Over the past few months, I set out to replace the wings and tail covers on my Ikarus, ZU-EEE. With the invaluable assistance of Sean Cronin, Eugene Couzyn, Carl Visagie, Derek Orford, my brother Fred, and my all-round handyman Duzi, the work was completed late last year. Special thanks to Kevin Hoper for the post-work inspection - everything looked good and ready to go.
When I returned to South Africa in December, I completed my renewal and was set to start flying again.
After just two flights, I realised my hangar door was no longer playing along - it now required at least two people to open and close. There went my freedom to impulsively head out to Krugersdorp for a flight whenever the skies called. It forced me to coordinate help every time I wanted to fly. Luckily, the issue was sorted by early June.
May turned out to be a brilliant month. It kicked off with the Baynesfield Bash Fly-In and ended with the Brits Fly-In. Between those, I logged several memorable flights: a relaxed breakfast at Tedderfield, a coffee run to Brakpan to visit Gordon Dyne, and lunch with my sisters just outside Clarens at a charming roadside padstal with a slightly rough but flyable runway. That little gem - Padstal Silos - was a rewarding 2-hour stretch from Krugersdorp. We refueled in Bethlehem on the way home and navigated a busy airspace filled with NAMPO traffic. All these day trips helped me reconnect with ZU-EEE and shake off any post-maintenance rust.
My aircraft performed beautifully - pressures and temps perfect, and the new control surface coverings held up flawlessly. A few minor niggles were addressed on 7 June, just in time for my big adventure: the Kalahari Bundi Bash 2025 (KBB).
I'd read about KBB years ago, but when I heard more about the 2025 edition in May, I signed up and paid immediately - no hesitation. I was happy to go solo, I didn't know anyone there. As it turned out, I wasn't solo and I knew a number of other campers. I combed through every detail I could find, obsessively checking my gear and prepping over time. Every shopping trip resulted in another “maybe useful” item being tossed into a packing container in my dining room.
With ZU-EEE's limited space and weight capacity, I gratefully accepted the option to courier luggage ahead. The culling process was brutal, but necessary.
By this stage I had roped in one of my many sisters - Valma - who flew up from Durban to join me. Each of us packed only the essentials: a good sleeping bag, two fleece blankets, snacks (more than necessary, as always), and warm clothes - although we still ditched beanies and gloves due to space. My couriered bag, full of bedding, meds (4kg!), and tie-downs (7kg!), ended up costing R900 to Upington, but it was worth it. One less thing to stress about.
Then came the next hiccup. Two weeks before departure, I woke up in the middle of the night and checked my documents - something had been bothering me. Sure enough, I had confused my ATF and Release to Service dates. My ATF was expiring in just two days! Woops. Lucky for me, the CAA still managed to process my renewal within a week - during their office move, no less. Massive relief.
With the paperwork sorted, I continued prepping ZU-EEE: spare oil, coolant, brake fluid, fuses, patches, essential tools, aircraft cover, and all documentation made it aboard.
Fuel planning started a month earlier, and I had already contacted the relevant airfields. EasyPlan made routing and log generation simple, and I transferred everything to EasyCockpit. A big thank you to Andrea at Aviation Direct for kindly including the KBB camp location and surrounding sites in the latest data update.
On Wednesday 11 June, I washed, refuelled, and packed ZU-EEE, ready for an early Thursday morning departure.
Departure Day : Thursday 12 June 2025
We arrived at Krugersdorp Airfield early, aiming to be airborne by 07:00. But, as we all know, things rarely go entirely to plan. Despite recently fixing a loose intercom wire, the radio was dead again. A quick taxi to Skyworx and a bit of soldering later, we were good to go - but now it was after 09:00.
I messaged Sean Cronin to say we'd fly direct to Kuruman, skipping Delareyville. Valma (my sister) and I finally departed FAKR at 09:12 and arrived at FAKU by 12:30 - 245nm in 3 hours 20 minutes. The air was freezing until we were about 30 minutes from Kuruman.
Sean and Dean (JBJ), and Jayson and Scott (Dusty) were already waiting at FAKU to greet us - what a welcome!
This EAA family never disappoints.
A leg stretch, quick refuel, and we were airborne again, heading west.
At this stage everyone switched to 1013 for the balance of the way.
Afternoon flights over the desert are not always ideal for flying, especially over desert areas when it is hot.
We left FAKU at 13:01 and touched down at Koppieskraal Pan just before 15:20, after 170nm and 2 hours 20 minutes of flight time.
The landscape was surreal - massive sand waves stretched out below us.
Just as we passed one last dune, the Bundu camp appeared - exactly like the pictures I'd seen online. It was stunning, isolated, and perfect. A long day flying but most enjoyable.
Robert Gassman in his trike had beaten us there - hats off to him for leading the way.
