Gliding in Africa

On Sep 27, 9:12*am, Paul T wrote:
At 14:56 27 September 2011, Mike the Strike wrote:









On Sep 27, 6:30=A0am, Paul T
wrote:
Planning on taking a little bike trip around Africa starting next year..
Would like to do some gliding on the way.
=A0Apart from the well known clubs and operations in South Africa and
Nam=
bia,
=A0I've found that there are gliding operations in Morroco, Tunsia and
Eygpyt. Don't know if they still have the gliding outfit in Kenya - and
I
geuss there are no operations left in Zimbabwe, anybody know?
Anybody know of any other Afican countries where there are gliding
operations?
=A0Any help would be gratefully recieved.

Zimbabwe is ruled by a ruthless (some say mad) dictator who enforces
control over the country and people with gangs of vicious armed
thugs. *Anyone with any sense has already left (most Zimbabweans are
now in South Africa).

It is extremely unlikely that any recreational aircraft are still
there and in my opinion you are completely nuts even to consider going
into that basket case of a country.

Mike

mike having travelled widely through the world - if I listened to all the
people who said don't go it's dangerous then I probablly would not have
gone anywhere, even the USA!! - I'm also quite well aware of the political
situation in Zimbabwe-that's why I am guessing there are no gliding
operations left in that country. *I'm looking for objective factual
information re; whether there are gliding operations in any other African
countries, *thanks

Actually, you can probably travel to Zimbabwe reasonably safely if you
are used to troubled areas and take the usual precautions. I'd rather
you didn't go and support the regime with your tourist money for
ethical reasons.

I lived in South Africa for many years and have traveled widely in the
area, including Zimbabwe. My first glider was imported into South
Africa from Zimbabwe Last January, I met with an old soaring
colleague in Johannesburg and in passing it was mentioned that sub-
Saharan soaring operations were only occurring in South Africa and
Namibia. I was in Botswana not too long ago and was unable to locate
any soaring operations there. There were rumors about a German
engineer with a glider at a Zambian mine, but not confirmed.

I would start with a query to the South African Soaring Association -
someone there is as likely as anyone to know about sub-Saharan soaring
operations.

I certainly wouldn't discourage you from an adventure. Africa is a
very special place that still feels more like home to me than all the
other places I have lived.

Mike