Introduction
Are you prepared to go on a safari ride in a microlight or a helicopter? Perspective is everything, especially having a breathtaking view right before your eyes. And as you lift off and begin to climb, you can get a better sense of the vastness of the landscape that lies below you. And the unadulterated, unaltered splendor that can still be found on this planet. You will become a natural witness to the perfect give-and-take balance that exists in nature below, which will inspire the storyteller that lies dormant within you as you share a bird’s-eye view of it.
Helicopter and microlight safaris are an experience of a lifetime because they connect some of the most exciting destinations a country has to offer. Each experience is one of a kind because it involves discovering new lands, conversing with indigenous people along the way, and getting up close and personal with some of Africa’s most captivating wildlife, all while being led by some of the extraordinary people who are a big part of what makes Africa so captivating and unique. Mount Kenya’s peak down to the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia; the Tibesti Mountains in Chad; the Okavango Delta in Botswana; the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia; and everything in between.
What are Microlight Safaris?
An activity known as a microlight safari is one in which ultra-light aircraft, also referred to as microlights, are flown for relatively short scenic flights over a region that is abundant in wildlife with the primary goal of observing said wildlife. A microlight is a very light aircraft that typically consists of a triangular fabric wing under which the pilot and a single passenger are seated and a small rotary engine in the back of the craft. Microlights are also known as ultralights.
Hang gliding was the precursor to micro lighting. Hang-gliding pilots were looking for a way to get airborne without having to climb a hill, so someone added an engine to a hang glider and created the first microlight.
There are currently three primary categories of microlights: fixed wings (also known as three-axis), which are more similar in appearance to conventional airplanes; flex wings, which have a delta wing (similar to a hand glider) with a ‘trike’ unit suspended underneath; and powered parachutes, in which the wheeled power unit that the pilot and passenger sit in is suspended below a ram air canopy.
Microlight Safari Destinations
1. Namibia
Namibia, which is located in the southwestern part of Africa, is a country that is both incredibly diverse and fascinating. It offers a remarkable variety of desert landscapes, desert wildlife, and desert cultures. Surprisingly, Namibia has the third-fewest people per square kilometer of any country in the world, behind only Greenland and Mongolia. It is a very unique location, but there aren’t many people there.
Namibia is a country that is both incredibly diverse and fascinating, as it features a wide variety of desert landscapes, desert wildlife, and cultural traditions. Because of the naturally lower number of animals that live there, it is probably best suited for safari travelers who have more experience or who are less animal-focused. Longer trips can be taken at a significantly lower cost if the traveler chooses to drive themselves.
However, if you truly want to visit the most remote and breathtaking areas of the country (the majority of which are located in the northwest corner), then you will need to either go on an expensive flying safari or a guided overland expedition.
2. Mozambique
Mozambique is a large country that has not been developed to its full potential. It has an incredible 2,300 kilometers (1,380 miles) of stunning tropical and subtropical coastline along the Indian Ocean, as well as vast areas of undeveloped and uninhabited hinterlands. Around the year 300 AD, this section of the coast began to play a significant part in the great Indian Ocean trade. In particular, it was responsible for the exportation of gold from Zimbabwe and silver from the mines located inland from Sofala.
During the period that the Portuguese colonized the country, which lasted from 1498 until 1975, the country’s development was stunted in comparison to that of its neighboring states. Since it gained its independence, Mozambique has been wracked by severe internal conflict on an almost constant basis. Even though the country is now relatively stable, the lost decades have caused it to fall far behind other nations, particularly in terms of its transportation infrastructure. It is still very much a frontier territory in terms of tourism, featuring vast unexplored wildernesses but very few accommodations that are suitable for human habitation.
The main exceptions to this rule are a select group of luxurious beach lodges located along the expansive 2,200-kilometer coastline that faces the Indian Ocean and that is easily accessible by air from Johannesburg in the Republic of South Africa.
It is possible to fly directly from the safari areas of Kruger National Park to the lodges in the Bazaruto area, making this one of the most convenient and enjoyable combinations of a safari and a beach vacation on the entire African continent (comparable to the more traditional combination of the Serengeti and Zanzibar). The safari regions of Mozambique, Gorongosa and Niassa being the most well-known, are both rendered largely inaccessible due to the almost total absence of visitor facilities in both of these parks.
The majority of tourists visit Mozambique for the sole purpose of going to one or two beach lodges. This is typically done after traveling through the safari regions of South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, or Zimbabwe. There are many reasons to travel to Mozambique at any time of year, but the months of May through October are typically considered to be the best.
3. South Africa
South Africa takes up about 2.5 times as much space as California, and it’s five times as big as the United Kingdom. It is a very big country. It is also a very diverse place, with almost 3,000 kilometers of subtropical and Antarctic coastlines, verdant farmlands, and prominent mountain ranges, all of which are centered on a vast interior that is mostly desert.
In a nutshell, the nation is home to an astonishingly diverse collection of landscapes, climates, and cultural traditions. There is so much out there to discover.
