The Kitplanes for Africa (KFA) Bushbaby is a South African-designed, two-seat, high-wing light aircraft tailored for the demanding conditions of the African bush. Established in the early 1990s by a group of aviation enthusiasts, Kitplanes for Africa commenced production of the Bushbaby shortly after the company's founding in 1993. The aircraft was developed as an affordable, reliable, and versatile solution for bush flying, featuring a fabric-covered airframe and robust fixed landing gear with large wheels to handle rough, unprepared runways. Due to its utility and accessibility as a kit-built aircraft, it became the top-selling light aircraft in South Africa, with more than 300 units sold.
While the aircraft was designed in-house by the KFA team, specific individual designers for the original Bushbaby are not documented in available records. The design served as the technical foundation for a family of larger STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft, including the Explorer, introduced in 2003, and the Safari, introduced in 2008. According to ICAO documentation, the Bushbaby (designator KFAB) features a wingspan of 9.1 meters, a length of 5.7 meters, and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 0.5 tonnes (500 kg).
Technically, the Bushbaby is classified as a single-piston engine landplane. While individual kit builds may vary, the aircraft family commonly utilizes Rotax piston engines, such as the 912 series. For instance, the Safari variant is powered by the Rotax 912 ULS, and the Explorer is capable of accommodating a 135 hp KFA turbo engine. The aircraft is configured for a crew of one pilot and one passenger.
In civil service, the Bushbaby is operated primarily by private individuals and flying clubs for recreational sport flying and utility work in remote areas. There is no record of the aircraft being used in military or wartime roles. The enduring popularity of the design is reflected in KFA's total production output, which now exceeds 600 aircraft across all its models. Kitplanes for Africa remains in business today, continuing to offer new kits and factory-assisted builds.