Take five NZ couples, including five pilots, add five Cessna 180 4-seater planes, a South African Safety Pilot and a well-thought out flight plan covering 5,500 kilometres and you have the makings of African safaris with a difference!
In 2011, tonight’s speaker Marlene Masters with husband Ray and the other flying Rotarians experienced all the excitement and drama of an expedition through parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia over three weeks. The audience was treated to an array of photos supporting her address and giving some idea of the terrain, the airports, the encampments, the food (and sundowners), the locals and of course the animals encountered.
Though some of the camps could be described as borderline, most were in the luxury category especially in regard to the services provided and the quality of the meals, while attendant experiences such as the provision of a ‘bedroom’ under the stars made for unforgettable moments. Marlene described some of the flying legs as being very close to the largely dry terrain (apart from the Okavango Delta region and Lake Kariba) which enabled close up viewing of animal life, even the movement of cattle believed to have been rustled from one country and moved to another!
Close encounters with every African animal you’ve ever heard of, including elusive leopards and lions, meercats, elephants, hippos, crocs and hyenas made for very special and exciting moments but at no time did the group feel endangered as safari guides were well prepared for any eventuality.
One could not help but be envious of Marlene and her party having this opportunity to see and experience so much in such a short time but in Covid times, such adventures may well be the stuff dreams are made of.
As a fellow Flying Rotarian, Peter Armstrong thanked Marlene on behalf of our club for her interesting, informative presentation.