81 Blantyre - Victoria Falls

.11. Mar 2010

Getting out of the airport in Blantyre, was as easy as getting in. Nice to be able to walk to your plane on your own, instead of having “handlers” who watch over you – or just wait for a tip!

I had initially planned on 2 nights in Blantyre – but decided to stay just one. I even considered flying to the capital Lilongwe, but I was not able to book a hotel there, so I chose Blantyre, even though it made my route longer.

In the morning I went for a short walk around town, and stocked up with a few biscuits to go with the coffee I had made for the next 5 hour leg to Victoria Falls. I had also seriously considered not landing in Victoria Falls Airport as planned, as the location is in Zimbabwe. But I did not have a flight permit for the alternate airport, Livingstone in Zambia, so I decided to give it a go.

I flew IFR, crossing into Zimbabwe, but as I was about to pass the Harare TMA border, I was told, that FL 170 would be the level required to cross the Harare VOR, but on request, I was given VFR direct to Victoria Falls – as long as I stayed outside the Harare TMA. I was asked to report passing the 340 degree radial of the VOR, and then I was transferred to the Harare Flight Info.

There was a lot of towering Cumulus Clouds early on, but this time I descended to FL 085 in order to fly below the clouds.

The route took me over the North of Zimbabwe, with lots of fertile land below and large farms. It was obvious, that this used to be a food basket in Africa, instead of be a basket case of a country, as it is for now.

I was asked to report abeam the VGO VOR, but by then, I could not raise the Info. So about 50 NM out of Victoria Falls, I contacted the approach there. By now I could already see the “Smoke That Thunders”, the mist rising above the Victoria Falls!

Getting closer, I asked the approach, if I could divert to do some sightseeing over the falls, and I was permitted to do that. They just asked me to stay above 6000 feet (2.500 feet above ground), and to report traffic on the designated frequency, So I flew over, and along, the Falls making sure I stayed on the Zimbabwean  side of the border to Zambia. A truly amazing sight!

Turning back towards the airport, I called the approach/Tower again, and via a left base I l anded on  runway 12, and I was directed park next to a number of Cessna sightseeing aircrafts.

The only slight problem on arrival, was the half hour wait for the Custom/Officer, who had left the airport for the day – but he turned up, and excused the waiting time (!). Then I was on my way to the falls in the car of a friend of a Met Office guy!