Vintage Air Rally to honour Khama�s request
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday November 23, 2016 15:49
The team, which was set to leave on November 12, started flying from Sitia in the Greek island of Crete. They will transcend across Africa before reaching the final destination in Cape Town, South Africa. The journey is a charity event that will this year see 12 vintage biplanes, which were all manufactured before 1939, travel over 12, 800 km over a period of 35 days. The journey is documented in film and will be viewed by millions all over the world.
What this means for Botswana is that the country’s unique features will be televised for the world to see at no cost. Brand Botswana and Botswana Tourism Organisation jumped onto the bandwagon and will host a tour at the Mashatu Game Reserve for the team as well as a tour around the capital.
As one of the main sponsors of the event, Puma Energy general manager, Mahube Mpugwa said yesterday at a press briefing that, “Puma Energy is proud to be affiliated with the Vintage Air Rally”. “The Puma Energy Africa Group prides itself in supporting events such as this one that boosts tourism and celebrates the beautiful location that out brand has presence in, in Botswana and across the African continent,” he said. What was most interesting about this year’s event was that President Ian Khama personally put up a request for the event to grace Botswana.
According to UK’s Guardian newspaper the teams will cross 10 countries, many beset by war and borderline famine, in a rally that will seek to recreate the 1931 Imperial Airways ‘Africa Route’.