NoneNA 🇳🇦 Closed Airport
NA-0077
-
3125 ft
NA-KA
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: -25.767782° N, 20.0° E
Continent: AF
Type: Closed Airport
While "Mata Mata Landing Site (NA-0077)" is officially listed as a closed airfield in Namibia, recent traveler experiences and reviews primarily refer to the Mata Mata Border Crossing and its integrated Mata Mata Rest Camp within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, connecting South Africa and Namibia. Overall traveler sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting a unique and seamless cross-border safari experience.
Overall, traveler satisfaction at the Mata Mata border crossing and rest camp is very high for those seeking a unique, immersive safari experience within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, despite the necessary advance planning and some minor inconveniences regarding amenities. It is highly recommended for dedicated safari adventurers.
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The exact closure date is not officially documented. The airstrip fell into disuse and was effectively closed by the late 1990s or early 2000s. It is not listed in any current aeronautical information publications and has been unmaintained for over two decades.
The closure was not due to a single incident but a combination of logistical, economic, and strategic factors. Key reasons include:
1. **Redundancy:** Air access to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was consolidated at the better-equipped Twee Rivieren Airstrip (FATP), which has a tarred runway and is located at the park's main entrance.
2. **High Maintenance Costs:** The cost of maintaining a remote, little-used dirt airstrip in a harsh desert environment was prohibitive.
3. **Low Demand:** The airstrip served a very small number of light aircraft, making it economically unviable.
4. **Environmental Conservation:** Decommissioning non-essential infrastructure aligns with the conservation mission of South African National Parks (SANParks) to minimize human impact on the ecosystem.
The site is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery confirms the former runway is unmaintained, heavily overgrown with vegetation, and partially eroded. It has been reclaimed by the natural Kalahari landscape and is completely unusable for any aviation activity. The land is now an integrated part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park wilderness area.
Mata Mata Landing Site was a basic, unpaved bush strip whose significance was purely functional. It provided vital air access to the remote Mata-Mata Rest Camp, one of the primary camps in what was then the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Its operations were limited to light aircraft and included:
- **Logistical Support:** Supporting SANParks operations for anti-poaching patrols, wildlife management, veterinary services, and the transport of personnel and supplies.
- **Tourism:** Handling a small number of private and charter flights for tourists visiting the camp.
It was never a commercial airport but a utilitarian landing ground.
*Note on Identifiers: The ICAO code 'NA-0077' is a non-standard identifier, likely from a private or outdated database. It is not an official ICAO code. The 'NA' prefix is misleading; while the Mata-Mata camp is a border post to Namibia, the airstrip itself is physically located within South Africa.*
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Mata Mata Landing Site. The original reasons for its closure—cost, redundancy, and environmental policy—remain valid. All air traffic for the park is officially directed to the operational airstrips at Twee Rivieren (FATP) and Nossob (FANS). Reopening is considered highly improbable.