A quick check in at the main tent and we were armed with our event hoodie and caps, tags, mugs and luggage. We prepared our beds for the evening, went off to the bar for a relaxing G&T or two and enjoyed a warm shower before dinner.
And what a welcome dinner it was - a sunset group photo, firepit laughs, and a generous serving of delicious lamb. The vibe was relaxed, inclusive, and full of aviation stories. Dillon, our MC, kept the crowd engaged throughout the weekend with fun challenges and games.
What a “lekker” bunch of people. Altogether, camping in the middle of nowhere and enjoying each other's stories.
The daily rhythm was simple; a lovely breakfast spread was available in the mornings and lunch, and dinner was served. The normal practice seemed to breakfast and head out for a flight until lunch time. An afternoon flight and refuel for the following day before dinner. A detailed brochure with all the information you could need was distributed well in advance. This included some sight-seeing locations as follows:
Hiking in the pan was an unexpected highlight - quiet, open, and starkly beautiful. There were plenty of great photo opportunities, and for me, the real magic was in the slow flying over the vast salt pans. Just gliding low and taking it all in.
Right next to the pan we were camped in lies the famous Hakskeen Pan, known for the Bloodhound SSC project.
We took to the skies in search of a “caravan of camels” (thanks for the term, Gavin and Grant!).
Jayson spotted them west of our camp, and after landing to grab a proper camera, we were airborne again to track the camels down -again.
We spotted springbok, gemsbok, and yes - actual camels!
Friday and Saturday were open-ended: fly, relax, hike, or explore the surrounding sites.
The golden rule - always have a buddy or make sure someone knows where you're headed, just in case.
It's the desert, after all.
Each evening brought awards, entertainment, and the kind of laughter that only a shared passion for aviation can bring. Dillon Lern, our MC, was ever-present and kept things lively with just the right balance of fun and flair. Daytime games and challenges added to the energy for those inclined to compete.
This short write-up can't possibly cover everything, nor is it meant to. I can only speak to my own experience - but what an experience it was.
Night in the desert brings its own atmosphere. You wake in the dark, unable to see your hand in front of your face, thinking something's lurking just outside the thin canvas of your tent. Then reason takes over - it's just the wind moving the sand in strange ways. After that, you sleep like a rock.
We opted to hire a tent, rather than carry or courier one. It was a great decision. The setup was perfect for two - with stretchers, mattresses, and space for our bags tucked neatly underneath. We never even used the supplied lamp. Warm water showers and neat, clean ablution facilities made life easy. The layout of the camp ensured you were never too far from anything.
The catering and bar service were excellent. Friendly, helpful organisers ensured everyone had what they needed. The crowd? Just fantastic - a mix of familiar faces, old friends, and new ones you'll never forget. You could reconnect, catch up, or simply share in the joy of being part of something this special.
The only costs on-site were your bar tab and a staff tip. Everything else was prepaid and preplanned. With the nearest town some 250 km distance away, the flawless execution was critical.
Heading Home
Sunday morning arrived too soon. We lingered, chatted longer than planned, and got off to a slightly later start - but no stress. Weather was good, tanks were full, and the journey awaited.
We departed Koppieskraal Pan at 09:52 and stopped at Kuruman to refuel. There, we unexpectedly ran into two friends who had been camping with us all weekend - but somehow we'd missed catching up until now.
After refuelling and enjoying a complimentary refreshment in the clubhouse, we took off at 13:10 and landed at Krugersdorp by 16:30. Even though we heard other pilots grumble about headwinds, we found a sweet spot and stuck to it. A smooth, satisfying trip home.
There are too many people to thank for having made this such a great experience.
To Yolande, Eben, the Mocke family and the MISASA KBB team - you rock!
To Sean and Jayson and my EAA buddies - thank you for looking out for us.
To Kuruman Airfield - thank you for your warm welcome and weekend support.
Anton, Grant, Tanya, John & Thomas - thanks for allowing me to use some of your photos.
Brother and sister team, Eben Mocke (Jnr) & Yolande Combrink, together with parents Ansa and Eben (Snr), extended Mocke family and friends are roped in to help with this event, which has been running since 1987. The Mocke family, together with MISASA and the entire KBB 2025 team, deserve every bit of praise. They put together an event that left nothing to chance, run by passionate aviators and folk who genuinely wanted to be there. Everything was considered - even a custom aircraft bottle opener was handed out on Father's Day. What a classy touch!
We were grateful to be home and safely on the ground, but this was one of those aviation adventures that leaves a lasting imprint. This is definitely a “flagship fly-in” to put on your bucket list. Epic is the only word that comes close to explaining it.
The privilege of flying into these remote, often restricted areas, and sharing the experience with like-minded souls - it's something special. This was the 19th KBB, and while it's not everyone's cup of tea, for those with the spirit of adventure - it's unforgettable.
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