using its Cessna Grand Caravans, offers daily flights into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips), Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasese and Mweya airstrips), Murchison Falls (Bugungu, Pakuba and Chobe airstrips), Semuliki National Park (Semliki airstrip) and Kidepo Valley National Park (Apoka airstrip). Effective 1st June 2019, in partnership with its sister company Airkenya Express Limited, Aerolink commenced scheduled flights from Entebbe International Airport to the famous Maasai Mara in Kenya via Kisumu International Airport for Immigration. AeroLink Uganda is affiliated to Airkenya Express in Kenya and Regional Air Services in Tanzania. Visit website

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African Express Airways is the second fully Kenyan designated airline to over 30 countries in four continents. The airline is largest and oldest privately owned in East Africa based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. African Express Airways is profitable, growing and short-haul airline which targets business and leisure travelers, and operates a daily departure from Nairobi. The airline has a fleet of aircrafts, and has been updating with Boeing’s modern, environmentally friendly regional jets. Visit website

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The flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. Air Canada is Canada's largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with its Air Canada Express regional partners, Air Canada serves close to 35 million passengers annually and provides direct passenger service to more than 175 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance™, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Visit website

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The French flag carrier. Air France, stylized as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France,. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. As of 2013 Air France serves 36 destinations in France and operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to 168 destinations in 93 countries (including Overseas departments and territories of France. Visit website

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Air India is the flag carrier airline of India owned by Air India Limited, a Government of India enterprise. 31 international and 59 domestic destinations over 4 continents. Visit website

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The flag carrier of Mauritius. Created in 1967, Air Mauritius helped in connecting Mauritius to the rest of the world by regularly opening new routes. With flights to and from Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, our company now serves 20 regional and international destinations. Visit website

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Regional services within Kenya. At Airkenya safety and security are of paramount importance. As one of Africas leading aviation companies Airkenya aspires to reach new heights of service delivery. At Airkenya our diverse operations are looked into with eagle eyes. Our aircraft are thoroughly inspected by highly trained engineers to ensure our passengers enjoy consistently smooth safe flights. Our excellent maintenance facilities have been approved by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with international airworthiness safety standards. This together with our dedicated ground team has secured Airkenya an impressive track record for safety. Visit website

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Auric Air Services Ltd is Tanzania's preferred corporate and safari airline with a wide network of domestic scheduled services with daily scheduled services to more than 30 destinations and handles approximately 8500 passengers every month. From its bases at Mwanza Airport—Mwanza, Julius Nyerere International Airport—Dar-es-salaam and Arusha Airport, Auric Air provides scheduled charter flights to some of the most remote and otherwise inaccessible destinations (parks & game reserves) within Tanzania. Visit website

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Brussels Airlines, member of Lufthansa Group and a Star Alliance member, is the Belgian airline that offers the widest choice of flights to and from the capital of Europe, Brussels Airport. The company has more than 3,500 employees and 49 aircraft operating some 300 flights daily, connecting the Capital of Europe to over 90 European and African destinations, as well as two destinations in the USA (New York JFK and Washington D.C.). In addition to its 19 long haul destinations in Africa and the US, Brussels Airlines and its intercontinental partners also offer long-haul codeshare flights to the United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, India, North America and Canada. We want to be the most personal airline, bringing people together and making travel a pleasure. Visit website

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Coastal Aviation is an airline operating out of Dar es Salaam - charter flights. Coastal Aviation flying to some 100 strips located in some of the most isolated pockets of the East African Region. The scheduled Coastal network also connects visitors to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with the world-famous Serengeti, links the emerging tourism destinations of Mozambique with the Southern Tanzania parks of Selous and Ruaha, and unites the tropical island paradises of Pemba, Zanzibar, Mafia and Fanjove Private Iaslandwith the National Parks and towns of the mainland. Our state of the art fleet is composed of 20 aircraft and has been expertly-adapted to the African safari environment, without compromise to safety and comfort. Visit website

