Live a Bush pilot expedition
Become a Bush pilot
Experience an extraordinary African expedition
Fly over Namibia’s landscapes and wildlife
You are a traveler, adventure lover, professional photographer or videographer.
You have never flown a paramotor or practiced any other aerial activity, you have never thought about flying or becoming a pilot before.
You want to see Africa with us from the sky by flying a paramotor yourself.
But you don’t want to compromise on safety or supervision and dedicate a lot of time to training, so :
This Expedition Training experience is for you.
Our 14-day expedition training takes place in the heart of Africa, in one of the most spectacular regions of Namibia.
You will start with an intensive 6-day training in the middle of the giant, glowing sand dunes of the famous Namib Desert.
Then you will enjoy your new skills without waiting, we will head north to Damaraland for a real 6-day expedition in the authentic wild Africa in search of the wildlife of all your fantasies by flying over breathtaking landscapes.
On your return, you will be a Bush pilot who has had an extraordinary experience and you will be prepared to join us for other expeditions or to fly by yourself wherever you want.
Flying in the bush
The expedition will take you to remote areas of Africa where few travellers and pilots have ever explored.
We adjust our itinerary along the way to adapt to the weather, which can vary from day to day.
We are always ready to change our forecast to make the most of wildlife encounters or other opportunities.
Mobile Camp
Our mobile bush camp leaves nothing to chance, while keeping the spirit of an expedition your comfort remains a concern. Electricity to recharge your appliances, a comfortable mattress and a shower are real luxuries here.
A refrigerator is specially dedicated to offer you fresh drinks at all times.
We will prepare a selection of wine and beer according to your tastes.
Every day the team will set up a comfortable camp where we can rest and enjoy a delicious dinner around the fire. Our chef from a 5-star resort and cooking teacher in Windhoek will work miracles in the middle of the bush with the help of his assistant to delight you in this fabulous setting.
Take off on foot or in a trolley.
Choose your take-off type. On foot, you feel the magic of taking off running.
In a single-seater cart, no physical effort is required, it replaces your shoulders and legs. Certificates are valid for both and moving from one to the other does not require any examination.
Far from everything but reachable
Our logistics are complete, insert your sim card into our satellite phones and stay in touch with your loved ones.
On your return
For your return flight to Windhoek International Airport, you can opt for a private plane (Cessna 310 twin, or Cessna Caravan), a comfortable and faster option than the 4×4.
Highlights of the trip
– A complete experience: training followed by an expedition
– Learn during your exclusive and original Bush Pilot Training for 6 days in the middle of the dunes of the Namib Desert.
– Practice immediately, fly with your new pilot skills and progress by flying for 6 days in the bush.
– Experience a real expedition to Africa as you have always dreamed of it.
– Logistics and experts worthy of the greatest documentaries, we use an old truck from the Paris-Dakar.
– Our chef from a 5 star resort and cooking teacher in Windhoek will work miracles in the middle of the bush to delight you in this fabulous setting.
– Fly over the magnificent giraffes and large herds of oryx in the sand.
– Discover the incredible dry rivers, untouched by any exploration.
– Camp in the middle of the bush where only the animals will be your neighbours, to the sound of roaring lions.
– Fly over the last real free elephants
– Bring back an imperishable souvenir, filmed by a drone and photographed by a professional.
– Patented
– Opt for enduro motorcycle trips if you wish (Suzuki Dr650 or Yamaha 660 Tenere), you will follow our convoy and can alternate with the 4×4.
– Be the privileged actors of this unique experience, which only we have the complex formula for.
Your 14-day itinerary
Day 0 Arrival in Namibia – Windhoek
Arrival at Windhoek International Airport, transfer by road to Swakopmund on the Namibian coast. We will stay at the Protea Hotel on the beach where we will have a comfortable base for the training.
Day 1 to 6 Training
Day 1 Equipment presentation, inflation technique and control of the sail on the ground, familiarization with the engine
Day 2 Takeoff simulation. Tandem flight with in-flight control, turning exercises and basic approach. First solo flight on the radio.
Day 3 Solo flights, work on take-offs and landings.
Day 4 In-flight exercises.
Day 5 Flight exercises and advanced techniques necessary to fly safely in the bush.
Day 6 Synthesis of flight exercises, take-offs and landings with the aim of reaching a certain autonomy. Daily theoretical sessions to complete the practical progression.