South Africa is also by far the most popular safari country in Africa among international tourists. The country welcomes approximately ten million visitors each year, which accounts for approximately 15% of the total number of visitors to the continent. This number is five times that of Kenya and over twenty times that of Botswana. Even though the vast majority of tourists coming from outside the country come to see the wildlife, the safari experience here is not nearly as exciting as it is in other places. The wilder ranges of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia, as well as the countries of Eastern Africa, tend to offer superior safari experiences compared to South Africa, which is a modern and developed country.
But there are some good places to go on safari, such as Kruger National Park in the north, Tswalu and Madikwe National Park in the north, and Phinda National Park in the southeast.
The very civilized cities of Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, the Whale Coast, and the Garden Route are frequently included as part of safari packages, regardless of whether the trip takes place entirely within South Africa or elsewhere in Southern Africa. It is also possible to combine the safari areas with the tropical beaches of the Indian Ocean. This is yet another option.
Because South Africa’s economy is significantly more developed than the economies of countries located further north on the continent, consumers can anticipate higher levels of service at significantly lower costs, which, in some respects, seems counterintuitive.
4. Kwa Madwala Game Reserve
This breathtaking adventure offers a view of a big game and wilderness area that is unparalleled in its panoramic scope and free from any obstructions. It takes approximately seven minutes to drive from Manyatta Rock Camp to the microlight grass runway in the Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve, while it only takes three minutes to drive from the Gazebo Safari Lodge. The main entrance gate is located two kilometers away from the runway. Included in the price is a transfer service to and from either location.
Coffee and biscuits are provided to passengers on the morning flight free of charge while they wait for takeoff, and a basic mini-bar service can be provided to passengers flying in the afternoon for a nominal additional fee. A beverage can be enjoyed in the covered area by spectators as they watch their friends and family members take off and land their aircraft.
You will be flying in a fixed-wing Bantam Microlight aircraft, which is equipped with a potent four-stroke six-cylinder engine and provides a genuine experience of power. Because it is solid, steady, and dependable, this aircraft offers an enhanced level of protection against the effects of adverse weather and wind.
- Bring along a camera
- The hours of operation for flights are from dawn until dusk.
- One Hour Microlight Safari Flight: This focuses on the southern border of Kruger National Park, which consists of Crocodile River (which takes thirty minutes) and the Kruger National Park concession area (which takes fifteen to twenty minutes), as well as along the northern border (which takes ten to fifteen minutes). Expect a more condensed version of the big game experience.
- Microlight Safari Flight for Half an Hour: During this flight, you will fly over the Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve as well as along the southern border of the Kruger National Park concession area along the northern border. Both of these areas are equally explored. This is a very appealing choice for our guests, who get to experience a one-of-a-kind adventure that is difficult to replicate anywhere else.
- This is an introductory experience and a sampling of what it’s like to see Kwa Madwala from the air on a microlight safari that lasts for 15 minutes. Visit the Manyatta Rock Camp and have a thrilling and exciting experience that lasts for 15 minutes. There is room for a total of four passengers in each reservation for this flight. If there are fewer than four people who wish to fly, you are asked to please contact reception so that they can attempt to make up the difference.
What is Helicopter Safaris?
It is difficult to argue against the convenience of helicopters and the numerous functions they can carry out that other types of aircraft are unable to do. Helicopters have a wide range of applications, and they are such a common type of aircraft that very few people would even notice if one flew through the airspace above them.
The military uses helicopters for the transportation of people and cargo, as well as for construction, firefighting, search and rescue, medical transport, law enforcement, agriculture, news and media, aerial observation, and other uses as well. Other uses include aerial observation.
The use of helicopters for tourism is often overlooked even though it is one of the uses that is seeing a rise in popularity all over the world. It has grown to become an essential component of the tourism industry and can compete successfully with more traditional modes of transportation such as safaris, cruises, and other options.
Why are helicopter safari rides popular?
1. Suits any occasion
A ride in a helicopter can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to the following: making a marriage proposal, commemorating significant dates such as anniversaries, educating people of all ages, and providing an opportunity to experience the vast landscape of Africa, including its flora and fauna.
People enjoy taking rides in helicopters, but they have grown quite accustomed to experiencing the great tourist destinations and opportunities in Africa in more conventional ways, such as by going on safaris in vehicles, cruising along the coastlines, hiking trails, and many other types of excursions.
A ride in a helicopter provides passengers, whether they are tourists or locals, with a bird’s-eye view of the world in which they are traveling or living as well as a fresh approach to falling in love with the breathtaking beauty that surrounds them.
2. Photo opportunities
The experience of ascending to the summit of a mountain to gaze out over the surrounding landscape has, from the beginning of time, exuded a sense of majesty and mystique. Hiking through the woods and going on boat trips through the ocean are also options.
However, rides in helicopters over these regions provide an unobstructed view of the breathtaking scenery below from the perspective of a bird’s eye view, which can be captured in a photograph.
In addition to providing tourists with access to areas that are inaccessible to vehicles, it also allows tourists to take aerial photographs of the landscape.
Because helicopters were not intended to travel at high speeds when they were designed and built, passengers have plenty of opportunities to take photos of the passing landscape while also having the ability to kick back, relax, and take in the sights.
