March 2005 Newsletter
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 Born in Kenya and flying there as a bush pilot, for years I have dreamt of recreating the pioneering flight paths through African skies carved by aviators of the 1930's such as Antoine de Saint-Exupery and Beryl Markham. Their impressive tracks, though difficult due to lack of navigation aids and reliable engines, fortunately for them were drawn across the pink-stained maps of the British Empire. My challenge would be to forge a way through today's African frustrations - the bureaucracies of debt-ridden, fledgling nations. The reward would be to enjoy and share with five special passengers the vast, remote African wilderness, still largely unchanged after all these years.
This unique flying safari, would link truly remote points. We would fly low over huge herds of wildlife not yet threatened by intensive human incursion and skim the thorny fauna of ridges and lava-coated valleys that early explorers had struggled through - landing for well-earned luxury along the way!
Female photographers joined me - two professional, two amateurs, and one novice. In September 2004, flying over 5,000 miles in my trusty high-winged Cessna 210 named Ewaso, the Maasai word for rivers, we flew 100 feet above ground, often slowing down to open the windows to embrace the power of Africa. From Ethiopia to Cape Town, we traced the waters of Africa, lifeblood of millions of people and wildlife. We collected water from Ethiopia's Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile; Lake Victoria, source of the White Nile; and Lake Tanganyika, source of the Congo River. We flew over a dozen major rivers and seven major lakes.
 We stopped for three days at many places en route to experience life on these riverbanks and lakeshores. In Kenya we boated on Lake Naivasha recording 36 species of birds and over flew the wildebeest migration by the Mara River. In Tanzania, we trekked for chimps above Lake Tanganyika. In Zambia we took a 2-day walking safari along lagoons of the sandy Luangua River; cast for tiger fish on the Zambezi; rafted its amazing rapids; and swam in a natural pool just four feet from powerful rush of Victoria Falls. Our safari took us into the complete tranquility of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and on to Namibia along the remote Skeleton Coast, strewn with wrecks, diamonds, seals and flamingos. Finally in South Africa we circled the Cape of Good Hope at sunset, just 25 exhilarating feet above the point where three cold oceans merge. We achieved a modern-day adventure that felt almost as raw and exciting for us as it must have been for those who went nearly 80 years before.
All six of us returned so deeply inspired that I will recreate the same flying safari again in August 2005. I look forward to meeting the next adventurers who will share with me this exploration of the Waters of Africa.
Some ideas for your travel plans for 2005:
Ecuador - I have just returned from Ecuador where I have traveled extensively, investigating wonderful properties in the high Andes interior to use for our safaris there, and in the Galapagos.
New Zealand - Surround yourselves in complete luxury or immerse yourself in a Lord of the Rings adventure.
Australia - I have just returned from a visit to inspect new properties in South Australia. At North Bundaleer - Malcolm and Marrianne Booth have meticulously renovated a turn of the century manor house, just north of the Clare valley wine district.
Ethiopia - is modernizing rapidly - treat yourself to a trip back to the New Testament before it all changes.
Ethiopia - Omo River Expedition - This trip is full. If you would like to be on standby, in case of cancellation, please let us know.
Egypt - This year we have two clients combining the wonders of ancient Egypt with a safari in East Africa.
Tanzanian - We have 2 Kilimanjaro climbs for this year on in July and the other in September.
South America - Join us in Patagonia; Argentina, Chile or Peru for one amazing extravaganza.
Please keep in touch, and let us know if we can help with your travel plans for this coming year. Africa has become really popular, so it pays to plan early to get the space you want.
March 15, 2005
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