LIGHT AIRCRAFT FLIGHTS in BOTSWANA
Movement between camps is generally by light aircraft due to the remote areas visited and distances travelled. Most lodges make us of Cessna Caravan, 206, 2208 and 210 aircraft as well as Airvans, ideal bush airplanes, able to land and take off using the short airstrips found on the delta islands. Pilots are experienced in this terrain and you will enjoy some memorable flights across Botswana or Zimbabwe, often with aerial game viewing on the way – so be sure to bring your camera in your hand luggage. Flights vary from a short ‘hop’ between camps of twenty minutes through to the flights to around one and a half hours. It is possible that you will pick up other passengers en-route depending on the schedule of the day, the pilot will advise you of your routing before you fly.
These flights are mostly unscheduled and we do not get a flight ticket in advance, you may be provided with one before your flight for legal reasons. Most flights are only scheduled the day before, according to the guests that need to get from one camp to another or to one of the regional airports, so exact times are not known, you will be given transfer/flight information the night before and you will land at the relevant airport in time to connect with onward flights.
PLEASE NOTE that on all light aircraft transfers, each passenger is limited to a total of 20kg of luggage, including hand luggage. The check-in bag must be soft-sided bag (duffel type bags are ideal with no wheels or frames). The soft bag should be no bigger than 40cm (16 inches) wide 40cm (16 inches) high and 70cm (27,5 inches) long, roughly 60litres and may need to be squashed into the luggage pod of around 70 x 25cm. Firmer hand luggage can be taken into the aircraft. There is a laundry service included at most Botswana camps so it is possible to keep clothing to a minimum. Excess baggage will be subject to additional baggage/charter charges. It is possible to store your excess baggage in Maun if your safari starts and ends in Maun, or Vic Falls otherwise alternate arrangements will need to be made.