South East Mpumalanga Leisure Safari: 17 - 21 December 2011

[Asterix]

I have finalised the planning for my little Safari during December. I want to fly in a relaxed state, without looonng legs, and some time left for just exploring the area without headlines and deadlines.

The trip below is about flying very early in the morning for no more than 90 minutes to the next destination, and some local flying in the afternoon. If the HIGHVELD Thunderstorms comes up in the afternoon - I loose only the "playing around flight" for that day, but I am still on schedule.

If the weather becomes SO crap that the rest of the trip cannot materialise, I am at most 100 miles away from Beginsel, my families farm.

BEGINSEL will be the base of operations. So - you will have to be there on the 16th. It is only 75 miles from Microland, and the mieliestoor has been expanded over the last three months - I am sure we can now house at least 10 trikes in complete protection from the elements.

I will be flying the below plan, regardless of doing it alone or not. My main concern is to fly at leisure for four days, with no pressures from time, terrain, or weather - and the ability to sit on the ground for a day or two and then still get home (Beginsel) in 2 hours max.

I invite anybody and everybody to join me. This is not a challenging safari - it is all about fun and relaxed flying.


SOUTH EAST MPUMALANGA SAFARI: 17 - 21 DECEMBER 2011.

DAY 1: BEGINSEL - VOLKSRUST. 55 miles.

Early take-off Beginsel. Fly over Grootdraaidam then on to Volksrust. Pass the field, climb, and fly over/around Majuba. Back to Volksrust, set up camp. Have Brunch. AFTERNOONFLIGHT: Wakkerstroom and back. Sleep on Volksrust Airfield.

DAY 2: VOLKSRUST - PIET RETIEF. 70 miles.

Early take-off Volksrust. Fly along the southern escarpment towards Piet Retief. Set up camp. Have Brunch. AFTERNOONFLIGHT: Explore the areas around Heyshopedam, and back to Piet Retief. Sleep on Piet Retief Airfield.

DAY 3: PIET RETIEF - AMSTERDAM - JERICHODAM. 50 MILES.

Early take-off Piet Retief. Fly along the Swazi border over the Ngempisi river valley towards Amsterdam. Land and have the coffee and rusks that we prepared at Piet Retief. Fly to - and land at - Jerichodam. Set up camp. Have dinner. Fish for Bass if you brought your rod.

DAY 4: JERICHODAM - BEGINSEL. 80 MILES.

Early take-off Jerichodam. Fly in a northwesterly direction , pick up the Vaalriver, and then follow it all the way back to Grootdraaidam. Then onto Beginsel (8 miles). Land and set up camp in my sister's garden. Braai, and drink BEER!

DAY 5: EVERYBODY LEAVES EARLY FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS, AFTER COFFEE AND RUSKS. (MICROLAND - 75 MILES - to give you an idea.) (I get to stay behind and do it again!)

Please join me. The whole thing is planned in such a way that there is NO "get there" pressure. Go check out the area on Google.

[Asterix]

No challenging flying - but nice scenery nonetheless!!

[Tribal Croc]

Klink lekker wens ek kon saam gaan

[Bugwar]

Ek wil ook so `n job he met baie vakansie.....

[Asterix]

Dis maklik - hou op stap, en moenie weer in Moz gaan trou nie....

[Asterix]

If you wish to join - be aware that I will be sleeping on / next to airfields / landable fields - so your tent is essential. Also - the "brunches" referred to will consist of what I carry. There will be no guesthouses! I will be carrying some eggs, neatly packed against breaking, some bacon, and bully beef. And a brownbread or two. And Oatso-easy for pre- take-off breakfast, and cup-a-soup/noodles for just before bed. And sachets of coffee,sugar and cremora, for my wake-up drink in the pre-dawn morning.

I will also carry my mess-kit, complete with field-stove, so that I can cook the above. Also - a collapsible rod with small reel and some basic lures for Jerichodam - maybe I can catch dinner there. And of course my spade. (which fits into my hand in collapsed state). And my knife, with ferro-rod and magnesium block.

Backseat will be reserved for 2 x 25 litre Addis fuelcans. My trips into towns will be limited to the acquisition of fuel for the next day. And this will be based on the goodwill of somebody coming along to give me a lift. For the rest - self sufficient.

Tiedowns, Grippas, basic tools, oil, extra plugs, spare tube and pump also carried.

This may sound like a lot - and you may think - "weight". Weight is not the issue - VOLUME is. If you can maximise the packing volume on a trike, I promise you that you can carry your heart's desire for the same that what a passenger weights.

So - even though this trip will not take me far from civilization, it is still a Safari. If you don't carry it, you come by without it.

Any joiners?