The country of Botswana is stepping up as a leader in big-way formation skydiving and is opening new doors for skydivers on the African continent. To help this cause, event organizers Thabang Segaetsho, Eugene Potgieter of Johannesburg Sky Events and Munyaka Makuyana and Cyril Nfila of the Parachute Association of Botswana hosted the Makgadikgadi Epic formation skydiving event July 13-16. The event, which the Botswana Tourism Organization, Botswana Defence Force, Johannesburg Skydiving Club and the Parachute Association of Botswana supported, featured world-class organizers Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld and Milko Hodgkinson.
Seventy-five registered jumpers from 15 countries made the 242-mile, five-hour drive from the airport past antelope and elephants to arrive at the boogie’s enormous camp facilities. Located next to Sua Pan Lake in the saltpans of Makgadikgadi, the jumpers were awed by some of the most scenic parts of northern Botswana. It was essentially a small village in the middle of nowhere with sleeping tents, portable bathrooms, showers, power generators, a restaurant that served amazing food and even wi-fi. During the event, hundreds of local people gathered next to the camp to dance, drink, watch the World Cup on huge TV screens and take photos of all the activities. Some even made tandems.
After breakfast each day, Brodsky-Chenfeld and Hodgkinson would brief the two groups—a 30-way team and a group making smaller formation jumps. The jumpers would then board either the C-130 (equipped with oxygen for the rapid climb to the 16,000-foot exit altitude) or the CASA. The jumpers made a number of successful formation skydives, but also took the time to enjoy the amazing views of the salt plains. The Sowa Salt Mine provided a great landmark for spotting and orientation. On landing, jumpers became enveloped in the fine, white dust that covered the ground.
On the final jump of the boogie, the big-way team set a 27-way Botswana formation skydiving record, besting the previous 20-way record. Rumors are the organizers are planning a 40- to 50-way next year! Jumpers made three jumps from the CASA and seven from the C-130 over the course of the boogie, with the last day weathered out by wind. But at Makgadikgadi Epic, it’s not about the number of jumps, it’s about the whole experience. Everyone agreed that the boogie is a must-do event.
Ioannis Vlachiotis | D-31871
Halandri, Greece