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AMREF
Emergency Air Evacuation

AMREF Flying Doctors.

AMREF provides emergency air evacuation throughout East Africa.

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Destinations Serengeti National Park
Summit Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895m
Crater Ngorongoro · 25,000 Animals
Islands Zanzibar · Pemba · Mafia
Wildlife Great Wildebeest Migration
Western Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking
Southern Ruaha · Nyerere
Est. 2009 Kisangara Tours · Arusha
Destinations Serengeti National Park
Summit Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895m
Crater Ngorongoro · 25,000 Animals
Islands Zanzibar · Pemba · Mafia
Wildlife Great Wildebeest Migration
Western Gombe Chimpanzee Trekking
Southern Ruaha · Nyerere
Est. 2009 Kisangara Tours · Arusha
$25Annual membership cost
<2hrAverage Serengeti response
60 yrsOperating in East Africa
AMREFAfrican Medical Research Foundation
Flying Doctors Society of Africa

Emergency
evacuation.
Essential cover.

The Flying Doctors Society of Africa (AMREF) provides emergency air evacuation from any location in East Africa to the nearest appropriate medical facility. For Tanzania safari visitors and Kilimanjaro climbers, this is the single most important additional cover to arrange — and at $25 per person per year, it is the best value safety investment available.

AMREF Flying Doctors has operated in East Africa for over sixty years. Their fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters is based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi and can reach any point in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Kilimanjaro, or the southern parks within a maximum of two hours. Response time to the Serengeti averages under two hours from activation of the emergency. For a medical emergency in the field — cardiac event, severe trauma, Kilimanjaro altitude emergency — this response time is the difference between adequate and critical.

The cost of an emergency air evacuation from the Serengeti to Nairobi without Flying Doctors membership ranges from $15,000 to $25,000 depending on aircraft type, flight time, and the specific origin and destination. With Flying Doctors membership, this cost is covered in its entirety. The membership operates globally for travel-related emergencies in the East Africa coverage area and does not require the emergency to be in a specific location — if you collapse in Arusha town, you are covered. If you have a medical emergency on the Kilimanjaro summit crater at 5,895 metres, you are covered.

Kisangara includes Flying Doctors enrollment information and the direct emergency number in all pre-travel documentation. We recommend that all guests purchase Flying Doctors membership before departure — not as a condition of booking, but because fifteen years of operating in Tanzania has shown us that it matters. We have coordinated four AMREF evacuations for guests over our operating history. In three cases, the membership covered the full cost. In the fourth, the guest had not purchased the membership.

How Flying Doctors Works

Register.
Call.
Evacuated.

Step 1 · Before Travel

Purchase Membership

Visit flydoc.org and purchase the Tourist Membership — approximately $25 per person. Print or save your membership certificate and the emergency contact number (+254 20 6992000). Share the number with your Kisangara guide on arrival. The membership covers the duration of your trip and is valid for 12 months if you plan to return within the year.

Step 2 · If Emergency

Call the Hotline

In a medical emergency, call the AMREF Flying Doctors emergency number: +254 20 6992000. Provide your location (your guide will have GPS coordinates), the nature of the emergency, and your membership number. AMREF will dispatch the appropriate aircraft. Your Kisangara guide is trained in this protocol and will manage the call if you are incapacitated.

Step 3 · Aircraft Dispatch

Aircraft to Your Location

AMREF dispatches from Wilson Airport, Nairobi. Response time to the Serengeti is typically under two hours. The aircraft land at the nearest usable airstrip — most national parks have airstrips within 30–60 minutes of any camp location. Your guide coordinates the ground transfer to the airstrip. AMREF provides medical stabilisation on the aircraft during evacuation.

Step 4 · Medical Facility

Transfer to Hospital

AMREF evacuates to the Aga Khan University Hospital or Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi — two of the best-equipped hospitals in East Africa — or to appropriate facilities in Dar es Salaam or Arusha for less critical cases. All costs from the point of emergency call to delivery at the hospital are covered by the membership. Post-hospital costs are the responsibility of your standard travel insurance.

Questions & Answers

Everything about
Flying Doctors.

Does Flying Doctors replace travel insurance?
No — Flying Doctors covers evacuation only. Standard travel insurance covers trip cancellation, baggage, and medical bills at the receiving hospital. You need both. The combination of a comprehensive travel insurance policy (covering cancellation, baggage, and in-destination medical bills) plus Flying Doctors membership (covering evacuation from the field) provides complete cover for a Tanzania trip. Flying Doctors alone leaves you exposed to hospital bills and trip cancellation costs.
Is Flying Doctors needed for Zanzibar?
Less critical than for mainland game parks or Kilimanjaro, but still recommended. Zanzibar has reasonable hospital facilities for standard medical care. A serious emergency requiring specialist care still requires evacuation to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. The membership cost of $25 is low enough that the coverage is worth having for any Tanzania itinerary, including island-only trips.
Can I purchase Flying Doctors membership on arrival in Tanzania?
Yes — Flying Doctors membership can be purchased online at any time, including after arrival in Tanzania. Purchase at flydoc.org. The membership is active immediately upon payment confirmation. We recommend purchasing before departure for peace of mind and to ensure the documentation is accessible offline, but last-minute purchase is possible. Kisangara can provide the enrollment link and instructions to any guest who has not yet purchased.
Telephone & WhatsApp +255 755 002 886
Office Sokoine Road, Arusha, Tanzania
Hours Mon – Sat · 08:00–18:00 EAT

Based in Tanzania East Africa, we specialize in crafting unforgettable journeys that combine breathtaking landscapes, rich cultures, and authentic experiences. Whether you are seeking the thrill of a game drive across the Serengeti, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or the tranquility of Zanzibar’s beaches, we are dedicated to making every moment meaningful.

Visit our offices

23110 Olorien, Njiro Road, Arusha, Tanzania Parrot Hotel: Plot No. 48 Block No. 21, Kaloleni Area, Urban Arusha – Tanzania

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