Maun, Botswana. The essential guide.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Over there
Age: 39
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Medical expenses are a lot cheaper than the US. We paid around 300 pula for a doctor visit. Meds are around 50 pula. Some of the hospital bills are subsidized by the govt. If you pay cash, you won't have to wait as long. The medical care is decent, but if you have specialized medical needs, aka MRI or CT scans, you'll probably need to go to Gabs or South Africa for more advanced medical care. We've had friends who have had surgery and delivered babies in Gabs with no trouble. Oh, and make sure you get your shots before you guys head over.
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: $1 motel
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BrazilianPilot2
Its very simple!
1. Get the job first
2. Do the job
3. You will have all the answer!
In Africa you go with an open mind, eyes, and ears! Don't over plan for things until you are there!
1. Get the job first
2. Do the job
3. You will have all the answer!
In Africa you go with an open mind, eyes, and ears! Don't over plan for things until you are there!
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bratislava/Prague
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IR rating requirements
Hello all and thanks for all the great advice over here!
I'm wondering as per what is the best way to approach my current decision regarding whether it is more important to get the Instrument Rating (for which I would need to pay approx. 8,000 EUR / 9100 USD) or rather to get a flying experience in the 206/210? (due to budget constraints)
On Wilderness Air employment site it is clearly stated, that they require the IR, but for example Mack Air on their vacancy post did not list the IR as a requirement, and as I understand that there is rather no IR flying in the Delta or in Namibia.
I understand that the 500-hours is the Botswana authorities' unofficial requirement, but I'm wondering whether anyone has experience with landing a job (and the work permit) without the Instrument Rating, please? (I went through all the pages on this thread as well as the Namibia one) So should I spend time and money on the IR or rather keep still focusing on getting as many hours and to increase my VFR skills?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help!
About me:
I'm currently progressing with my hours, doing flight instructing, sightseeing flights etc. and will have over 500 hours by the next hiring season. In addition I'm doing a Bush Pilot training, albeit in a small 2-seat taildragger.
I'm wondering as per what is the best way to approach my current decision regarding whether it is more important to get the Instrument Rating (for which I would need to pay approx. 8,000 EUR / 9100 USD) or rather to get a flying experience in the 206/210? (due to budget constraints)
On Wilderness Air employment site it is clearly stated, that they require the IR, but for example Mack Air on their vacancy post did not list the IR as a requirement, and as I understand that there is rather no IR flying in the Delta or in Namibia.
I understand that the 500-hours is the Botswana authorities' unofficial requirement, but I'm wondering whether anyone has experience with landing a job (and the work permit) without the Instrument Rating, please? (I went through all the pages on this thread as well as the Namibia one) So should I spend time and money on the IR or rather keep still focusing on getting as many hours and to increase my VFR skills?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help!
About me:
I'm currently progressing with my hours, doing flight instructing, sightseeing flights etc. and will have over 500 hours by the next hiring season. In addition I'm doing a Bush Pilot training, albeit in a small 2-seat taildragger.
Last edited by PilotSVK; 13th Oct 2015 at 11:36. Reason: I have read the remainder of the threads and slightly adjusted my question.
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Brazil
Age: 41
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Brazil
Age: 41
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My wife and I made it on 10000 a month. I think you could do it as a family if you lived frugally. Our rent was around 5000 a month with water. Power was another 500 or so. We still managed to eat out a few times a month. Just make a budget and stick to it. It's Africa, enjoy the slower paced living 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bratislava/Prague
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Headphones
In addition to the question about "need" of the instrument rating (as for my current hours I will not need to pay due to flight instructing), I would like to ask you if you can let me know whether there are active noise cancellation headphones being used by some of the pilots or even if they are given out by the companies?
I do like to protect my hearing, but on the other hand it may get more complicated if my passengers would need something of if the engine would start to run roughly etc.
Thanks for the advice
I do like to protect my hearing, but on the other hand it may get more complicated if my passengers would need something of if the engine would start to run roughly etc.
Thanks for the advice
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Maun
Age: 59
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That's a very strange question...by the way you must have your own headset, no company is going to provide them!
For the ANR question, it all depends on you, there are pilots with Bose A20 and pilots with ASA headsets...
For the ANR question, it all depends on you, there are pilots with Bose A20 and pilots with ASA headsets...
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: In the middle of nowhere
Age: 33
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good afternoon to everyone. I am russian pilot with faa cpl. Currently flying Cessna caravan g1000 as a co-pilot. TT is about 700 hours. Is it possible to find a job an Africa with such qualities? In Russia the compane which I work for is on the verge of bankruptcy,so I am thinking now of going to Africa.
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bratislava/Prague
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Thank you Abezzi - the question was pretty much whether I should buy a good headset now (even if coming to Africa in a year from now). Now I understand that I will need one and that one with ANR is not an issue as well. Thinking of Beyerdynamic HS800 as I found an unused one for 1/2 the price of Bose A20.
Also can someone let me know whether the Instrument Rating would be a big advantage or I should rather concentrate on getting additional hours? (I understand that for some employers it will be a no-go)
Also can someone let me know whether the Instrument Rating would be a big advantage or I should rather concentrate on getting additional hours? (I understand that for some employers it will be a no-go)
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Humid Dustbowl
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Documents
Does anyone know whether the Botswana authorities will only accept original documents for things like license verifications and accident and incident reports for the purpose of obtaining a validation / working visa? If I was to bring copies, would I run into trouble?
Also any suggestions on things you wished you had brought to Maun with you once you arrived?
Also any suggestions on things you wished you had brought to Maun with you once you arrived?
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
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wished you had brought to Maun with you once you arrived?
(you can buy anything in Maun that you can buy in any city or town anywhere in the world)
A better tent.
Mine "died" after 4 months, it just couldn't keep the rain out any more. A couple other tents I saw also reached their limits. On one, a pole snapped under the weight of a storm. On a few the zippers didn't hold up.
I should have spent more on the tent, it would have saved on headaches as well as the cost of having to hire a room for a couple nights.
Diarrhoea meds.
It's a brave person who farts in a bar in Africa.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lounge
Age: 53
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Make sure you take a good understanding of TIME!
A SR71 flies at the same speed as a C150 in Africa - when the bank is full of customers all the tellers are suddenly on lunch break.
A SR71 flies at the same speed as a C150 in Africa - when the bank is full of customers all the tellers are suddenly on lunch break.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mosselbay
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Bots
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In contrast to darkroomsource wanting
, I actually wish that I hadn't bothered with a tent at all. Hardly anyone is camping these days. You can get a backpackers room for P100 a night at Alfa. Or a dorm bed at Old Bridge. Or find another pilot and crash on their couch.
I wish I had used the extra few kilograms of luggage allowance for things other that a tent. If you really want to camp, you can pick up a decent tent from Kalahari Canvas by the airport.
A better tent
I wish I had used the extra few kilograms of luggage allowance for things other that a tent. If you really want to camp, you can pick up a decent tent from Kalahari Canvas by the airport.
Last edited by PilotInPink; 23rd Oct 2015 at 11:33.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Lounge
Age: 53
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It is + 10 years since my time in Bots and about 15ish since Maun. But have been back and stayed at Old Bridge. Dave drove me from his Jungle in Zambia to Maun for a job interview - he helped a lot in Maun. We then went back to The Jungle that Dave's girlfriend Helana was looking after while we were away. The Power Station worked overtime back then - Even if you did wake up Green!
Party at the Old Bridge forget the tent.
Party at the Old Bridge forget the tent.