Massive air bridge for UAE ruler going hunting in his private game reserve in South Africa

update: August 31, 2025

The photo on top of this article was made during the visit of the UAE president in 2023.

In mid-August 2025, a massive air bridge was set up from the United Arab Emirates to a small hunting reserve in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. This was all because the ruler of the UAE went hunting there.

In 2023, the president of the UAE and the royal family also visited this area for a holiday.
News24 article link Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, owns an estate referred to as E-zulu. The game reserve is 24,000 hectares large and located between the towns of Bedford and Makhanda. Bedford, a small rural town, lies approximately 108 km northeast of Bulembu.

The exact location of the lodges is here. This permission to build more lodges in the game reserve gives an impression of the size and how many people it can accomodate.

The leaders of the UAE states like to travel. For example, they previously flew to Morocco to go bird hunting. They also travel every year to a region in Pakistan for hunting. The pattern is always the same: many cargo aircraft fly in with equipment, followed by a series of private jets.

Several C-17 transport aircraft of the UAE Air Force flew from airports in the UAE to Cape Town. From there, they continued to a small airport in the Eastern Cape called Bulembu Airport. This airport has no scheduled services. The runway was extended a few years ago, paid for by the UAE.

The stop in Cape Town was likely for customs/tax reasons. The aircraft transported, among other things, cars, helicopters, furniture and fitness equipment.

This is an incomplete overview of flights carried out by UAE Air Force C-17s between 13 August and 17 August:

• 1224 made 2 flights
• 1225 made 3 flights
• 1226 made 1 flight
• 1227 made 2 flights
• 1228 made 3 flights (the sand-colored one). At least one from Cape Town to Bulembu and back. At August 17 it came from Abu Dhabi. Made a stop at Bulembu and then flew to Cape Town.
• 1229 made 1 flight
• 1230 made 2 flights

On August 13, Boeing 777-200ER A6-ALN, which flies for the Presidential Flight but wears full Emirates livery, landed at Bulembu airport. It departed Abu Dhabi. After a few hours the aircraft departed back to Abu Dhabi. This aircraft flew support staff. On August 17 the aircraft landed likely again in Bulembu airport, it came from London. On August 19 it departed to nearby Durban, likely for refueling. It then flew to Abu Dhabi. It then flew to Malaga. After that it returned to South Africa.

On August 15 B737BBJ A6-RJZ flew from Abu Dhabi to South Africa. It returned the same day.

An interesting aircraft is RubyStar IL76 EW-57TH. The aircraft departed Abu Dhabi on the 15th as RSB7672. Tracking was lost near Mthatha. Likely the aircraft landed at Port Elizabeth. On August 16 it left the airport in South Africa made a stop at Maputo. It then flew to Dubai.

At August 16 A300 EX-30002 of Gewan Airways as flight GWN4051 pops up on FR24 at around 08:00 UTC. It departed an unknown airport, likely Port Elizabeth. It landed Maputo at around 09:00 UTC. It made stops at Victoria Falls and Mombassa before landing at Abu Dhabi where it landed on Sunday Augusts 17, 01:30 UTC.

Also on August 16 IL76 EX-76023 flew as NU9102 to South Africa. It departed Al Ain airforce base. Where exactly it landed is unclear as the tracking was lost near Mthatha. Likely it went to Port Elizabeth. Later it made a fuel stop at Maputo. On August 17 the aircraft continued to Fujairah.

Around 17 August, UAE leaders flew directly from the UAE to Bulembu Airport. The government Boeing 787 A6-PFG arrived there at around 13:30 UTC. On the same day, it departed back to Abu Dhabi.

Also on 17 August, Royal Jet’s Bombardier Global 5000 A6-RJD arrived at Port Elizabeth. Royal Jet’s Boeing 737 A6-RJA flew from Abu Dhabi to Port Elizabeth. The next day it returned to Abu Dhabi. At the same time another B737BBJ landed at Bulembu Airport. Both came from Dar es Salaam. A helicopter using callsign UAF30 flew from Bisho (Bulembu Airport) to Port Elizabeth. Also Bombardier BD-700 A6-RJC was active as ROJ022. One of the B737’s departed Bulembu Airport around 10:25 UTC and flew to Port Elizabeth. Probably for refueling.

Also on August 17, B787 A6-PFE, flying for the Presidential flight using flightnumber AUH05 but in full Etihad livery, landed at Bulembu Airport coming from Abu Dhabi.

On 19 August, the aircraft arrived again in Port Elizabeth. On the 21st, it made a round trip to Luanda.

The aircraft was parked at Bulembu until August 24 when it departed Luanda. The reason for this flight was a 24 hour state visit by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Angola. On Monday August 25 the aircraft departed Luanda heading north-east, likely returning to Abu Dhabi.

On 19 August, the B787 A6-PFG also arrived again at Bulembu Airport, this time from Geneva. At the time of publishing this article, the aircraft is still there. The holiday is exected to last 14 days.

At August 21 an unknown B737BBJ which came from Nairobi landed at around 14:30 at Bulembu Airport. Could be A6-RJA. Also A6-RJK flew from Abu Dhabi towards South Africa. A6-RJK left SA on August 23. Due to minimal coverage of ADSBexchange in the area it is hard to determine exact destinations.

At August 22, IL76 EX-76023 of New Way Cargo landed at Bulembu Airport. It came from Abu Dhabi with a stop in Somalia. At the same day a helicopter with callsign UAF3031 was spotted on FR24. (at 08:10UTC). B737BBJ A6-RJK arrives at Port Elizabeth, it departed Bulembu Airport.

