Southern Africa - Part5: Okavango Delta

After two nights of rest we started for our 5th day of flying. Our safety pilot had tried to organize fuel in Rundu Airport (FYRU) where we needed to land for immigration and customs since we were leaving Namibia for Botswana. However nobody seemed to be responsible for fuel so we decided to head first to Tsumeb (FYTM) for refueling and not take any chances to be stranded somewhere. Departing Mushara Lodge we first turned west to look at the Etosha Saltpan from above before turning south for our 30 min flight to Tsumeb. Tsumeb is a small airport however since it is privately owned landing fees where very high compared to the usual rates. We quickly fuelled and took of to Rundu for immigration and customs. In Rundu we had to wait for the immigration officer although we called in advance with our eta. While sitting in the shade suddenly a small truck came and asked if we needed any Avgas. Since we refuelled in Tsumeb we were fine however our safety pilot asked them for the right number he could phone next time - his 7th number now for fuel in Rundu. The immigration officer happened to be a big black guy in white uniform with the most golden Emblems and stripes we had seen so far. After some small talk, he proudly showed us his German language skills before we were allowed to depart to Botswana. The flight from Rundu to Maun (FBMN) took us for approximately 2 hours over forest and swamp where we were able to see lots of elephants from above. Reaching Maun it got busy since it is the main airport connecting everything and everyone in the Okavango Delta. Cargo and travel by air is not only the fastest way to the remote lodges but also the safest, so this time we where surrounded by many other small planes. In Maun we refuelled, cleared customs and immigration into Botswana and - since our nosewheel completely lost air during taxi in due to it’s age in conjunction with an outside Air Temperature of 37 degrees C and a bit of fast taxiing - we had to replace the whole front wheel itself. Gladly we had our safety pilot with us who organized everything and in not more than 1.5 hours we where good to go again. The last part of our journey today took us east again for 15 min directly to one of the small airstrips in the Okavango Delta being owned by our lodge - Kanana. With less than 1 km and gravel the landing had to be on spot in Kanana which this time worked out perfectly even without flaps. Since the airstrip is 30min of bush driving away from the lodge and nobody told our driver of our late arrived due to the broken wheel he was waiting for 2 hours in the middle of nowhere. On our way to the lodge we already saw the first animals we will be living in between for the next few days.