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Flying along with Wildebeest Wings will dispel any doubts you may have had! As aviators with common interests, we go to discover new places in small groups for the dynamics, fun, camaraderie and security it provides.
It
is clear that looking hard enough, we will never run out of flying venues in our lifetimes. Every mountain we cross and every cloud we fly around flushes a host of interesting perspectives both of aviation and local colour.
There are many places
we can go visiting in our home country for a couple of days or on long-weekend trips – and due general interest I have included some over-border trips in the line up. They are more pricey but are altogether a different experience and at a much more
sedate pace, spending two nights at each of a variety of exceptionally attractive ground destinations.
Since our first ‘Wildebeests Wings” departure we have embarked on fantastic voyages of discovery, made new friends for life and discovered
places we never knew existed.
For reasons of comfort, I plan the longest leg for under 3 hours - working on 100 knts ground speed; most are a lot less than this; making for a comfortable journey for companions that may not habitually “enjoy aviating”. It also means that any
airplane capable of 80 knots or more can easily join in, as we regroup at each stop. The fast aeries start later or zoom past and the rag-and-tubes simply beat the air at a leisurely pace to each stop.
Even though it’s all “fun” and “get in your
aerie and go”, there are plenty of logistics. We research the routes, venues and attractions; then plan out and action a particular trip; make reservations and commit to accommodations along the way for an ever-changing group size at all the places
in sequence; having backup plans for weather redundancy and alternate airfields within fuel range. We arrange someone to meet, transfer, accommodate and feed us and ensure security for the aeries overnight. ETA’s change, bar bills are left unsettled,
aeries need doctoring……and avgas needs to be pre-arranged.
Let
us know when you might be able to join us...your airplane type, telkom
landline and fax and cell, where you hangar and any other details you
think are relevant. Remember that you too, can contribute to the knowledge “pot” about places and
things we have never even heard of – please call or email me if you know of stuff you want to share or find out more about.
See you in the air!!
All best,
Dave Vanderspuy
Booking your spaces
Some folk cannot commit outside of a couple of weeks, whilst others can plan many months in advance. In high demand areas and over public holiday long weekend
periods, you will not get onto the program without letting us know long in advance.
Suggestion: Review the trips, provisionally indicate your interest by: a)
completion of a Registration Form and b) payment of a deposit (which becomes non-refundable inside of 4 months prior to departure – but it is transferable) and then keep abreast of developments by reading and reacting to our email communications with
you.
Signing up and payments
If you know you want to join a flyaway please do three things
a) call or email me to check on space availability,
b) complete the
Registration Form and fax this or email me at info@aerosafari.com
c) make your deposit as called for on the registration form.
Without c) happening, you are simply not on the program.
Wildebeest Wings will handle the booking and prepayment for all accommodations
and other services and “must do” activities along the way. After your initial deposit payments, we may call for another interim payment and final payment around 4 weeks prior to departure.
Trip lengths and shortening “course”
Many of us have business and other commitments, making the trip of your choice untenable because you may have to “get back” to something. In many cases you
may shorten the trip by heading back early – or join a trip along the route. Usually the long itineraries can be shortened by heading back home early, without losing the essence, although you will always loose something of the trip. Obviously not
recommended but possible.
Understanding the Costing for trips
Since trips can be full itineraries or shortened versions it is impossible to pre-cost an itinerary for each
individual’s requirements, until we know these. Once we know your requirements, we can let you have an initial estimated cost. We establish the exact pricing when we have all on board and volume discounts can be distributed between all the
participants. As the group size expands economies of scale help to lower the pricing; pricing for families or three sharing or singles are all taken into account in the overall scheme of things.
Costs usually include: Local transfers, moderate to delux quality accommodations with private facilities, breakfasts, some lunches & dinners, full board at safari
camps, all game activities and other selected activities, clearances in the case of cross border flights, arranging availability of fuel and airplane security. On trips where rooms with private facilities are limited,
we favour these for couples on tour. So book early to avoid disappointment.
Costs exclude: Some sidetrips, special transfers, gratuities; some meals, drinks (sometimes BYO), your airplane associated costs such as fuel, approach, landing, parking, casual guards, cross border fees,
foreign navigation fees etc
“Category” of the trips
We have classified the trips as economy, moderate and luxury.
The Category is a rough indication of your expected accommodation and service standards over at least 50% of the trip. Luxury trips are typically into Namibia and Botswana – but don’t exclude a night out in the bundu or regular motels.
On moderate
and economy trips, some places have limited numbers of beds and are far off the beaten track and may not have all the facilities to deal with tourists or groups. Here we may be staying in farmhouses or small guest lodges in rural villages with no
“standard” type accommodations.
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