Leg 86, Rakops, Botswana to Harare, Zimbabwe
DAY11_16.PLN (9.1 KB)
A little snafu in my planned route notes, almost missed the capital of Zimbabwe, hence the last 2 legs in the dark back up. The reward, an airstrip with lights! Luxury.
11-16 Rakops Airport (Tau Pan) FBRP 3:55 AM
11-16 Tsigaro Airport FBJC 4:45 AM
11-16 Orapa Airport FBOR 5:07 AM
11-16 Nata FBNT 5:47 AM
11-16 Sua Pan FBSN 5:59 AM
11-16 Francistown FBFT 6:38 AM
11-16 Jackalas 1 Airport FVPU 6:56 AM
11-16 Plumtree Airport FVPL 7:00 AM
11-16 Tsholothso Airport FVTS 7:29 AM
11-16 Sipepa Airstrip FVLN 7:37 AM
11-16 Lupane Airport FVLP 7:49 AM
11-16 Cam+Motor Airport FVCM 8:43 AM
11-16 Celina FVCE 9:14 AM
11-16 Impinge FVIP 9:35 AM
11-16 Centenary FVCN 9:48 AM
11-16 Braebourne FVAE 9:53 AM
11-16 Mount Darwin FVMD 10:03 AM
11-16 Shamva Airport FVSA 10:15 AM short ‘runway’
11-16 Mutoko FVMT 10:33 AM
11-16 Kwaraguza Airport FVNB 11:03 AM
11-16 Aberdeen Airport FVAB 11:10 AM
11-16 Honde Valley Airport FVNG 11:21 AM
11-16 Mutare FVMU 11:40 AM Drone cam landing
11-16 Marondera FVMA 12:20 PM Virtual vision landing
11-16 Harare Intl FVHA 12:37 PM
Flight time 8:42 24 stops
Departure from Rakops, Botswana
There are a lot of tracks in the desert
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Hippos, wildebeest & zebras plus baobabs in 3, 900 sq. km. of shimmering salt pans, with lodges
The sky is selling it today
Orapa diamond mine, the world’s largest diamond mine by area
Guguaga pan on the right
Nata Bird Sanctuary
Lapangan Terbang Sua Pan and Botswana ASH, chemical plant (BOTASH) producing soda ash and salt
Sipepa airport serving the village Gwai on the Gwai river
Lake Manyame
Celina airfield, part of the farm
On the way to Impinge, hilltop farming
Impinge, the hills are covered with Chromium mines
Centenary, became a pilgrimage on June 21, 2001 for those who wanted to see the total solar eclipse
A valley just West of Mutawatawa
In the other direction
Farming near Mutoko
While approaching Kwaraguza
There goes the sun again
Kwaraguza
Great views from this place
Nyanga National Park
Stunning location with awesome waterfalls
Arriving in Mutare, the city lights provide enough ambient glow for a drone cam landing
Ready to sign off, I realized I missed Harare, a bit of night flying, why not
Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe
National heroes’ acre
Commemorative site, tombs & a museum dedicated to those who fought for the nation’s independence
Harare National Gallery with some very nice art pieces
Back to the West tomorrow and into South Africa