Day 7 Damaraland
We leave for the north at 10am to begin our expedition. In the afternoon we will reach the highest mountain in Namibia: Brandberg mountain. We will spend the night there, there will be nobody around and the wildlife will already be present. We will start on an easy spot, 500 meters above sea level with different flying conditions. After having prepared our equipment, we will start the exercises. We will eventually make a flight.
First night in bivouac and full briefing around the campfire.
Day 8 Ugab Valley
We will make our first flight in Damaraland, above the beautiful Brandberg mountain. After breakfast we will leave at 11 am, 100 kilometers further north. We leave the gravel track to cross the Ugab valley like explorers. We may come across elephants and rhinos.
We will stop to camp in an incredible place, a desert of rocky formations where we will eventually fly in the afternoon.
Day 9 Springbok valley
We will make a fabulous flight in the Ugab area and leave after breakfast at around 11am heading northwest to the Springbok river valley 100 kilometers away.
We will reach the riverbed where we will camp. There are often lions and rhinos here. It is easy to take off here but a little more technical than the first flights.
We are planning a 2h flight following the river bed in search of wildlife.
We will fly again in the evening.
Day 10 Palmwag or Grootberg Camp
Through the natural border of Damaraland we will reach Palmwag or Grootberg in the afternoon.
In the evening you can enjoy the lodge to relax, elephants are regularly unexpected guests.
We will meet the Save the Rhino trust, a conservation project that takes care of an endangered population of black rhino. Eventually they will let us fly in search of these incredible creatures.
Day 11 Huab valley
After putting the equipment in the vehicles, we will leave towards the Huab valley, there is a lot of wildlife here, we may come across the endangered black rhino. We will set up camp and prepare the paramotors to fly before sunset if the wind is not too strong.
Day 12 Hoanib valley
This valley is the territory of the desert elephant, we will take off at 6am for an early morning flight, sometimes there is a light fog, this is a great opportunity to fly above this layer for the first time. We will leave the camp after breakfast.
We can make an evening flight while the team sets up camp. Here we often hear the lions roar during the night. There are regular flash floods in the bed of this dry river that carries away everything in its path, so we know where to camp safely.
Day 13 Hoanib valley – Windhoek
One of the most beautiful sites of our expedition, the final bouquet. Encounters with desert elephants are frequent, flying here will be unforgettable.
After breakfast, we will leave in the direction of Windhoek.
A full day’s drive to the capital (Option: you can make this trip by private plane if you wish to take an international flight on the same day).
We will sleep at the Arebush lodge, a comfortable place to dismantle the paramotors and have dinner one last time all together.
Program of your training
The aim of this beginners’ course is to teach the student the basic techniques and knowledge to set up the equipment, counter the glider on the ground, take off, land, to reach the ultimate goal of flying in the African bush with the assistance of the instructor in a few days.
Here are some of the points covered during the training:
Control and understanding of the equipment
Control and understanding of the paraglider
How to install in the harness, make the adjustments for comfort, correct use for maximum safety.
Face to face inflation and techniques for taking off in strong winds, from 7 to 15 km/hour
Reverse canopy inflation for take-off in nil or light wind, 0 to 7 km/h
Work on ground glide and brake control work
Control of the glider by starting upside down and turning to the take-off position
– Advanced ground inflation techniques, harness free inflation, use of weight, quick deflation of the wing, safety techniques, upside down wing inflation to remove dust from the cells.
Simulation of front and back take-off
Face to face and back to wing take-off simulation with a weighted simulator
Canopy work on the ground with the engine on your back
Simulator training to master flight without even leaving the ground
How to install correctly in the flying position in the harness
In-flight weight shifting techniques
Complete briefing of the first flight, take-off technique, direction for the take-off run, throttle handle management, turns in the air, landing procedure
Pre-flight inspection and correct engine preheating
Contingency management in the sense of security
Several touch and go flights and ground passes to reach autonomy and fly without the assistance of an instructor.
Basic engine maintenance, petrol oil mixture, cleaning, spark plug change
Basic wing maintenance, folding, storage
Explanation of conditions for safe flying, site and weather conditions
Presentation of the different brands and possibilities to get equipped
Equipment
Comfortable canvas tent, individual, 2.3 m x 2.3 m with beds and mattresses
Comfortable camping chairs and tables and all the best equipment
Satellite phone (only in case of emergency)
Satellite phone (free use with your SIM card)
SPOT Tracker
Long distance VHF for communication between vehicles
Continuous emergency preparedness and evacuation plans
First aid kit
Complete workshop with spare parts, soldering iron and tools
