 |
|
Gyrocopter tour, an unforgettable experience |
|
|
Kitty Hawk member, Charles du Toit, recently returned from a 10-day Gyrocopter tour to Botswana and Namibia. Charles shares his experiences with us.
Charles, a qualified and experienced pilot on fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, and gyrocopters can’t stress the importance of a knowledgeable and reputable tour leader enough.
“We were fortunate to have Roelf Palm, a veteran of such tours and a gyrocopter instructor himself, at the helm and that makes all the difference,” says Charles. While there are risks attached to such a tour, (it is an adventure after all) it is important to manage those risks and have somebody that plans and controls the trip down to the minutest detail.
“Roelf did a fantastic job in ensuring everyone’s safety and his meticulous planning contributed to the great success of the tour.”
The group managed to cover most of the natural attractions Botswana and Namibia have to offer (see their comprehensive program below) and stayed over at guest farms or lodges. “We did our flying in the mornings as to allow enough time for any unexpected incidents, which we fortunately didn’t have,” says Charles. He says they were blessed with perfect weather and friendly people throughout the entire trip.
While it is almost impossible to single out any highlights, Charles says it is an experience he will always treasure.
Africa Boogie Itinerary
- Departed from Kitty Hawk to Polokwane International Airport
- Checked in to Botswana at the mining town of Selebi-Phikwe (Selebi-Phikwe is on the Southern side of the Makgadikgadi pans and they wanted to fly over the Makgadikgadi pans)
- Selebi-Phikwe to Orapa diamond mine. Orapa mine is on the Southern edge of the Makgadikgadi pans
- From the Makgadikgadi pans to the Northern-side town of Gweta
- Gweta to Maun at the start of the Okavango Delta
- From Maun over the Okavango Delta up with the pan handle to the North at Shakawe Makgadikgadi
- Checked out of Botswana at Shakawe
- From Skakawe along the Okavango River to Rundu in Namibia
- Checked into Namibia at Rundu
- From Rundu to Etosha
- Rest day at Etosha National Park. Spent two nights at Etosha and also had a game drive in the park
- From Etosha to the well-known Vingerklip
- Vingerklip to Twyfelfontein in Damaraland, Namibia
- From Twyfelfontein to the Doros Crater by following the dry Goanatagab River where it meets with the Ugab River close to the Brandberg
- From Brandberg to the small mine town called Uis
- From Uis to Spitzkoppe, stayed over at Tsaobis Nature Park
- From Tsaobis Nature Park to the start of the Kuiseb Canyon
- Along the Kuiseb Canyon to Solitaire
- From Solitaire to Sossusvlei
- From Sossusvlei to the Brukkaros Crater 200km west of Keetmanshoop
- (They followed this route in order to navigate the upper part of the Fish River)
- From Brukkaros along the Fish River down to Ai-Ais
- From Ai-Ais to Keetmanshoop to check out of Namibia
- Checked in at Upington
- From Upington to Pretoria.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
