Microlighters

I am planning a trip to Otjiwarango in a gyro but the planning isn't going well as Botswana looks like a no-go. I would like to do no more than 200 to 230 miles per leg before refueling. Route options: 1) Kitty Hawk; Pilanesberg; Gabarone; Jwaneng; Kang; Mamumo; Windhoek; Otjiwarango or 2) Kitty; Vryburg; Upington; Keetmanshoop; Mariental; Windhoek; Otjiwarango. Customs and fuel is the problem. And will have to do it over two days. Has any of you attempted this trip before that maybe can offer some advise?

Hi Tinkerbell,
Also planning to take my trike to Namibia in April. Will route via Upington and Keetmanshoop.
For info on Namibia, Hanno Snyman of Mican ( www.mican.com.na ) is very helpful.

Regards,
Arnulf

Thank you, Arnulf.

Tinkerbell,

Chat to Piet Meyer here on the forum, he has flown his Jabbi to Botswana a few times...

Sounds great Tink, hope you have a great trip!

Yes, Piet Meyer knows the process through Bots by now (travels there a lot)....and also try Louis Cole (who did the Namibia part last year)...Louis cleared customs in Ariamsvlei, which may help you a lot? I have both their contact no's so let me know, and I'll sms them to you.

Please, Al. My biggest problem is fuel because I won't have a ground crew. That determines a lot!

Tinkerbell

The trip to Botswana is very easy. I fly a Jabi so they see it as a certified aircraft so basically I file a flight plan on file2fly and then go. From FAPN to Gaborone is very easy and they have avgas available but no mogas. The problem will be the fuel situation as to find somebody to take you anywhere is very difficult, so unless there is fuel at the field, you might struggle.

In Gabs, there is Zuluben on avacom that will help you. Jwaneng is a private airfield that belongs to the Debswana mining company. There is no fuel there and the closest place to get fuel is the Engen station in town. It is about 5km away. You need approval to land Jwaneng. I can help with that as I fly there very month. I might even be able to get somebody there to help you get to the fuel station.

I have never been to Kang and not sure if there are any airfields there. I do know that there is that big UltraCity type fuel stop there and the roads are nice and wide

For non certified aircraft you apparently need clearance documents which cost about P600 (approx R700) To problem I had with that is that Botswana CAA is not sure of their own procedures etc, so to get the right documentation and the right person to where you can send it and pay is almost impossible. Would suggest you use a clearance agent for that or speak to ZuluBen on avcom as he is based in gabs and know a few people.

The Gabs ATC is very friendly and very accommodating.

Cheers
Piet

Hello Piet, I actually crossed Botswana off my list because there is no fuel at Kang and Mamuno. Now I will first speak to ZuluBen. Again I am amazed at the helpfulness of my fellow aviators. I read through the whole Namibia thread again and really want to do do this trip. I'll phone you if you don't mind.

Tink

You are welcome to phone me anytime. Will always try and help. Will be off to Jwaneng again next week. I can leave a few drums of fuel there for you

Cheers
Piet
Cell: 082 774 7541
email: meyerph@telkomsa.net

Tinkerbell good luck with your trip. It is an awesome country to fly in with amazing people. We had a ground crew that alleviated the problem with fuel. If I had to do it again I will be comfortable to do it unsupported. We had a contact in Walvis Bay who guided us in from Sesriem and basically were able to refuel without much need from the ground crew from Sesriem past Walvis Bay, Outjo, Otjiwarongo, Keetmanshoop, Ariamsvlei, Upington and back. The key is getting a good contact person in Namibia who will arrange things for you. Hanno Snyman (Dunesand on the forum) is a goldmine of info. and helped us out with overflight clearances etc. I have some contact details of a gyro instructor and a few gyro pilots as well as well where we stayed and who arranged fuel for us.The flying fraternity there is very close knit and went out of their way to help us.

Middag manne
Hier in Namibia praat ons ongelukkig net afrikaans en so bietjie namlish -ish
Ek woon in Swakopmund en vlieg hier ( het twee microlights)
Het Des n trip gedoen van Swakop tot bo in Kavango en terug.Ongeveer 1500 km
Nou as julle weswaarts kus se kant toe kom of enigsins Omaruru / Uis / Sossusvlei etc . kontak my en ons maak n plan met brandstof
asook verblyf en parafien met coke.
ken ook mense "all over" en glo ek kan n plan maak met brandstof op enige klein dorpie. Hier vlieg ons as vriende met almal
Kontak my gerus as ons kan help.
groete en veilig vlieg

Johan de Wet
00264 81 124 8283
jdewet@mweb.com.na

Hello Johan, jammer maar dis net 'n vrou wat gaan vlieg, maar ek is darem Afrikaans en sal nie nee sê vir parafien en coke nie! Dankie, jou nommer is op my lys. Groete Juanita

Tinks,
You can clear customs in Jwaneng, so no need for pilansberg - gaberone, you can do pilansberg - jwaneng direct .
Just arrange customs at jwaneng - no can be forwarded if still an option.

Kang has a tar runway but no fuel. However - the Kang fuel stop is less than 2 km from the field and there are taxi's A PLENTI there.

You will also be able to clear customs at gogapis in NAM.

Hope this provides options.

BB

Hello BB, I was just looking at Jwaneng as my first stop. Will have to stop at Kang as the leg otherwise becomes too long. Gobabis is not listed as a port of entry that I can find. Do I need to make a special arrangement to clear customs there?

I'll try and dig up the contact no's tomorrow. Haven't done Gobabis myself, but spoken to 2 persons who have cleared there in the past.
Will check if it was with special arrangements

BB