BOTSWANA fly-away 25 April to 10 May 2015

[mulderpm]

Makgadikagadi Lodge will keep the rooms without a deposit. We can pay on arrival.

They therefore do not want to take individual bookings.

[mulderpm]

At Makgadikagadi Lodge, the rooms cost:
8 Challets non self catering - P620 (no cooking facilities)
6 sharing rooms - P730 (with cooking facilities)
6 executive rooms - P750 (with cooking facilities)

All rates are for Bed & Breakfast.

[Blue Max]

I reckon there will be dom ouens like myself who does not know where the different lodges are situated.? Hoe moet ek weet waar is Mgadi Mgadi Lodge?
Is there a possibility that a block booking can be made for the group at the various places we plan to visit.
Just asking.

[Rudolph]

How many people/aeries already commit for the trip.

[mulderpm]

How many people/aeries already commit for the trip.

26 pilots and aeries. Many more ground support and pax.

Oom Polla. Ek will nie block bookings maak nie want elke ou het sy eie behoeftes en budget (sharing, not sharing, self catering, non self catering, river facing, close to the water hole, camping, Senyati of Chobe Lodge ens ens) En dan as dit kom by deposit betaal dan moet ek al die geld insaamel...Nee wat, elke ou book vir homself.

The places are located at the following co-ordinates:

Chobe Safari Lodge - S17.80583 E25.14676
Senyati Safari Lodge - S17.87274 E25.23566
Makgadikagadi Lodge - S20.54709 E26.07856
Island Safari Lodge - S19.92467 E23.50888

See page one of this thread for the map. Makgadikagadi Lodge is at Sua...bottom right.

[NickSwardt]

Thanks for all the details and effort so far Paul

And for all those driving through who wants to sleep over on the 25th at elephant sands GPS (S19 44.935 E26 04.265 )

Website: http://www.elephantsands.com
Email: bookings@elephantsandsbotswana.com

They do have various types of accommodation but I know the twin chalets are 690 Pula per night.

[mulderpm]

Thanks for making a booking for me at Elephant Sands Nick. Safari Tents 9 & 10 are therefore taken.

[mulderpm]

Louis Cole & Paul Ross are now also joining us. Louis & Paul & Oom Polla & Faizel want's to fly all the way.

[Blue Max]

Louis Cole & Paul Ross are now also joining us. Louis & Paul & Oom Polla & Faizel want's to fly all the way.

Die manne wie dit oorweeg om met hulle trikes te vlieg!
Kyk gerus na die voorlopige, kortste roete wat ek op VFR planner gesit het en lewer kommentaar. Die link is hierbo iewers.!
Die cell nommers en besonderhede van die verskillende runways is in die 'airfields directory of Southern Africa'.
Hoe korrek dit is sal n ou moet uitvind.
Ek en Louis het n paar keer in Namibie op runways geland wat jare nie meer bestaan nie.!!! Wil nie weer nie.!

[Air Hog]

Nathan from Kroon also wants to fly all the way.

[mulderpm]

Thanks Johan, and happy birthday

So, the guys that want to fly all the way are; Louis Cole & Paul Ross & Oom Polla V Schalkwyk & Faizel Salie & Nathan Lategan.

[mulderpm]

The latest list below:

Paul & Dionne - Aquila
Mervyn and Robbie Shaw - Aquila
Faizel Salie - Aquila - *
Dawie Du Toit- Savannah VG
Deon V Heerden- Savannah VG
Ryno Bezuidenhoud - Skyjeep
Pieter - Super Cub
Theo Pille - Bantam or Savannah?
Nathan Lategan - Trike - *
Zelinda Geldenhuys - Trike
Jacques Kroon - Savannah S
Kobus Frey - Bathawk
Andries Kruger - Aquila
Baitbird - work permitting - being addressed
Paul Van Schalkwyk - Raptor - *
Massimo - Aquila
Dawid Redelinghuys - trike
Frank Smallwood - Aquila
Nick Swart - Aquila
Stefanus Oosthuizen - Aquila
Joe Terblanch - Aquila
Mark Fincham - Cobra or Aquila
Paul Ross - trike - *
Louis Cole - Raptor - *
Wynand Coetzee - Savannah
Tyran steenkamp - Cheatah
Johan springs - Cheatah
Arnold Meyring - Aquila
Johan Grobelaar - Aquila
Jacque Moolman - Aquila
Tiaan Brand - Aquila.
Roy Markham - trike

32 pilots plus support.

Trike pilots with - * want to fly all the way.

I have created a mailing list for whatsapp and SMS so that I can send all important information directly to you.

[mulderpm]

I do not have any experience with flying a NTC aircraft accross an international border and therefore can not realy give any comment here.

Cross border requirements when driving and towing a trike on a trailer into Botswana:

Visas -
Visas are not required by SA passport holders. At the border make sure you fill in your duration of stay correctly. That determins the duration of your temporary visa, stamped into your passport.

Food restrictions:
No fresh red meat or fresh fruit of any kind is permitted accross the border. Red meat can be transported from south to north and from east to west but not back again. All vetenary check points will confiscate these items in a north to south or west to east direction. Excelent meat, at 2/3 of the SA price, and fruit is available at supermarkets. The supermarkets are like in RSA.

Health Requirements & Compulsory Vaccinations - None for RSA citizens.

Precautions - Malaria risk. Propholactics like Mefliam and mosquito nets and spray on Peacefull Sleep or Tabard. I do not take the prophelactics.

Documents Required:
•Valid passport of the driver, valid for at least 6 months after your date of return.
•Certified copy of vehicle and trailer registration papers in the name of the driver. Take the originals with you in a safe place.
•Letter of authority from the registered owner if the vehicle is not owned by the driver
•If vehicle is still being financed, carry a letter of authority from the bank (must include dates of travel) together with the vehicle license papers.
•ZA Sticker
•International Driving Permit: - I don't take one and never had a problem showing my RSA licence. They use the same codes as in RSA (A, EB etc)

Currency - Pula (BWP) = R 1.30

Most garages take MasterCard and Visa (no petrol cards accepted). ATM's accept either MasterCard or Visa. Barclays ATM's accept MasterCard. Best is to go into the bank to draw money, then you are not restricted to the ATM limit necesitating multiple withdrawls, each with a commission. Lodges in towns take credit card but out of town, do not. Senyati & Makgadikagadi, do not.

Aircraft -
- Your current NPL
- ATF certificate
- Certificate of Registration
- flight folio
- Radio station licence, the ICASA one
- BCAA Clearance number.
- 3rd party insurance - recommended.

Make sure you declare your microlight to RSA customs at the border. They must give you an official SARS indemnity form identifying it as the type and registration as per the C of R. Any evidence you have that it is RSA registered is advantageous. (correct, Mark Fincham!). When you return they can be very sticky.

The above may sound like quite a shlep, but most items are only required on request.

At the border you will only be required to fill in an imegration form, get your passport stamped and pay your road tax (P170 for car, plus P70 for trailer). Export declarations are optional, but DO it.
You can also visit http://www.4x4community.co.za, Botswana for more hints and tips.

[mulderpm]

Does anyone have an example of a trike trailer that can take two or more trikes? This will be a better option than trying to tow tandem. There are some pilots that are planning to modify/build such a trailer for this trip. Any pictures/help would be appreciated.

[mulderpm]

List updated