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Our look into ZK-PBY’s past continues as we look at her role in
Zimbabwe, registered as Z-CAT. The following is a compilation from an
African Safari Company brochure and letters posted on the internet
website
www.pby.com The
ancient continent of Africa-vast, wild and empty-draws people today as
it did the hardy explorers of the last century. But
nowadays, with much of Africa discovered and rediscovered, it takes
exceptional imagination and knowledge to put together an authentic
African travel adventure. This tour represented the Ultimate African
Safari!
Pierre and Antoinette Jaunet, with their 18 years of experience in
exploring the remotest parts of the continent, did just that. They
created a unique expedition, a full trans-Africa voyage aboard an
amphibious ‘flying boat’ with stops on the rivers and lakes of the East
African Rift Valley.
Travelling the same route that Britain’s historic Imperial Airways used
earlier last century, the complete itinerary moved from Cairo to
Victoria Falls, visiting in 13 stages seven of the most intriguing
countries in Africa.
The full 23-day journey covered 4700 miles in 39 hours of exciting
flying aboard a comfortably refurbished Catalina (Z-CAT).
The
vistas and visits would include: The sights along the Nile: pyramids and
other ancient Egyptian attractions, Aswan High Dam and land on the
resultant Lake Nassar, the series of volatile cataracts especially the
"6th cataract" (that was so viciously swift, the ancient southerly
invaders from Egypt ceased their expedition), the bifurcating of the
Nile at Al Khartum/Khartoum in Sudan to Lake Turkana/Rudolf as its 200
mile length extends mainly into Kenya.
From Lake Turkana the Nile sights are exchanged for the highlands of the
Ndoto mountain range, passing near Kenya's highest mountain,
"Kirinyaga/Kenya" to visit the Kenya capital city, Nairobi that is
famous for its spectacular market place, museum and its peculiar
(one-of-a-kind) snake park.
A short flight from Nairobi passed the Snows of Kilimanjoro with Tanzania's and Africa's highest mountain of 19,340, this flight's stop was in Tanzania on an airstrip beside Lake Manyara. The stay here was long enough to travel overland through imposing countryside to and within Ngorongoro Crater that contains one of Africa's densest concentrations of exotic species of large animals. After a night's stay, in specially prepared bush tents with all the proper amenities and food, a full day would be spent touring within the crater before leaving for Zanzibar, also of Tanzania. (Note: Zanzibar, once a famous independent island nation only 35 miles in length and about FIVE wide with lesser small islands not shown on most maps, in 1964 joined "Tanganyika" to form the United Republic of Tanzania.) Many pleasant and unsuspecting wonders of Zanzibar, the spice island/s of the world, are the usual highlight of many African visitors. The Catalina alighted and was moored in a sheltered cove in the proximity of the "Spice Inn" for accommodation. .
Following
departure from Zanzibar, the Catalina proceeded over the Kipengere
Mountain Range where the climate is ideal for the world-renowned choice
coffee and tea of Tanzania is grown. Salima of Malawi on the
south-western shore of Lake Malawi was the next landing and visiting
site. Another water landing was made at Salima near the Livingstonia
Beach Hotel for a relaxing respite at the ideal beach or a cruise on the
largest lake within the Rift Valley (known for its great archaeological
finds of early humanoids). Then perhaps on to Maun, Botswana situated at the southeastern delta of the "Great Okavango Swamps". From Maun, the guest were taken in smaller aircraft to a site known as "Delta Camp" within the swamp and housed in suitable cottages. An option was offered for a guided canoe tour along the network of waterways or walking about on "Chief's Island" adjacent to Delta-Camp. (Note: The Okavango area becomes a lake, as the surrounding area of several thousand square miles receives its rainy season and since there is no outlet for Okvango, its waters disappear through dry season evaporation to its "swamp identity" or dries up entirely. This total process renders Okavango to species of flora and fauna unique to the area with each process of seasons.)
After completing this experience the guests were flown next to the
"Chobe Reserve" in the northern most area of Botswana at a site known as
the Chobe Chilwero Camp beside the Chobe River. The feature here is the
abundance of birds numerically and by species in their respective
aquatic behaviour in their respective seasons of migration. The
spectacle gains attention of even the non-bird fanciers. Overnight
accommodations here were in attractive and fully functional "A"-Frame
cottages aesthetically correct for the setting.
Another short flight in the Catalina delivered the guests to a landing
on the Zambezi River and taxi to an old established flying-boat jetty,
used in the days of flying-boat service to and in Africa. The principal
attraction here was the 343 feet high "Victoria Water Falls" in
Zimbabwe/Rhodesia, discovered by the British missionary, (Doctor) David
Livingstone in 1855.
Alternative departures required the whole trip to be run in reverse,
i.e. from Victoria Falls to Cairo. Passengers could choose between one
of two segments, Segment A (between Victoria Falls and Nairobi) or
Segment B (between Nairobi and Cairo). A
popular television documentary, titled: The Last African Flying Boat,
was filmed during Pierre’s original “route proving” flight in 1988.
Released by ABC World of Discovery and BBC-TV, the documentary is
narrated by Alexander Frater. The pilot in this feature, Jim Ledergard,
later worked for Robert Schlaefli (of SLAFCO fame) in Washington State,
U.S.A.
Sources:
Catalina Safari Company
Brochure (no date) |
