Anybody here ever charter to the Save (or to Buffalo Range) from Harare or Bulawayo?

If so, who did you use and what was the cost? Would you use the same service again?

Thanks.

We were quoted this year $650 each way for the plane Harare-Save-Harare. A 5 hour road tranfer was $300 each way. I recommend the road transfer just to see the country and save a few bucks. Over 4 hours of the trip is on good tar roads.

Mark

We did the road transfer from Harare and it was a pleasant enough 4-5 hour drive.

I think the slick trick would be to charter from JNB to Buffalo Range:

Avoid overnighting in HRE,
Avoid the fare from JNB-HRE-JNB might almost pay for the charter
Save a couple of days

I'm told that Buffalo Range has Customs and can take international arrivals, so why not?????

It should only be about a half hour by air from JNB.

Last time I went, I did the road transfer to the Save from Bulawayo. Been there, done that, seen all I want to see of the Zimbabwen lowveldt

But I would do it again if it were just me. However, my next trip will include my wife who has made me promise not to make her ride over bumpy roads in Africa again, and a pampered couple who live in St. Ives (anyone from Atlanta knows St. Ives Country Club; it's where all the "better than thou" people live in Atlanta, including many of the Braves and Falcons. How any one who plays for the Falcons can think he is better than ANYONE is beyond me!)

I priced a flight from Jo'berg to Buffalo Range a few years ago, and it was cost prohibitive, but I have since been told (by Susan at Gracy Travel) that there is (or was) an entrepreneur who charters between Pretoria and Buffalo Range for around $1,500 (price before latest fuel cost hikes). Don't have any idea who he is, what he flys, or what his price is now. Might be worth looking into.

Well, considering our trip via Harare:

2 round trips JNB-HRE-JNB $ 500-$600
1 night in HRE $ 200
Not having to stay in or go thru that shithole...PRICELESS
KNOWING that your stuff actually got on the plane to Zim.....PRICELESS

Sorry, couldn't resist

Add in the value of a couple of days and I think it pencils out. Especially for four people.

Mokore, Senuko, or where?

Senuko, if we can get the details worked out and the U.S. residential construction economy improves. If it doesn't then I'll spend the rest of my life doing the old "remember when" two-step.

You'll love Senuko; great folks, great food, lots of game. Tell them the rednecks that drank all the tomato juice in Zim for Bloody Marys said hi.

We had all of the big five come into the waterhole 88 yards from our lodge at one time or another; one night we had 42 elephants there at the same time.

If you can't pull it off this year you can go with us next year.

Les

GAHUNTER,
I flew down from Harare to the Save using CATS. Very easy and enjoyable 45 minute flight. Cost was $1,400 roundtrip when I did it but there were three of us and we shared the expense. Not too bad and we landed right on Senuko's airstrip! PM me for more details if you need them.

Russ,

Was that $1400 split three ways?

I'll get the info when things get more serious. We're probably looking a '09 at the earliest under present economic conditions.

Barry Style with Buffalo Range Safari's also runs an air service that is first rate. Buffalo Range Airport no longer has customs but the strip is still operable. PM me is you want Style's contact info. CATS is also good.

Jeff

i think it was about 5 years ago i had my wife and daughter along and we chartered from hwange down and then back to bulawayo on a twin beech - as i remember that bill was about 2 grand

quote:

Russ,

Was that $1400 split three ways?

Yes sir, a little over $450 apiece. Not too bad considering the time savings.

Gents,

I jusr got an e-mail from Air 2000 quoting JNB-Buffalo Range at roughly $4400 for a Cessna 402 which should easily take a group of 4 with baggage. When you figure regular scheduled airfare from JNB, transfer to the Save, time and knowing your bags will arrive it might be worth it for a group to charter.

Mark

Mark,

What do you do about clearing customs at Buffalo Range?

Jeff

Jeff,

Shayle with Mokore thought it was no problem. I suppose it is hard to say for the future.

Mark