KipCarson
Well-known member
Day 11: Flying out
I’m ready to see my girls but I am not ready to leave Africa. Even with all the fun and experiences I’ve had It’s like giving the fat kid one bite of chocolate cake, then making him leave the party early. We woke up a little later today and started packing all of our gear. It rained a little bit but not too bad. We got up and headed over to the skinning shed/salt house after breakfast to take a group picture of the weeks trophies. It wasn’t the most picturesque location but we got everything all together and didn’t really have time to load it all up and go out to a better place.
There was additional paperwork to file and we had to be sure all the trophy labels were proper and all of our licenses matched up with the export paperwork etc. We got our tips all paid out to the proper people and had a little time to hang out and talk and say last goodbyes before walking down to the helipad. We came in on a fixed wing but were getting to leave on one of the choppers. I was looking forward to this flight! A few last pics on the helipad and then some of the best camp crew ever waving us off. These were great people to spend 10 days with.
I’ve flown in choppers before doing deer herd surveys in west Texas but flying low over Africa seeing the landscape would be exciting!
On the way out we spent most of the time at 600 feet, 1000 less than the fixed wing coming in. It gave a much better view of what was happening on the ground. 
We circled low over a few small herds of buffalo before we left the Coutada behind and then hit the more inhabited area with its mosaic of slash and burn agriculture and charcoal making fires. Clusters of huts dotted the landscape and where this started, the wildlife ended. I can’t be upset at people who are trying to feed their families and keep them alive, but seeing the difference between the managed Coutada and the open free for all outside of it was striking.
I was asking about the different rivers we crossed and pilot Pete dropped down to the deck well below the tree line and gave us a good look around as he skimmed about 20 feet over the water.
He laughed and said “Don’t post that video to social media, I’ll have people coming at me telling me how unsafe it this is!” I personally felt as comfortable as can be and I’m sure the guys on hunt talk wont try to turn him in to whatever governing body watches over Mozambique’s aviation.
One of the most striking things to me was that in the 120 miles from Camp to Beira we didn’t cross one developed road until we were with in a few miles of the city. Most of that distance there were scattered walking and bike trails crisscrossing the landscape.
Depending on the destination it could take weeks to walk anywhere. To drive to the camp it’s about 12+ hours of dirt roads going way out around the flooding wet areas. It’s by far the most remote uncivilized place I’ve ever been.
Not much more happened on the loooong trip home. It was weird getting sprayed with a bug fogger on the flight from Moz to SA. They didn’t want to risk any stowaway tetse flies. There were no overnight layovers this time, just a 7 hour one in Jo-berg. And thankfully I wasn’t stuck by the window crossing back to Atlanta. Turns out my girls missed me as much as I was missing them! Seeing them and their Momma was definitely worth coming home to! If any of you ever have a hankering to go to Mozambique, I strongly encourage it; I don’t think you’ll have one single regret!
I’m ready to see my girls but I am not ready to leave Africa. Even with all the fun and experiences I’ve had It’s like giving the fat kid one bite of chocolate cake, then making him leave the party early. We woke up a little later today and started packing all of our gear. It rained a little bit but not too bad. We got up and headed over to the skinning shed/salt house after breakfast to take a group picture of the weeks trophies. It wasn’t the most picturesque location but we got everything all together and didn’t really have time to load it all up and go out to a better place.
There was additional paperwork to file and we had to be sure all the trophy labels were proper and all of our licenses matched up with the export paperwork etc. We got our tips all paid out to the proper people and had a little time to hang out and talk and say last goodbyes before walking down to the helipad. We came in on a fixed wing but were getting to leave on one of the choppers. I was looking forward to this flight! A few last pics on the helipad and then some of the best camp crew ever waving us off. These were great people to spend 10 days with.
I’ve flown in choppers before doing deer herd surveys in west Texas but flying low over Africa seeing the landscape would be exciting!On the way out we spent most of the time at 600 feet, 1000 less than the fixed wing coming in. It gave a much better view of what was happening on the ground. We circled low over a few small herds of buffalo before we left the Coutada behind and then hit the more inhabited area with its mosaic of slash and burn agriculture and charcoal making fires. Clusters of huts dotted the landscape and where this started, the wildlife ended. I can’t be upset at people who are trying to feed their families and keep them alive, but seeing the difference between the managed Coutada and the open free for all outside of it was striking.I was asking about the different rivers we crossed and pilot Pete dropped down to the deck well below the tree line and gave us a good look around as he skimmed about 20 feet over the water.
He laughed and said “Don’t post that video to social media, I’ll have people coming at me telling me how unsafe it this is!” I personally felt as comfortable as can be and I’m sure the guys on hunt talk wont try to turn him in to whatever governing body watches over Mozambique’s aviation.One of the most striking things to me was that in the 120 miles from Camp to Beira we didn’t cross one developed road until we were with in a few miles of the city. Most of that distance there were scattered walking and bike trails crisscrossing the landscape.
Depending on the destination it could take weeks to walk anywhere. To drive to the camp it’s about 12+ hours of dirt roads going way out around the flooding wet areas. It’s by far the most remote uncivilized place I’ve ever been.Not much more happened on the loooong trip home. It was weird getting sprayed with a bug fogger on the flight from Moz to SA. They didn’t want to risk any stowaway tetse flies. There were no overnight layovers this time, just a 7 hour one in Jo-berg. And thankfully I wasn’t stuck by the window crossing back to Atlanta. Turns out my girls missed me as much as I was missing them! Seeing them and their Momma was definitely worth coming home to! If any of you ever have a hankering to go to Mozambique, I strongly encourage it; I don’t think you’ll have one single regret!
