Our longest flight so far

Day 10     27^th September

Our longest flight so far – 5 ½ flying hours altogether.  Livingstone (Zambia) to Maun (Botswana) to refuel and then 3 ½ hours to Windhoek in Namibia.  Spectacular scenery along the way – we flew over Vic Falls first, scaring ourselves when we realised where we had actually been swimming yesterday!

 Then it was over MMBA (miles & miles of bugger all) until we started getting close to Maun, and all of a sudden we were over the famous Okavango Delta. 

We stopped in Maun to refuel and file flight plans, which took over an hour (!) – if any of you watched the TV series Bush Pilots, this is where it was filmed.  Didn’t look anything like the airport in the series, to be honest!  Those who know me will laugh at this - as I walked the km from where you refuel to the Briefing Office at the other end of the airport in 38 degree heat (!!) a pair of Lilac Breasted Rollers having a fight fell right at my feet, with 3 more on the fence egging them on - and I didn't have a camera on me!!  Aaargh!

Then it was off on our longest journey yet into Namibia.  We had expected to be flying over totally barren land and were surprised to find demarcated plots and roads along the way.  Gradually the land rose higher until we reached some beautiful mountains coming into Windhoek, flying down the valley in between them to reach Eros airport.  It was hot and bumpy and we were SO pleased to be on the ground, and even better when we reached our hotel and had a cold beer in hand!

The airport was almost deserted - definitely a case of DIY porterage!!

Conquering the Devil's Pool

Days 8 & 9  -  25^th & 26^th September

We arrived at Mfuwe Airport at around 7 am for an early departure…only the lady to take our money had not arrived yet (having promised to be there).  When she did finally arrive she told us the Credit Card Machine had gone to the bank and would be back sometime during the morning! Africa Wins Again!  Soooo, $450 cash poorer, we got on our way, after first refuelling the aircraft from our jerricans as the fuel was so expensive.

We stopped again to refuel to full in Lusaka, and arrived at Livingstone (the Zambia side of Vic Falls) at 1.00.  Robin Pope Safaris did us proud once again, collecting us and installing us in a truly beautiful room/suite (biggest bath I have ever seen!) with its own plunge pool – incredible! And much appreciated as it was very hot indeed.

This morning we actually got a lie-in till 7 am!  Then it was a quick slice of toast and off to Victoria Falls, the Livingstone Island Tour and the Devil’s Pool – excited, and just a wee bit nervous!

Well, it was the most fabulous experience – and a few hours later we are still grinning from ear to ear.  I had a GoPro strapped to my wrist, so this video is not exactly brilliant, but it will hopefully give you some idea of our morning…

Zambia - part 1

Days 4 - 7– 21^st – 24^th September

Monkey Bay to Lilongwe Kamuzu to refuel and exit Malawi, and on to Mfuwe in Zambia.  Much to our surprise, we were told that parking the plane there would cost $5 PER HOUR – and we were to be there for 4 nights!  Ouch!  Normal airport fees are around $15-20 per day!  Not a lot to do, but they promised we could pay by credit card. Hmmm.  See Day 8!

Robin Pope Safaris were there to greet us and drove us to their lovely River Camp in South Luangwa National Park, overlooking the river.  Their daily routine is up at 5.30, quick breakfast and a game drive till 10-10.30, then lunch at 11.30, afternoon rest and tea at 3.30, then afternoon/evening game drive till 7ish, dinner and bed!  The food throughout our stay was absolutely delicious and very creative and the managers and staff could not have been nicer.  We had a superb guide/driver and an open safari landcruiser all to ourselves.

Here are just a few of the highlights from our game drives – it will take me a few weeks to edit all my photos when I get home, not to mention videos!  Lion cubs, Carmine and White-fronted Bee-eaters, a beautiful male leopard (that was stalking a Puku antelope until an idiot in a white pick-up scared it away – grrrr!), necking giraffe (2 young males sparring), ellies and hippos galore, and … a Pel’s Fishing Owl – which Sherry has been dying to see for years!

 

 

We also had a large bull elephant wandering around the camp for the last couple of days – he was very interested in the chocolate brownies at tea-time! We also spent a day visiting the Nsefu area of the park (it was SO hot!) and had a lovely picnic by the riverbed – which was also nearly ‘crashed’ by an elephant family!

Next instalment – Victoria Falls, Livingstone Island and the Devil’s Pool!

The SKI Safari begins...

Hi everyone – sorry for the lack of news -  very difficult to post a blog when no wifi for a week!

Day 1

We left Kajjansi for our big adventure on Monday morning, 18^th September, seen off in style by friends Mark, Debbie, Rosie and Angie.

