Like most people, I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with the Russian Mi-17 Transport Helicopter. Sure, the 5-rotor design provides stability for the on-the-go military operation, but it's just such a noisy ride. If you were to ask, however, any of the governments of Macedonia, Rwanda, Thailand, Afghanistan, Colombia, Mexico or Slovakia, all of whom have purchased this baby from the Russians over the last 4 decades, I'm sure they'd say something to the effect of "she runs like a dream."
Still, if there was just a way to make this puppy a little more, I dunno, welcoming. Hmmm....
Still, if there was just a way to make this puppy a little more, I dunno, welcoming. Hmmm....
Ok, perfect. That's all I was asking for. And, for the trip, those along for the ride were all given a pair of handy earphones, just for good measure. Now we're talking. Or rather, yelling loudly if you have something to tell someone.
So now, what exactly was I doing getting up at the crack of dawn for a trip up there in the wild blue yonder? Well, as many of you know, we're over here in Rwanda through Ginger's work. They had sent a media team to get some footage of Rwanda and other countries for a video project, and happened to have an extra seat on the aforementioned chopper.
Wanna go?
This question begged an easy answer, since A) it was on the third morning after our arrival and I was up early anyway, B) Ginger's stomach can't take it, and C) Really, do you think I wouldn't go in a chopper to herd giraffe and other wildlife like some kind of dream-National Geographic video trip? Yep, I'm in.
Taking off from Kigali Int'l Airport around 6:30 a.m., the vistas heading east to Akagera National Park were simply breathtaking. We sailed over many a small village until we eventually came upon the nature preserve. Formed around the Kagera River, it includes marshland, savanna, and mountains. In central Africa, it constitutes the largest protected wetland with a vast network of papyrus swamps and lakes.
Pretty great place for a palapa, huh?
The videographer-photographer duo (Mike and Ivan) were mostly concerned with the Red Pro 5.0, an HD camera of much renown and merit, known to all in the film circles as "one sweet baby of a camera." It makes a right nice movie, I tell you. They rigged it in the opening of the chopper loading bay and made movie magic of the trip.
The videographer-photographer duo (Mike and Ivan) were mostly concerned with the Red Pro 5.0, an HD camera of much renown and merit, known to all in the film circles as "one sweet baby of a camera." It makes a right nice movie, I tell you. They rigged it in the opening of the chopper loading bay and made movie magic of the trip.
Eventually, we made it to the park's headquarters and inn, which, on a bad day, make Robert Redford and Meryl Streep want to cash it all in and start a farm. I didn't know that we'd be stopping over for breakfast and coffee here, so the surprise landing was something akin to a Christmas morning in the bush.
The entrance.
The pool.
Even this park has a soccer field. And an extra shoe, just in case.
Time to head home.
As we lifted off to head back to Kigali, we were informed that the giraffe would be more visible on the savanna for some shots. Thankfully, giraffe are predictable that way. Here's some shots of these beauties and other groups of animals as we headed back:
As we lifted off to head back to Kigali, we were informed that the giraffe would be more visible on the savanna for some shots. Thankfully, giraffe are predictable that way. Here's some shots of these beauties and other groups of animals as we headed back:
Zebra.
Topis.
Impala.
On the flight home, we flew over countless rural villages and farms. As we passed each in slow motion, we could see children, animals, families and workers all halting in their tracks to see our chopper pass overhead. Homes, fields of banana tree saplings, main street thoroughfares and active herds of African longhorn cattle gave life to the undulating landscape of endless hills and valleys.
Home in a jiffy. Thanks, Mi-17!
