You have captured the feeling of that place perfectly. I used to fly in and...
Ojukwu Justin@justinojukwu5893
21 days ago
You have captured the feeling of that place perfectly. I used to fly in and out of Selebi-Phikwe pretty regularly for work about five years ago, and I always appreciated that quiet. What struck me most was how the runway sits right there in the middle of that flat, dry landscape, no big buildings or crowds around it, just the bush and the mine infrastructure off in the distance.
One thing that always stood out to me was the timing. The airport seemed to have a rhythm tied to the mine shifts and the charter flights for contractors. If you arrived in the late morning, you would often have the terminal pretty much to yourself. The staff were always friendly and efficient, but they were used to a slow pace. I remember once I had a long delay and the woman at the counter just let me sit in the shade outside the main building, which was actually nicer than waiting inside. It is not a place for duty free shopping or fancy cafes. It is a functional point A to point B kind of airport.
If you are planning a trip through there, just know that the connection to Maun or Gaborone can sometimes be a bit loose. I had a flight canceled once because of a storm, and they rebooked me for the next day with no fuss, but there was only that one flight that day. So give yourself some margin. It is a quiet runway in mining territory, just as you said, and that honesty is part of its charm. You get where you are going without any nonsense.
7 days ago