2002 South Africa

“Escaping Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe, Perry and I jetted to South Africa. We woke up to a shelf of clouds over our Plan A in Kruger National Park watching with rhinos and giraffes, so we scuttled off to Plan B at the Zim border where we got clarity! ”

on zimbabwe border - #6

Mission: To bag eclipse #6!!

Posse: Michael Aisner, Dr. Perry Hacking

Contact: December 4, 2002

Path: Southern Africa

Eclipse Base: South Africa, literally at the fence at Zimbabwe.

Weather: Clear with scattered puffs

nail biter PERFECT DAY What a team!

Night Before

We stayed in this cool place that took us last minute and in exchange Perry held court talking about tomorrow's eclipse and an ad hoc telescope viewing at our countryside inn.

The Moment of Decision

Looking outside Perry remaps us to Plan B -- need to go northwest toward Zimbabwe, not east, to escape the cloud shelf over our destination of Kruger Nat'l Park!

Some random Swedes welcomed into our impromptu eclipse base.

Sweet Venus Popped out minutes before totality.

Touring Nelson Mandella's House

Pics: Michael, Perry