20 September 09 - Airfield

20 September 2009

Limpopo Valley Airfield

We said our goodbyes to the wonderful folks at Mashatu Main Camp and boarded the truck that took us to the airport, and while we were all excited to see new things at a new place, I think we all felt a bit sad to leave.

We had driven past the airport on the way in from the border post, but hadn't had the opportunity to see it well. It's a beautiful airport. Seriously- airports can be described many ways: busy, crowded, impressive, huge and many other things. Limpopo Valley Airfield is small but it really is attractive. Well, not much you can do with a runway, of course... but the building and grounds are nice.

Took a few pictures while waiting for our plane, of course...

The view driving to the airport


The terminal building


The plaque on the building


The truck we rode to the field


My mother and sister surrounding Afke, the camera operator at Pete's Pond


The plane was running a little bit late so we were hanging out talking a bit- the three of us, Afke (who had come to see us off) and Michael and Gary who had a matching itinerary at Mashatu and Mala Mala, the next destination. After a while, perhaps an hour or so, we got the "bad" news:
our plane was delayed for technical trouble and would be delayed a few hours.

A side note at this point:
We booked our trip through Angela at Journeys of Distinction and she did a marvelous job for us. We were not on a "standard" tour so the whole trip had to be customized for the things we wanted to see and do and Angela put everything together and arranged for us to be met, transported and generally taken care of at every point in our journey. There had been absolutely ZERO problems on the trip.
Until now, and technical difficulties with a plane are something beyond any ability to foresee.

Plus, it was a good thing!

Normally having a flight delay sucks: stuck at a crowded airport, bad, expensive food and uncomfortable chairs. (We had to wait for our first flight from Boston to New York too, but we booked that!)

We got a bonus though: Afke invited us to wait out at Pete's Pond!

Some of the folks reading this might be Pondies, but for those of you who are not, I will give a brief explanation of what Pete's Pond is.

A man made, year round waterhole created by the man who manages the reserve to help give animals a place to drink all year long that is free of poachers. The pond is equipped with webcams to allow people all over the world to view the wildlife as well, which hopefully helps in conservation and awareness levels, as well as giving folks a window into Africa. Those who frequently watch the webcams call themselves "Pondies" and seem to be a great bunch. I must admit that I am not one of their number, really, though I do occasionally watch the pond. (Most of the time I am on a computer I am too busy messing around with something to devote much time watching much of anything.)

The pond has a hide, where the cameras are controlled from, a boma where the operators and volunteers stay when they need to and a really big satellite antenna which connects the pond to viewers.
And I have some pictures, of course!

Going in the boma


Afke and Skirminkel, a rescued mongoose who has mostly gone back to living with other mongoose.


Inside the boma


Inside the hide: the computer is the webcam operator's station.


We were lucky to be able to spend a few hours at the hide and there was a LOT happening, so I have quite a few pictures. Too many to post right here and now, but there are 2 in particular I want to get up.

The main camera is on a pole and pans around wherever the cam operator sends it but here is also a Shorecam which can get animals right at the waterline.
While we were there, one bird seemed intent on posing for the shorecam, and I have both pictures:

Shorecam View:


Hide View:

I didn't get a good shot of exactly the same picture, but such is life.

I will get the rest of my Pete's Pond pictures up as soon as I can.

Airfield

8 images

Boma

5 images