Safari Stories - Flying High

Having arrived in Africa on a BA Airbus 380-800 with capacity for 469 passengers and a wingspan of nearly 80 metres, our next flight was on an Air Botswana ATR72 which had a maximum capacity of 42 passengers and a wing span of 24.6m. The size difference was made even clearer as we taxied away from the terminal and passed next to an incoming A380.

The flight to Maun was uneventful – although a little bumpy towards the end due to thunderstorms. However as we approached the runway, with flaps and wheels down, we suddenly heard the engines go to full power and the wheels come up as we turned sharply and climbed.

The Captain apologised and explained that there was a very severe thunderstorm right over the runway and told us that we would circle away from the storm for 5 minutes or so and then go back in.

On the second attempt we came almost all the way down to the tarmac but we were blown off course by a sudden squall and it was full power and wheels up again and another few minutes of bumping around in the low cloud.

'Third time lucky' Linda whispered as we made another approach – still being blown off course as we landed safely on the ground and a well deserved round of applause to drown out the sound of the rosary beads!

We had to wait for about 10 minutes for the rain to ease before they opened the doors – Welcome to Maun in the rainy season!

Quickly through immigration, picked up our bag, met by our agent and handed straight over to the Moremi Air rep who took us with an American couple out to a waiting GippsAero G8 Airvan (6 seats including pilot, 12.4m wingspan) for our flight to Lebala.

Our pilot – who looked as if he should still have been at school – announced that we would be flying under the weather at around 500ft and that we should have a great view of the larger game along the way.

Just under an hour later having seen Elephants, Giraffe and Buffalo as promised, we arrived at Lebala in the sunshine – after a quick stop at Lagoon to drop off our fellow passengers.