We stopped in Entebbe to clear customs, Mwanza in Tanzania to refuel, then flew to Dodoma – approx. 5 hours flying in total.  After an argument with the airport authorities, who insisted we paid a commercial permit fee that cost us an unplanned-for $400, we checked into the New Dodoma Hotel (built in 1912!) and had a very strange but tasty Indian/Chinese/Italian Steak, and an early night in order to wake up in good time next morning.  Unfortunately, the hotel’s airport shuttle driver didn’t, so we ended up having to get a taxi!

Day 2

We flew from Dodoma to Msuzu (Malawi) to refuel and clear customs, then on to Monkey Bay – what a lovely romantic name – and a great place.  Flying down to Lake Malawi we came over some high hills to a sheer escarpment down to the lake – spectacular scenery – and round a headland into Monkey Bay, where we were met and taken to Pumulani Lodge run by Robin Pope Safaris. Approx. 4.5 hrs flying.

Our ‘room’ was amazing – little kitchen area, a living area, huge bedroom and bathroom – more like an apartment really, and a lovely surprise.  The veranda looked out towards the lake.  After an afternoon swim to cool off, we were taken on a beautiful sunset cruise on their dhow.  We even encountered a couple of hippos.

Day 3

Sherry was up early in order to go on a guided bird walk.  Earlier than anticipated as she forgot to change her clock by an hour, so was up and dressed at 5 am instead of 6 am!  Saw some ‘lifers’ (new birds not seen before) – Bohm’s Bee-eaters, Violet Sunbird, Trumpeter Hornbill and Livingstone’s Flycatcher. 

After breakfast, it was down to the beach (a LOT of steps!) for a 20 mins speedboat ride to a little island cove where we went snorkelling.  Little fish of a variety of colours -beautiful! – there are more than 600 species of Cyclid in Lake Malawi.

Then it was back for lunch on the beach, a swim in their new pool, a gentle afternoon and a very pleasant BBQ on the beach with the other 6 guests, then a quick pack and sort ready for an early start in the morning.

Zambia here we come...

Tomorrow is Departure Day!

It has been a busy week, getting the last bits sorted out but it seems to have finally come together, and yesterday we packed the plane, ready for take-off on Monday morning...

When the weight of the paperwork equals the weight of the plane, you are ready to depart!

Sherry's bit!  We managed to fix the GoPro to the side of the plane yesterday so hope to get some interesting little videos for you.

Checking what weather is in store before each flight is an essential part of preparation - this is EUMETSAT, freely available.  In case you are wondering - no - we don't have radar in the plane.

Packing the plane yesterday - Fuel, oil, spare tyres, extra battery, siphoning hose, spare alternator, spark plugs, tool kit.....grab bags and medical kit for the back seat in case of an unscheduled landing in the middle of nowhere.....2 bags of camera kit....bag with binocs, sun tan stuff etc....and lastly a couple of bags of clothes and an overnight bag with laptop, phones, chargers etc for 1-night stops! 

Slept well last night!

Dodoma (Tanzania) tomorrow night, then on to Pumulani Resort on Lake Malawi - catch you from there - Bye!

10 days and counting....Planned Departure 18th September

Preparations for the big trip are progressing well.

Routes prepared and marked on the maps, and plotted and printed individually using Easy Plan, flight permissions from the various countries received and contact details for all the airstrips and lodges noted.

Plane checked and rechecked, test flight today to make sure the Spidertrack system is working - this enables our designated flight followers to watch us en route, maps our track every few minutes with our position and alerts them with an alarm if we have stopped moving.  We just have to remember to turn it off when we land!

First Aid Kit and Trauma Kit (safety precaution in case of an 'unplanned' landing) prepared and packed.

The 'Grab Bag' is next on the list - in case of having to evacuate the plane in a hurry in an unpopulated area.- it sits behind us on the back seat.  It is amazing how much we are learning...I reckon we will make good scout leaders by the end of this!  The SAS Survival Guide is awesome!

16 Days and Counting

Hello Everyone,

16 Days and counting....

We are expats from the UK who have lived in Uganda for the past 27 years.

We recently sold our aviation company, which provided light aircraft for travelling around Uganda and adjacent countries, and we are now retired and heading for the Beatles' magic '64'.

However, we have kept one aeroplane - a 6-seater Cessna 206 - in order to fulfill several bucket-list destinations in one amazing safari, flying to Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe - and hopefully back again!  AND WE LEAVE ON THE 18TH SEPTEMBER!!

Why have we called it The SKI Safari? Well, the letters stand for Spending the Kid's Inheritance!  Before any of you start taking this too seriously, you should know that our two wonderful sons and their families are supporting us all the way!

We have never tried to do a blog before, but this is mainly for our family, friends and Facebook followers who would like to know what the crazy McK's are up to now, and who enjoy our wildlife photographs.

For more information about our epic journey, head to https://skisafariblog.com where you will find our itinerary and route map and a Photographic Gallery which we will be adding to en route..... let the adventure begin....