An airport is a gateway. Through its faces, its languages, and its energy, travellers are offered the “amazon preview” to the picture that lies in wait across the threshold. There is an element of security though. You’re off the plane and into the safety of a place that (usually) has information centres, police stations, car rental companies and maps.
A bush airstrip – on the other hand – is a little less predictable. You’re stepping straight off of a plane and into the wild. That’s the reality. Touchdown. Put on the shades. Sling your bag over your back and see what’s waiting.
Anything could happen.
Here are nine of our best photos from the Londolozi “bush” airstrip.
1. Border Control
Our border personnel are usually fairly relaxed. Our security strategy includes a mix of “heavies”.
2. Control Tower
Your final approach and journey, guided in by a journey of our own kind.
3. Captain and First Officer
A Sparta lioness patrols the tarmac under the watchful eye of a Majingalane male. We’ll leave it to you to decide on who’s the Captain and who’s the First Officer… Does it remind you of a scene from Top Gun?
4. Jet Stream Ready
A cheetah silhouetted against the rising sun. Good visibility and temperature: time to push up the knots.
5. Unaccompanied Minor
A leopard cub confidently hits the tarmac.
6. Holding Pattern
A pride of lions in the “pre-dusk hunt” holding pattern.
7. Wheels Up
The Vomba female: tango and “bravo”!
8. Import Duty
If you’re going to cross, avoid declaring and whatever you do, don’t “dazzle”.
9. Night Duty Manager
Horns up, chest out. Ready for another night on the Londolozi airstrip. #justsaying
Have you got a Londolozi airstrip photo with a great caption? We would love to share it. Email your photo and caption to kate.collins@londolozi.co.za.
Stories from Guests:
Jan-Erik Rottinghuis writes:
“In 2008 I visited Londolozi and had a wonderful four days.
One morning we drove over the airstrip and found hyenas playing with the blocks of the planes that were parked there and chewing the rubber…
A close encounter on the airstrip!
After a while they walked over to our jeep to check us out and see if we were more edible than this rubbery stuff!
I was glad to have Bennett and Alfie sitting calmly next to us showing absolutely no fear.”
We had some awesome sightings on the airstrip. Great blog.
Thank Marinda. It’s one of my favourite places too. We had an exceptional sighting of a mother cheetah with her two cubs getting warmed up for the day!
Great blog and beautiful images Ryan! I have often wondered though, what do you do when a plane is coming in to land and the pride is very happily lounging all across the airstrip? Most beautiful sight was Londolozi from the air and saddest day ever as our plane took off on our last day there.
Love these pictures !
No Caption – No Photos, but from memory we did see a Scrub Hare on the Runway in 1978, It was eating the grass!. We are hoping for something better in March! Chris & Derek
In March the grass around the runway will still be green, so you’ll certainly see the grazers up near the runway Derek. And when there are grazers, there is always a good chance that “border patrol” will be lurking 🙂
Great blog Ryan, love this collection, the airstrip has certainly seen its fair share of ‘airstrip’ officers!
Lovely pictures Ryan. I guess the Vomba female was trying to cross & not get her feet wet 🙂 I also would like to know what happens to a flight when the Border Control are sprawled on the tarmac??
Good question Jill and Wendy! Our fire marshall is present on the airstrip for every flight that lands on the “bush strip” and it is his job to gently usher the animals off the runway, should they be there.