We launch into the lull between strong thermals and start climbing quickly. Gaining altitude we scan the skies downwind. Clouds are forming ‘inland’ of the escarpment, with the occasional cloud overhead. The wind is a sturdy east-northeaster, pushing us progressively along the escarpment. We float over thatched huts, hand tilled fields, and waving villagers. At 2000m above the valley floor we turn with the wind and race towards the Mavuradonha Mountains, home to herds of elephant, zebra, kudu and many more of Zimbabwe’s stunning wildlife. At this lofty height our ground speed of 60+ km/hr seems slow and peaceful.
After a long glide we are below the escarpment. Hot midday thermals buffet the glider. Although we are still 300m agl, the heat is oppressive. It’s well above 35 C here and the wind provides no relief. A small cone shaped hill proves to be a reliable trigger and we start bouncing our way upward. While drifting over the mountains again we keep a lookout for animals but they are sheltering by the cool streams wandering through the valleys 1500m below. Two buzzards join our thermal, although today they are keeping a respectable distance. We approach Muzaribani, the 35 km mark. The terrain becomes more broken and we head into the hills searching for the sunny westerly slopes. Rough thermals produce a lively climb; unfortunately we drop out at less than 1000m. We have just broken the old tandem record, but neither of us is ready to quit. We push forward, searching for the next thermal.
The next 15 km has us fighting to stay in broken thermals, unable to get above 700m but drifting relentlessly westward. It’s time to go for broke. We leave our scrappy thermal, running west towards a slightly larger than average west facing kopje. I am optimistic of a good thermal if we make it, but halfway there strong sink has us down amongst the hilltops. It’s going to be touch and go – will we make it over the escarpment? I force myself to relax and, trying to sound casual, brief Tim for landing. He doesn’t comment when I mention that we may land amongst the trees on the top and walk down. The vario suddenly comes to life, squawking about lift, exceeding 7 m/s. The climb is rapid and rough. It’s a hectic ride; both of us have our weight thrown hard over to the right. The glider bucks and kicks with a mind of its own. Cloud base looms close. The temperature drops back to a comfortable 21 C. The landscape spreads itself out before us. An incredible vista – such unbelievable beauty! On the south side the high veldt – a plateau that extends for hundreds of kilometers. Beneath us the escarpment drops down to the floor of the flat Zambezi valley. Small African villages speckle the landscape; cultivated fields intermingled with virgin bush. Animals lurk in the cool shadows, occasionally showing themselves as we cruise overhead. In front of us, the paraglider pilots dream landscape fades distantly into the heat haze.
Tim expresses relief at not having landed. Andre comes on the radio; he is close behind in the pickup. The thermals are more coordinated now that we are higher and we continue to speed westwards at speeds between 55 and 65 km/hr. Things are looking rosy. A village comes into view. I yelp in surprise. Mahuwe? It can’t be! Surely we haven’t traveled 60 km’s yet? I study it closely and have to conclude that it is definitely Mahuwe. I chatter excitedly with Tim about the possibility of breaking the Zim distance record of 85 km’s.
Crossing Mahuwe and again we are low, but Tim is learning fast and points out a circling eagle. We join the thermal and wave at the villagers as we cross Bakasa, an established flying site. I know this area well and am keen to push the distance record but the wind starts to conspire against us. It is increasing, pushing us backwards whenever we face east. I can’t take the chance of thermalling into the hills now and we are forced push forwards. A forest looms downwind so, with no thermals about, we turn and race westward. Despite an incredible downwind glide, the fields downwind are unpleasantly distant. We are on final glide, desperately searching for lift however weak. Instead, sink! Our chance of making the fields disappears, so when a tiny clearing flashes under us I turn, calling for Tim to prepare for landing. We overshoot the clearing, but another smaller one is just below us. We are at treetop height; the clearing is no bigger than 3 or 4 gliders. The wind shadow catches us, dumping us in an untidy heap at the foot of a tree. Laughing and ecstatic at the flight, we quickly mark our position and pack up. Tim climbs a small kopje to make radio contact with Andre. The nearest road is 3–4 km away, but wandering through the African bush checking out buffalo tracks, warthogs, and a duiker is the perfect end to a great day. Andre meets us at a village with cold drinks and we begin the long drive back to camp in the Mavuradohna Mountains.
Distance: 72 km’s. Glider: SKY MAXI. Pilot: Mark Bailey. Passenger: Tim Holden.