Bush airstrip safaris

On the remote strips of the Okavango, the Sabi Sand, the Mara and the Namib, the runway is a line of grass or gravel that belongs to the animals as much as to the aircraft. Buffalo graze across it. Elephant wander over the threshold. Warthog families use it as a road.

So before landing, the pilot makes one or two low passes to clear them off. For many guests that pass is the first sighting of the trip: the bush spread out below, heads turning, the shadow of the aircraft running across the grass. Then the pilot comes round, lands, and your guide is waiting at the end of the strip with the vehicle.

The airstrips we land at

• Botswana: the strips for Mombo on Chief's Island, Jao and Xigera.
• South Africa: Arathusa in the Sabi Sand for Cheetah Plains, Tswalu in the Kalahari, and Phinda.
• Kenya: the Mara strips for Angama Mara, and the Laikipia strips for Segera and Laragai House on Borana.
• Tanzania: Grumeti for Singita Sabora, and Ruaha for Jongomero.
• Namibia: Hoanib, Damaraland, Sossusvlei and Ongava.
• Zimbabwe and Zambia: Mana Pools for John's Camp, and Mfuwe for Time + Tide Chinzombo.

Which aircraft land there

Cessna Caravans and Pilatus PC-12s, because they handle short gravel and grass strips. The jets bring you to the gateway airports and the turboprops do the last stretch. The bush aircraft take soft bags only, so pack for that.

Where to see it

The low pass happens on most of our safari routes. Three that show it well: The Garden Route & Sabi Sand, landing at Arathusa; Zambia & Zimbabwe, coming down into Mana Pools; and The Okavango Immersion, flying between the Delta camps.

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