Southern Africa - Part1: Wonderboom to Augrabies Falls

We started our first day at an airport near Johannesburg called Wonderboom (FAWB). Wonderboom is quite a big airport with lots of general aviation and unusual for Europeans - we could drive our car across half of the airfield to our rental aircraft. Leaving Wonderboom to the southwest we overflew not only big cattle ranches and enormous farmed fields, but we were also lucky enough to spot wild rhinoceros, giraffes, and ostriches from above. ** At Kimberley (FAKM) we had a quick stop to freshen up before heading further west towards Augrabies Falls. Kimberley is a town known for diamond mining with lots of mines perfectly visible from above. As we departed we extended our upwind in order to overfly the deepest hand-dug mine in the world located right in the heart of the city.** ** We continued our trip to the southwest overflying the province Northern Cape with its deserted landscape until we reached the Orange River. Since flying in South Africa is less regulated we were able to follow the Orange River down to Augrabies Falls in a very low altitude which was foremost fun but also gave us an awesome view of the river and it’s birds.** ** Approaching Augrabies Falls, an impressive waterfall, we climbed back up giving us the needed altitude above national parks as well as a good aerial view of the waterfall. A small gravel strip is located just abeam Augrabies Falls were we did our first bush strip landing. We stayed the night in a wonderful lodge near the airfield impressed by nature.**