Author: tropicair

A bike race like no other – for all ages and abilities, racing down the slopes of Mount Kenya, from 10,000 feet to 4,000 feet raising money and awareness of Mount Kenya’s natural resources, for the benefit of the people and wildlife.

Tropic Air’s association with the Mount Kenya Trust goes back nearly two decades, a conservation-based organization that works hand-in-hand with many stakeholders and individuals. As a result, Mount Kenya’s natural resource remain healthy and sustainable, and like several million people that live around the mountain, we have great respect and appreciation for all that it represents.  Being the Title Sponsor of the 10to4, a unique fund-raising event run by the Mount Kenya Trust, is one way that we can give back, and show our commitment to the conservation of the mountain’s precious biodiversity and its value as Kenya’s principal ‘water tower’.

Photos: Andrey Josephs

Training with the rangers in the wilderness of Laikipia, familiarising in helicopter procedures including simple drills like approaching the heli, opening and closing the doors, fastening seat belts, and disembarking safely. And a few more complicated drills such as loading stretcher patients in highly stressful situations. 

These are the men and women on the front line protecting our rhino and elephant from poaching – a threat which still exists despite world wide efforts to neutralise the ivory and rhino horn trade.  The helicopter is resource which can’t be underestimated – a platform for mobilising the teams to hot spot areas, and to engage in critical situations before it’s too late!  Time is always a factor, and danger is a reality.

Photos Andrey Josephs

YOU have been asking ‘Who creates Tropic Air’s Social Media?‘

JOE MURIITHI, Nanyuki-born-and-raised professional mountaineer and adventure photographer, is responsible for developing the content shared through our social media platforms. He is a talented photographer and editor, with a cool style that reflects just how exciting and unique Tropic Air’s heli safaris and air charter flights are!

In addition to running our Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook pages, Joe creates short promo films for our helicopter safaris, and documents events such as orphan-elephant rescues, the Safari Rally and the 10-to-4 mountain bike challenge for which Tropic Air is the title sponsor.

Joe aspires to be a National Geographic Explorer to share stories about our mountains in Kenya, their wild ecosystems and their value to communities living and depending on them.

After a 4 month stint in maintenance, our very original Cessna 182 – 5Y-BOW is back in action with a new engine from Skyways Texas!

This is the ‘work horse’ of our fixed wing fleet. She can carry two passengers, and fly’s all over the country on private charter missions. The C182 is the perfect bush plane, landing at all sorts of strips and taking people to their next amazing safari destination in Kenya.

Photos: Nanyuki Airstrip (top) and Sedar in South Horr Valley, 18th June 2022

Neshashi – named after the place of her birth in northern Laikipia, was rescued at the age of 3 in January. A ‘big’ orphan but still vulnerable without her mother, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) with support from the Kenya Wildlife Service, Ol Malo and community members, made her challenging rescue happen.

Too big to fit in our helicopter – hired by the SWT to make the first of three crucial journeys to her destination at the Nairobi nursery – she was sedated, placed on a special flat bed and airlifted to the Ol Malo airstrip. A 30 minute flight to a Caravan aircraft, waiting to move her to Nairobi.  It took great man power and initiative to load her into the plane – and by the time she landed in Nairobi it was dark. Still sedated her final journey started – by truck to the nursery.  A very ambitious rescue and entire kudos to the SWT and the many people involved to make it happen.

Over the following weeks, Neshashi was slowly integrated into the nursery herd – and despite being the biggest elephant of the group, she was gentle with the handlers and the other babies, and bonded seamlessly. A heartwarming story of tragedy, dedication and success.

Photos Andrey Josephs

A rare and honoured opportunity to witness a traditional Pokot dance, in the arid and remote lands of West Pokot country. From time immemorial social structure and cultural practices have focused on survival at a community level. A respected system of law and order is followed, where a council of elders handles security, social disputes, ceremonies, and decisions. Colourful ceremonies and rituals are important, with traditional dress very much part of the occasion – and these mark transitions in the social lives of individuals and communities.  

Photo: Andrey Josephs, April 2022, Northern Kenya helicopter excursions