The Kitplanes for Africa (KFA) Safari is a modern, two-seat light aircraft specifically engineered for short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance in rugged environments. Developed by the South African manufacturer Kitplanes for Africa, the Safari is designed to operate in backcountry conditions, featuring a high-wing configuration for improved visibility and ground clearance, along with reinforced landing gear and large tires to handle rough-field operations. The aircraft is marketed globally and is available to customers as either a comprehensive kit for home assembly or as a fully assembled, ready-to-fly aircraft produced directly at the factory in South Africa.
Technical specifications for the Safari, as documented in ICAO Doc 8643, list the aircraft under the type designator KFAS. It is classified as a single-engine landplane (L1P) with a wingspan of 9.3 meters and a total length of 6.4 meters. The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) is rated at 0.5 tonnes (approximately 500 kg). The aircraft is designed to accommodate one pilot and one passenger, falling into the light/general aviation wake turbulence category.
While various powerplants are utilized across the Safari line, the Safari XL variant is notably equipped with the Rotax 916 iS. This engine is a turbocharged, fuel-injected, four-cylinder, four-stroke piston engine produced by BRP-Rotax, delivering 160 hp. This specific configuration provides the aircraft with significant climb performance and STOL capabilities, which has helped the model gain traction in the North American market, including presentations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh via distributors such as Drake Aircraft Adventures.
In terms of operational history, the Safari serves exclusively in civil aviation for recreational flying, adventure operations, and general utility work. It has no documented military service. While KFA is described as a veteran manufacturer with a history dating back to the Bushbaby era of the 1990s, the Safari remains in active production into the mid-2020s. It continues the South African tradition of rugged bushplane design, evolving to meet the demands of the modern experimental and light-sport aircraft community.