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Condor Flugdienst Gmb is a German leisure airline based in Frankfurt. In 1955, Condor, the leisure airline of Thomas Cook AG, is founded on December 21 as “Deutsche Flugdienst GmbH” by four partners, Norddeutscher Lloyd (27.75%), Hamburg-Amerika-Linie (27.75%), Deutsche Lufthansa (26%) and Deutsche Bundesbahn (18.5%). The home airport is Frankfurt am Main. The fleet comprises three British-made, twin-engined Vickers Viking prop jobs, each with 36 seats. Since October 1, 2013, all the companies in the Thomas Cook Group have come together under a single symbol: the Sunny Heart. So the Sunny Heart appears on the tails of the aircraft of Thomas Cook Group Airlines to express their common identity. From October 2013 to summer 2014, the entire Condor longhaul fleet will gradually be fitted with a new cabin, with in-seat entertainment in all classes, and fully-automatic, comfortable reclining seats in the new Condor Business Class. Visit website

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Major American airline, with its headquarters Atlanta, Georgia. What started as a humble, little aerial crop dusting operation called Huff Daland Dusters in 1924 has now grown into one of the world’s largest global airlines, helping more than 160 million travelers get to the places they want to go to each year. Delta flies to more than 350 destinations on 6 continents, serving more than 160 million passengers each year. It's an important job, that's why we have 70,000 dedicated employees who are up to the task every day, on every flight. Visit website

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Based in Kampala, operates scheduled and charter services across eastern and central Africa. Eagle Air is a Private Ltd Company specialising in the provision of Charter and Schedule Air services both within Uganda and around the East & Central Africa Region. Eagle Air was incorporated as an air operator in June 1994. Visit website

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The flag carrier airline of Egypt, based at Cairo. EGYPTAIR is one of the world’s pioneer airlines. Established in May of 1932, it became the seventh carrier in the world. Mission Create value for our customers, employees, owners & stakeholders. Vision Deliver competitive customer service with true Egyptian spirit. Visit website

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One of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates along with Etihad Airways and is based in Dubai. A fast-growing international airline with one of the youngest fleets in the sky and more than 400 awards for excellence worldwide. Today, Emirates airline connects over 145 cities to Dubai and to each other, facilitating trade and tourism flows across six continents; while dnata provides ground handling, catering, cargo and travel services not only in Dubai, but across 90 cities, in 38 countries on five continents. Visit website

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Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the flag carrier of Ethiopia. During the past seventy plus years, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in Africa for efficiency and operational success, turning profits for almost all the years of its existence. Operating at the forefront of technology, the airline has also become one of Ethiopia's major industries and a veritable institution in Africa. It commands a lion's share of the pan African network including the daily and double daily east-west flight across the continent. Ethiopian currently serves 100 international and 21 domestic destinations operating the newest and youngest fleet. Visit website

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The second largest airline of the United Arab Emirates. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has in just ten years established itself as the world’s leading airline. “Etihad” is the Arabic word for “union”. Etihad Airways was established by Royal (Amiri) Decree in July 2003. It commenced operations in November 2003 and has developed into one of the fastest growing airlines in the history of commercial aviation. Visit website

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Everett Aviation started business operating a single AS350 in Kenya in 1996. In less than 20 years the Company has become established as the largest helicopter service provider in East Africa, holding AOC’s in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. Everett’s unrivalled regional knowledge, supported by substantial local content and proven, flexible, supply chains ensure they remain at the forefront of aviation in the region. Everett Aviation services also include passenger charter to various destinations across East Africa, being part of the great service they offer. Visit website

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First Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Makivik Corporation since 1990. First Air operates a versatile fleet of aircraft for regularly scheduled passenger and air cargo services. All aircraft are gravel and ice strip equipped for landing in remote locations, and many are combination (combi) aircraft capable of multiple passenger/cargo configurations. In addition to a large scheduled network, First Air’s versatile fleet of aircraft is available for charter throughout the world. With the ability to tailor the passenger/cargo configuration to meet the specific needs of our customers, First Air’s speciality charter service includes the capability to transport passengers to many places. Visit website

