Photographers dream of getting an opportunity to take pictures of animals from above. In Botswana you can book a helicopter in Maun to spot herds moving across the Okavango Delta. Uwe repeatedly mentioned how “we” could have the chance to see the delta from the air, and finally I agreed.
When I imagined this ride I thought of a normal helicopter, constructed of reassuringly thick and reinforced metal alloy. One with three seats in the front, three in the back. I pictured myself ensconced in a middle seat safely far from a sliding door that was propped open for the photographers. We’d be up in the skies for 45 minutes that would zip by.
But, no, the flight was in a helicopter less than half the size I’d expected. When I saw the little tin toy we were going to ride in, my stomach began to flip. Our tiny death trap had no middle seat — and no doors.
Okay, so it wasn’t tin.
But it sure felt like it. We were high in the sky, riding in a fragile toy helicopter. A miniature toy constructed out of some kind of light metal that would crush with the slightest wind. A toy without any doors or even a safety bar, for f***’s sake. The only thing between me and a sure death was the seat belt. And my husband had decided to go for it and booked an hour-long flight instead of the 45 minutes I thought “we’d” decided on.
“What do you hope for from your flight?” they asked.
I pointed at Uwe. “He wants to take pictures, and I just want to not faint or throw up.”
My husband was in the back seat in that version of Heaven photographers go to in these situations. I sat in front next to Thorvald with both hands firmly gripping the seat under me. Breathe! I reminded myself, followed very quickly by, Screw that. Just don’t pass out. Thorvald kept circling and banking so Uwe could get the best shots. Each time he banked, my stomach circled right along with the itty bitty ‘copter.
I looked down and figured, If this thing falls out of the sky, we’re toast. I might as well enjoy the last hour of my allotted time on Earth – especially if it’s not taking place on the ground. I made myself unclamp my fingers from the seat, and even leaned towards the (nonexistent) door.
The vistas took my breath away. Tracks in the delta as far as the eye could see, made and followed by migrating herds.
Verdant areas where the showers of the last two days had filled pools.
African buffalo, zebras and elephants roamed across the land.
Pods of hippos seen from above looked like floating lily pads.
When I was looking through Uwe’s photographs for this post, for the first time I saw this pic of two men carrying attachable doors across the runway. So there ARE doors if you insist on having them.
I don’t know if I would have insisted if I’d known that ahead of time. As it was, once Thorvald brought us without a bump back onto the earth, I looked at him and said, “Let’s go up again!”
NOTES: ©2023 Jadi Campbell. All photos ©2023 Uwe Hartmann. For more of Uwe’s photos from our trips and his photography, go to viewpics.de.
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Oh my goodness I would LOVE this – everything about it – the flight, the photography, the location. How exciting.
I chuckled at your response – not faint or throw up, but knew you’d come to terms with it. Always the most excitement lies on the other side of our comfort zone. What a fabulous experience Jadi.
Alison
Thanks Alison! I was WAY out of my comfort zone with this one!
Hi Jadi,
The photographs are magnificent.
I think a smaller version of those helicopters are used for cattle mustering in remote parts of Australia. I’ve seen them being used in documentary footage. They are so agile and manoeuvreable.
So you’re telling me there’s an even SMALLER version of this tin toy copter??
I don’t usually take to flying very well, but I loved the helicopters (and light observation planes) in Vietnam. The helicopters did have side doors, but they were nearly always left open, so we had plenty of fresh air, which for me was the main thing.
https://operasandcycling.com/phuoc-vinh-1964/ (scroll down for my first helicopter ride)
I read your blog post about Vietnam some months ago – you’ve had a fascinating life
What a spectacular trip! I’m glad you hung in there to experience it!
My husband talked me into it and I’m glad (I think!) that he did so
I’d have likely had a similar reaction!
is there any other reaction to have unless you have a death wish?
Loved the shot of hippos. They look like whales so smooth and gray. I’ve done some helicopter rides and I’m always terrified. I had much the same reaction when I went up in a hot air balloon. Talk about no safety but the quiet and the beauty of looking down soon overcome the fear.
Kate the hot air balloon is where I have drawn a line. Uwe gets to do that one all by himself – no way I’m going up in the sky in a big basket!
It is scary and there are no seat belts!
without a seatbelt I wouldn’t have gone up
Omg, I must be blind! I saw no hippos near the lone fisherman.
The photos werenallmstunning, what a lucky couple you are to get to see all that!
Kim, the hippos were just over the border of the photo Uwe took and the fisherman had moved his boat away from them when we circled back around again. But he was so close that the pilot commented on how dangerous it was
Love it! We took a helicopter from Maun into the Delta to our stay at Oddballs Lodge (from where we took our mokoro camping/walking safari). Our DIL had a similar reaction to yours!
You mean, she was possibly the one sane person in the helicopter?!
LOL. But she missed seeing all the animals below because she had her eyes shut!
I had my eyes open but my fingers were definitely clamped around the edge of my seat