Fleet guide › Cessna Grand Caravan EX
Turboprop

Cessna Grand Caravan EX

Cessna Grand Caravan EX exterior

Overview

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is the backbone of African bush and safari aviation. This single-engine turboprop seats up to nine passengers, thrives on unpaved strips, and shrugs off hot-and-high conditions that trouble other aircraft. With an optional belly cargo pod and famously low operating costs, it is the default choice for scheduled safari shuttles and charter flights into the Mara, the Serengeti and the Okavango. Reliable, spacious and tough, the Caravan does more African charter work than almost any other type.

Key specifications

Manufactured by Cessna (Textron Aviation), 1984-present.

Passengers
up to 11
Cruise speed
315 km/h
170 kt
Range
1,574 km
850 NM
Min runway
0.61 km
2,000 ft
Ceiling
7,620 m
25,000 ft
Baggage
3.9 m3 (cargo pod optional)
Airstrips
Paved & unpaved
Cessna Grand Caravan EX cabin interior

Detailed specifications

Years of manufacture
1984-present
Number produced
3,000+
Max take-off weight
3,995 kg
Max payload
1,850 kg
Empty weight
2,145 kg
Crew
1-2
Engines
1 x P&WC PT6A-140 turboprop
Wingspan
15.88 m
Length
12.67 m

Chartering the Cessna Grand Caravan EX in Africa

For charter across Africa, the Cessna Grand Caravan EX is typically positioned from its home base to your departure airport, flown to your destination, and returned afterwards — the estimate you see on a route search already accounts for this full rotation. Whether it suits a given trip depends on the runway at each end, the distance, and how many seats you need. Search any route to see a live estimate for the Cessna Grand Caravan EX alongside every other aircraft that can fly it, then send an enquiry to have operators confirm the exact price.

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Images are representative of the aircraft type — the actual aircraft, cabin layout and interior finish depend on the operating carrier. Specifications are typical planning figures for charter use and vary by individual aircraft configuration. Charter prices are computed estimates confirmed by the operating carrier through the inquiry process.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charter a Cessna Grand Caravan EX in Africa?

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is chartered as a whole aircraft, not per seat. Planning rates start around US$1,400 per occupied flight hour before airport, handling and navigation charges. On most African sectors the larger variable is positioning: if no Cessna Grand Caravan EX is sitting at your departure airport, the empty leg flown in to collect you is priced into the quote, which is why a short hop can cost more than its flight time suggests. Every route page on this site shows the all-in estimate rather than the bare hourly rate.

How many passengers can the Cessna Grand Caravan EX carry?

Up to 11 passengers in the cabin layout typically offered for charter in Africa. Operators configure individual aircraft differently, so the usable seat count on the specific tail allocated to your trip is confirmed at quote stage, along with baggage allowance, which is usually the binding limit on safari and golf trips rather than seats.

What is the range of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX?

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX plans to roughly 850 nautical miles (about 1,574 km) with normal reserves. From its Maun base that reaches scheduled airports in 11 African countries without a fuel stop. Hot and high departures, strong headwinds and a full cabin all reduce that figure, so longer sectors are planned with a technical stop where needed.

Which African airports can the Cessna Grand Caravan EX use?

It needs roughly 2,000 ft of paved runway at typical charter weights. On our airport data that covers 364 of the 394 African airports with scheduled service, before allowing for elevation, temperature and runway condition on the day. Its short-field performance also opens up regional and bush strips that jets cannot use, which is what makes it the workhorse for safari and remote-site flying.

Where is the Cessna Grand Caravan EX based in Africa?

Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft in our fleet data are based at Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Livingstone, Lusaka, Mahé and other bases. Departing from or near one of those cities keeps positioning cost down, because the aircraft does not have to fly an empty leg to reach you.

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