3. Spectacular views
The operation of a helicopter, which provides the science and mechanics of vertical flight that can be controlled, offers a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be replicated by other modes of transportation and is comparable only to renting a hot air balloon or using a smaller aircraft for charter flights. This is because helicopters are the only mode of transportation that can achieve vertical flight.
Access to remote areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to tourists on foot or in a vehicle is made possible for them by rides in helicopters. These areas, which have been disturbed by humans only infrequently, offer the most breathtaking vistas.
4. Offering a new perspective
It is one thing to be able to see the landscape from above or to look down across valleys, fields, and forests, but it is a completely different experience to be up close to some of Africa’s most breathtaking regions.
Helicopter rides offer a close-up view that can be taken in and appreciated while suspended in the air for a brief period. It is quite difficult to truly appreciate the breathtaking expanse of the continent simply from a vehicle or an airplane.
5. There’s a great variety to choose from
A variety of opportunities to explore the African continent are provided by helicopter rides, including sunrise and sunset tours, tours over cities, mountains, forests, and some of the most stunning canyons, valleys, waterfalls, and other natural features.
More than the tourist who tremblingly enters the cabin can hope for, there are many packages offered throughout the African continent that promise to deliver the best experience.
Helicopter Flight Safari Destination
1. Cape Town
The Mother City of South Africa, Cape Town, offers a variety of helicopter tours, which have been dubbed a helicopter enthusiast’s paradise and one of the best ways to take in the breathtaking scenery.
The following are some of the top locations in and around Cape Town that can be enjoyed from a helicopter’s cabin:
- Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and more with City Express.
- The Hopper flight departs from the V&A Waterfront and features a scenic flight along the breathtaking Atlantic Coast, where passengers can see Table Mountain, the Cape Town Stadium, Lion’s Head, and much more.
- In addition to providing tourists with breathtaking views and a one-of-a-kind experience, Cape Town’s 12 Apostles helicopter ride is also a very well-liked activity.
- Visitors will be in awe after taking the Full Peninsula Scenic Flight, which includes a round-trip from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope and allows them to see the Peninsula from all sides.
2. Kruger National Park
Another recommended helicopter tour for travelers is the Kruger National Park tour, which offers them a fresh perspective and the chance to take in the natural beauty of the Park and its surroundings.
Tourists can enjoy flights along the park’s boundaries, which still offer breathtaking views into the Park, even though the helicopter tour cannot physically fly over the park until a tour operator has been found and designated specifically for this.
However, there are independent tour companies that offer flights over the majority of Kruger National Park, including the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
After the flight tour is over, this special opportunity can be easily combined with a safari drive through the Kruger National Park.
3. Tanzania
Visitors to Tanzania have a variety of options, including taking a helicopter tour of this breathtaking nation. Roaming Africa Tours offers such distinctive tours, which can be tailored to suit the needs of the visitors.
From Arusha, helicopter adventure tours take off toward Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Natron, Lake Manyara, Oldonyo Lengai, also known as the Mountain of God, Mount Meru, and the stunning Tanzanian landscapes.
Normally, depending on the locations visited and the visitors’ interests, this tour lasts up to four hours. This tour offers travelers the chance to fly over the Great Migration in the Serengeti and Ndutu, land in Pemba, also known as “The Green Island” in Tanzania, and, as a bonus, get a taste of the local people’s traditional culture.
Tanzanian helicopter safaris are frequently priced per hour with a minimum of three hours per day and a minimum of four guests per safari. Additionally, these tours can be altered to last one or two days, depending on the visitor’s budget.
4. Zambia
Up to 16 passengers may be transported on scenic flights to Victoria Falls, Batoka Gorge, Zambezi River, and the lush Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the “Flight of Angels” by Batoka Sky Helicopters, providing tourists with an incredible experience.
The Gorge Picnic experience, which involves the helicopter descending into the gorge before landing and providing tourists with a delectable picnic, is one of the additional experiences offered in addition to the three different scenic flights, which include the 15, 20, and 30-minute scenic flights.
5. Botswana
Visitors to Botswana are shown the wonders that are known for luring explorers from all over the world to the country.
Visitors can see the elephant herds that roam the savanna, the hippo and crocodiles that populate the marshy channels of the Chobe River, the buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and antelope that thrive in the Okavango Delta, as well as the vast and abundant watering holes in the plains.
Despite being one of the top tourist destinations in Africa, Botswana has always maintained its aura of genuine wilderness. There are cozy tented bush camps that evoke a bygone era of nostalgic safaris but still feature modern conveniences.
By exploring the remote, wild areas of the Okavango Delta, Helicopter Horizons gives tourists the chance to enrich their visit to Botswana.
Conclusion
The two most common and enjoyable ways to explore the wilderness are by helicopter and microlight. Your safari experts will inform you of helicopter options that are nearly as extensive as Africa’s boundless skies when you speak with them. Rare opportunities to picnic on remote mountainsides, observe bomas and enormous crocodiles weaving through watercourses, and observe elephant clans and places that can only be appreciated in full from those skies. Travelers will undoubtedly have a memorable experience with microlight and helicopter flight safaris because Africa’s landscapes always have a story to tell.