Writer: Nirvani Pillay Photography: Wilderness Safaris
Across the border—Zimbabwe
F
rom the air, Africa takes on different hues and shapes. Beneath lie broad brown rivers, gold savannah and deep green rainforests. Elephant are grey ovals, brownblack giraffe peek out of trees, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see a rare sitatunga as it moves through the reeds. Wilderness Air is the proud air partner of Wilderness Safaris, Africa’s leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism company with private access to some of the continent’s finest wilderness and wildlife areas. Its purpose is to offer passengers safe and reliable air connections to, from and between many remote wilderness destinations across Southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, moving an average of over 80,000 passengers a year.
Since Wilderness Air began operating in Botswana in 1991, with just one aircraft servicing two camps in the Okavango Delta, the company has grown immensely. Today, Wilderness Air has regional offices based in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, operating over 35 aircraft and employing over 50 pilots, thus providing easy access across the region.
Wilderness Air operates a varied fleet of light aircraft, chosen for their ability to transport visitors comfortably to remote wilderness destinations with dirt airstrips across Southern Africa. Each aircraft type has been selected based on its ability to transport different numbers of passengers over different ranges and its fleet operates on a daily circuit within the regions. Throughout its time it has maintained its excellent reputation for safety and guest service. According to Wilderness Air’s general manager for the Zambezi region, Tawanda Maruza, ‘Wilderness Air is proud to have driven aviation excellence in Southern Africa for over 28 years. We remain committed to Wilderness Safaris’ vision and sustainability values, actively seeking to reduce our carbon footprint through the development of a more efficient daily circuit; to optimise each aircraft’s movements while connecting guests to the wilderness safely and efficiently. In Zimbabwe, for example, we operate a daily flying circuit to Wilderness Safaris’ camps and a few select partner lodges.’ Meanwhile, Wilderness Air flights in Zambia are operated by its key alliance operator, Staravia. This family-run business has been in operation for over 30 years and has built up an enviable reputation for professional, personal and friendly service. Whilst Wilderness Air does not operate the aircraft, Wilderness Air Zambia is still involved in the day-to-day flying operations of Wilderness guests and all Staravia operations adhere to Wilderness Air’s safety and environmental rules. Wilderness Air aims to provide a safe, compliant, efficient and reliable service to passengers. ‘We believe that flying is an integral part of each guest’s travel experience, offering a very different way of seeing and appreciating Africa’s scenery and wildlife, while our pilots’ passion and professionalism can make a genuine contribution to the journey,’ concludes Tawanda. The service offered by Wilderness Air is more than a simple connection. Visit www.wilderness-air.com for more information.
WILDERNESS AIR CONNECTING YOU TO THE WILDERNESS SINCE 1991
TRAVEL & LEISURE ZAMBIA
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