2-13 February 2026 are the dates of next Kenya XC Paragliding Adventure Tour.
This is a guided tour for autonomous pilots. Your guide suggests the travel itinerary in order to maximize flying. He recommends hotels to stay, restaurants to eat, things to see or buy. The guide briefs you daily about the weather forecast, site features and conditions. He suggests cross-country directions and retrieve possibilities. He launches first to check conditions or last to assist with difficult take offs. Then we try to fly together along the proposed route or improvise according to the conditions via radio communication. Keep in mind that most of Kenya is exposed to moderate easterly winds, so waiting for each other is often not possible. That’s why you need to be an autonomous pilot – able to take off, fly, make decisions and land on your own. The radio equipped retrieve driver is familiar with life tracking and paragliding cross-country flights. Before each flight he is briefed about the possible retrieve routes, but after landing, you are the one who needs to activate and direct him, as others might still be flying. The generous Kenyan conditions can produce long flights with much longer retrieves. It is recommended to use local transport in order to speed up your and other pilots retrieves. The good thing in Kenya is that your landing almost always attracts people with motorbikes (boda) who come and offer you transport. Practice your dealing skills and let them drive you to the nearest tarmac road, shop or restaurant. Give some money to local economy and warm impression towards paragliding pilots among local people. Once on the tarmac, you can continue your self-retrieve by using the common and often crowded vans (matatu). When in Rome do like Romans, but with the privilege to have a retrieve car. Keep in mind that driving at night is not safe in Africa due to drunkards or banditry. In extreme circumstances (it didn’t happen yet 😉 you may land very far and then it’s better to sleep in a local hotel and think about retrieve and joining others the next morning. This adventure tour is not for pilots who expect quality service and comfort. Kenya is a new destination with new cross country routes waiting to be explored, requiring improvisation, flexibility, tolerance. Different pilots share the same tour, the same sky. Some will fly farther, others shorter but all share the same transport expenses. It might be a selfishness test but also an opportunity to be happy from other’s flights. Knowledge is the key!
- Tour name: Kenya Cross Country Paragliding Adventure Tour
- Dates: 2 February (Monday) – 13 February (Friday) 2024.
- Duration: 12 days
- Guide: Nikolay Yotov/ Isaac Makimei
- Maximum number of pilots: 8
- Pilot’s level: Experienced. More than 400 hours/flights. Min 50 km Personal Best. SIV. Good take off and landing skills for narrow places. Fit for 2 hours hike to some take offs. Adaptive to various situations and friendly with local people.
- Flying sites: Iten, Kerio valley; lake Naivasha area, Kijabe; East of Nairobi: Machakos area; Chiylu hills National Park ($43).
- Accommodation: private room with bathroom in mostly 1-2 star hotels. $15-30 per day or about $300 for 12 days
- Food: standard – about $10-15 per day or about $150 for 12 days
- Guiding: $30 per day or $360 for 12 days
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- Transport: Toyota 4WD van with driver (up to 5 pilots with paragliders) plus fuel is about $400 per person for 12 days (paid in advance). Obviously, the exact price depends on flown distances and number of participants. The tour starts and ends in Naivasha with full tank. Transfers from Nairobi to Naivasha are available.
- Total price: about $1300 excluding flights to Nairobi
SkyNomad can organize Safari Tours and Indian Ocean beach holiday for your non-flying family members.