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Low-cost airline operating domestic services in Kenya. Fly540 is East Africa’s premier low cost airline offering low fares on scheduled flights all year round to destinations within Kenya, South Sudan and Zanzibar. Headquartered in Nairobi and operating from Jomo Kenyatta International and Wilson Airports, Fly540 Kenya flies to Eldoret, Kisumu, Lamu, Lodwar, Malindi, Mombasa and across the border to Juba and Zanzibar. We believe that our passengers should not only enjoy affordable, safe and comfortable air travel, but also consistent and excellent customer service. Visit website

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Jambojet is low-cost no-frills airline set up to open up the skies for all to travel affordably and conveniently. Jambojet’s brand message to the market is “Now You Can Fly”. They can be contacted for any charter services to destinations in Kenya. Visit website

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The flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded on 7 October, 1919 to serve the Netherlands and its colonies. KLM is today the oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM has been part of the AIR FRANCE KLM group since the merger in 2004. KLM is the core of the KLM Group, which further includes the wholly-owned subsidiaries KLM Cityhopper, transavia.com and Martinair. Visit website

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The flag carrier of Kenya. Kenya Airways was established in February 1977 following the breakup of the East African Community and subsequent disbanding of the jointly-owned East African Airways. KQ now flies to over 60 destinations around the world with over 40 being in Africa. The network expands to many more destinations with partnerships from Codeshare partners. Our Vision is to consistently be a Safe & Profitable Airline that Guarantees World Class Service. Visit website

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Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd., operating as Korean Air, is the flag carrier airline of South Korea. Leading global carrier, a founding member of Skyteam, operates more than 400 flights per day to 127 cities in 45 countries. Visit website

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Low-cost services in South Africa and to neighbouring countries. kulula.com is a fun loving and professional airline based in South Africa. Passengers can be assured that every safety precaution is taken before every flight. Passengers can book cheap flights to domestic destinations and more. We also offer affordable hotel accommodation and car hire, making travelling in South Africa easier than it’s ever been. Visit website

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National air carrier of Mozambique. The LAM mission is air transportation of passengers, cargo and mail in the domestic, regional and international markets, of regular and non-regular nature, with maximum safety, comfort and quality to satisfy our customers. Our goal is to make your travel as enjoyable, comfortable and safe as possible. We have been working to accomplish this objective. LAM uses a fleet of Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer aircraft. Visit website

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The flag carrier of Germany. The Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group with a total of around 540 subsidiaries and equity investments, which in the financial year 2014 were organised into five operating segments: Passenger Airline Group, Logistics, MRO, Catering and, up to the end of 2014, IT Services. All the segments occupy a leading position in their respective markets. Visit website

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Malawi Airlines Limited is the national flag carrier of Malawi. It is a registered partnership company with shareholding between Malawi Government (51%) and Ethiopian Airlines (49%). Malawi Airlines operates B737-700 and Q400 Aircrafts with direct flights to regional cities of Johannesburg, Lusaka, Harare and Dar es Salaam, besides domestic flights between Lilongwe and Blantyre. The Airline offers warm and friendly services to make customers feel at home. In addition to promoting the image of Malawi, through its activities, the airline is playing a vital role in the economic growth by facilitating access for tourism, investment, enhancing trade and generates and save hard currency for the country. With its excellent on-time performance, baggage handling services and in-flight services, Malawi Airlines provides value for money services to all destinations it operates. Visit website

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Mombasa Air Safari is a Kenya coast scheduled airline. MOMBASA AIR SAFARI has been based at Mombasa's Moi International Airport since 1974. Our offices at Mombasa and Diani Beach Ukunda Airport are open during normal business hours. Our agent in Malindi Southern Sky Safaris have offices in the centre of Malindi. Our fleet consists of five aircraft with a seat capacity exceeding 100 seats. We have our own maintenance capability based at Moi International Airport Mombasa. Visit website