On Saturday August 23 UAF2031 lands at Port Elizabeth. This is an United Arab Emirates AW139 VIP helicopter with registration 2031. The heli was first noted in South Africa at August 15 using callsign LIWA31. The hex code of this heli is C6E896. Soon after the heli landed a Boeing 737 A6-RJA departed from Port Elizabeth. It lands at Bulembu Airport. It then departs for Luanda. Later that day A6-RJA arrived back at Port Elizabeth.

Bombardier A6-RJD left Durban airport for Port Elizabeth. It then took off from Port Elizabeth at around 08:53 UTC heading towards the UAE.

So the AW139 is used to fly the ruler and his guests from airports to the game reserve and back. The Boeing 737 and Bombardier are used to fly people to and from UAE. The ruler himself flies on the Boeing 787.

Besides own UAE helicopters some other heli’s were used as well (likely) Bell 430 ZT-RJA was spotted in the area.

On August 23 at around 15:30 UTC the IL76 EX-76023 departed again from Bulembu Airport heading north east. Likely returning to the UAE. Another UAF AW139 heliocopter was noted. This is serial 2018. It flew between the game reserve and Port Elizabeth. Three Boeing 737s landed at Port Elizabeth airport on the 23th.

Also on Saturday August 23, B787 A6-PFC, in Etihad livery but flying for the Presidential Flight, departed Abu Dhabi and landed at Durban. On August 24 it left Durban, flew to Bulembu and then flew to Al Alamain airport in Egypt. Interesting destination. Close to Benghazi, where the HQ are of the Haftar forces. These are backed by the UAE government. B737 A6-AIN departed Al Alamain airport in Egypt, made a stop at Dar es Salaam and landed at Port Elizabeth.

B737 A6-RJV departed Durban where is was parked for a couple of days to Bulembu.

On Sunday August 24, B787 A6-PFG departed as AUH06 from Bulembu. AW139 2020 (hex 896c59) was seen active. AW139 2020 was spotted with cs UAF2020. So at least three AW139 helicopters are active. Around 10:15 UTC two Boeing 737s departed Port Elizabeth. Also Bombardier A6-RJC left. One of the B737s was A6-RJZ as ROJ001. Other B737s on this day were A6-RJA, A6-AIN (left as RJO003 to Addis Ababa continued to Al Alamain airport in Egypt), and A6-RJV. A6-RJV departed Bulembu to Abu Dhabi.

On Monday August 25 IL76 EX-76026 departed Abu Dhabi heading towards South Africa. It was directly followed by Airbus A300F EX-30002. This aircraft left Fujiarah, was ferried to Abu Dhabi. Stayed there a couple of hours and then flew towards South Africa. It made stops at Bosaso and Maputo. It landed there at 16:08 UTC time. So likely bringing more cargo food the hunting holiday.

On Monday August 25 Aerostan A300F EX-30005 landed at Bulembu at around 08:10 UTC as BSC4040. The aircraft came from Abu Dhabi with a stop in Entebbe. Also on Monday C17 1230 landed as UAF1240 in Bulembu or Port Elizabeth. Not covered by FR24 but was seen on ADSBexchange. It later continued to Cape Town. The C-17 left Cape Town at August 26.
Airbus A300F EX-30002 of Gewan Airways flew from Abu Dhabi via a stop in Bosaso (Somalia) to Maputo as GWN4050.

An interesting visitor on August 25 to Bulembu was Boeing 737-400 5Y-FQC. This passenger aircraft was leased by Daallo airlines. Not sure if the operator Fanjet Express was hired by the UAE. The aircraft flew Ras’sal Khaymah-Nairobi-Harare to Bulembu. After about an stop the aircraft took off again. Since Juli 6,2025 this aircraft has been flying from airports in the UAE to various remarkable destinations like El Arish near Gaza, N’djamena, Bebera (Puntland) and Bosaso (Puntland). These are all destination where UAE has an geopolitical interest in.

My guess is the aircraft brough staff for the guests like housekeeping, chefs etc . Based on the number of stops and the aircraft it certainly was not the transport of the royal family, ministers or other vips.

On Tuesday August 26, Airbus A300F EX-30002 of Gewan Airways continued after a nightstop at Maputo to Bulembu as GWN4051.

Also on the 26th UAF C-17 1227 landed at Cape Town. Also C-17 1224 landed at Cape Town.

On August 27 C-17 1229 landed at Capetown as UAF1241. It departed Abu Dhabi and landed at Bhisho. It then continued to Cape Town. Likely for customs and fuel. Also C-17 1226 landed at Cape Town.

On August 28 IL-76 EX-76023 landed at Bhisho. It came from Abu Dhabi and made a stop at Mombassa. Also C-17 1227 landed at Cape Town as UAF1242 (around 09:28 UTC). Followed by C-17 1230 as UAF1243. Both could not be seen on FR24. Their last phase of the flight was seen on ADSBexchange. Unclear if these arrived from Bhisho.

At August 29 C-17 1229 came to Cape Town and departed later as UAF1240. Also C-17 1224 came as UAF1241. Gewan A300F EX-30002 arrived at Bhisho after stop in Mombassa and Maputo. In the afternoon it departed Bhisho and made a fuelstop at Maputo.
At August 29 Boeing 737-400 5Y-FQC arrived again at Bsisho from Abu Dhabi with a stop in Nairobi. It left to Dar es Salaam, Mogadishu to Abu Dhabi. The aircraft on this return flight did not make a night stop but just fuelstops.

At August 30 the cargo flights continued. C-17 1226 and 1230 landed at Cape Town. IL76 EX-76023 of New Way Cargo flew from Abu Dhabi to Bhisho.

At August 31 C-17 1229 arrived at Bhisho from Abu Dhabi. After a short stop it departed to Cape Town.