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Precision Air is a publicly-listed Tanzanian airline and a leader in providing scheduled flight services to over 10 destinations within and outside Tanzania from its main hub Dar es Salaam. The company operates on the principle that quick, comfortable and reliable service is the best way to serve its customers. Through its customer-focused approach, many have become part of the Precision Air family. Precision Air started with its headquarters in Arusha - the midpoint between the Cape and Cairo, which is the entry point to many of Tanzania's world-renowned landmarks and national parks. The headquarters of Precision Air are now Dar es Salaam, the business complex of the country, which is home to a vast size of traffic travelling within and outside Tanzania. Visit website

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The state-owned flag carrier of Qatar. In a relatively short time, Qatar Airways has grown to more than 140 destinations worldwide, offering unmatched levels of service excellence that have helped excel the award-winning carrier to become best in the world. Voted Airline of the Year 2011 and in 2012 in the prestigious Skytrax industry audit, Qatar Airways has won the confidence of the travelling public. In this highly competitive environment, Qatar Airways has achieved much with our phenomenal route expansion averaging 30% growth year to year and flying one of the most modern fleet of 134 aircraft in the skies today. Our global network currently spans key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America, with scheduled flights operating to and from our hub in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. Visit website

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RwandAir is the flag carrier airline of Rwanda. We serve most East African Community capital cities as well as Johannesburg and Dubai with daily flights. Recently, we introduced Flights to Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Juba in South Sudan and intend to expand to Doula in Cameroon. Our Current destinations include Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Johannesburg, Brazzaville, Dubai, Lagos, Accra and Juba. We have codeshare agreements with SN Brussels on the Kigali-Brussels Sector and Ethiopian Airlines on the Kigali-Addis Ababa Sector. Visit website

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Premier safari airline and charter. Safarilink is Kenya's premier safari airline with a network of connecting domestic scheduled services to all the best safari destinations within Kenya and across the border into northern Tanzania. From it's base at Wilson Airport, Nairobi SafariLink provides daily scheduled flights to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Naivasha, Nanyuki, Lewa Downs, Samburu, Lamu, Kilimanjaro, Loisaba, Migori and Diani Beach. Additionally it can also provide private charter flights if a client's particular requirement as regards destination or timing cannot be met by the scheduled services. Visit website

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National airline of South Africa. At South African Airways we are the proud national airline of South Africa. We offer great value flights to and from South Africa as well as within our beautiful country. We are committed to the highest standards in everything we do and aim to deliver a world-class experience on every flight. Plan and book your flights with us and experience why we are one of the leading airlines in Africa. Visit website

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Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is the national airline of Switzerland. It serves 106 destinations in 49 countries all over the world from Zurich, Basel and Geneva. With a fleet of 95 aircraft, SWISS transports in the region of 16 million passengers every year. Swiss WorldCargo offers a comprehensive airport-to-airport service for high-quality goods and intensive-care freight to some 120 destinations in more than 80 countries. Visit website

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The state-owned flag carrier of Angola. TAAG Angola Airlines was founded in 1938 and is based in Angola’s capital city: Luanda. For over 70 years TAAG has served Angola by operating flights both domestically and internationally and by serving its passengers with a top quality level of service. TAAG is dedicated to expanding its services and improving the customer experience: the airline is acquiring state-of-the-art aircraft, improving its booking system, and instituting a customer loyalty program. TAAG is proud of its past and looks forward to continuing to serve Angola and achieve Excellence in all areas of the Company. Visit website

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The national flag carrier airline of Turkey. Turkish Airlines, one of the most preferred leading European air carrier with global network coverage thanks to its strict compliance with flight safety, reliability, product line, service quality and competitiveness while maintaining its identity as the flag carrier of Turkey. Visit website

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Uganda Airlines is the official flag carrier of Uganda. The Airline provides a complete set of solutions for flights, tours, travels, car rental, accommodations and passenger transportation to and from Uganda. With extensive online tools suited for online and offline travels we provide instant search and bookings to travellers through our online portal. We can also provide tailor-made travel solutions within Uganda that may include Aircraft and Helicopter rental services. Your sure partner to explore Uganda Visit website

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373 Destinations (airports served) 233 Domestic destinations (airports served) 140 International destinations (airports served) 60 Countries Served 5,055 Daily Departures 138 Million passengers in 2014 Visit website

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Kenya map