Helicopter tourism is changing the topography of how visitors experience Africa’s myriad of terrains. You’ll find that these aerial adventures allow access to remote wilderness areas and can provide unparalleled perspectives of captivating cityscapes.
“It’s about having guests access different off-the-beaten-track locations that vehicles can’t reach,” explains Shaun Stanley, founder of Stanley Safaris, specialising in wildlife helicopter experiences across Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, and Kenya.
These safaris allow travellers to witness wildlife spectacles from perspectives previously available only to highly-determined filmmakers. These helicopters can land on islands in Botswana’s Okavango Delta or atop Kenyan volcanoes, pairing a double threat of aerial views with ground encounters in untamed regions.
Wildlife spectacles from above
In Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans, helicopters track what Stanley describes as “the longest migration by any mammal in Africa” as massive zebra herds roam across the landscape after some seasonal rains.
The aerial perspective provides a boost to wildlife viewing. “Seeing thousands of flamingos from the air is a completely different experience to seeing it from the ground. You just have this wave of pink,” Stanley notes.
For photographers, helicopters offer crystal-clear shooting opportunities. You’ll find that capturing elephants moving through flooded deltas or flamingo flocks from above creates the most striking compositions, impossible to gain from ground levels.
Urban perspectives in Cape Town
In South Africa’s most photogenic city, Cape Town Helicopters offers experiences ranging from short coastal flights to elaborate wine safaris with their eco-friendly fleet.
“The beauty with a helicopter is that the possibilities are endless,” says Tamryn Russell, Trade Marketing Manager at Cape Town Helicopters.Their Airbus helicopters feature noise-reducing Fenestron tail rotors that emit half the sound of conventional models. “Why make one person’s day by spoiling another’s with noise?” Russell explains.
Premium experiences
While wildlife safaris showcase remote wilderness, Cape Town Helicopters’ wine safari experiences combine aerial sightseeing with tastings at carefully selected boutique estates throughout the Cape Winelands.
Both companies emphasise safety and expertise. Wildlife helicopter pilots maintain appropriate distances from animals, flying higher above sound-sensitive elephants while approaching less affected species. Cape Town Helicopters maintains a dedicated engineering team at their airport hangar and crews with thousands of combined flying hours.
Capturing unforgettable moments
For photographers (and social media enthusiasts), helicopters provide unmatched opportunities to hone their craft. Stanley describes capturing elephants traversing the Okavango Delta from above as “beyond incredible,” while Russell reveals that Cape Town’s most breathtaking aerial views come on a daily basis. How you could when you have “A clear day, the aqua blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and a few whales or dolphins in the water below.”
As helicopter tourism evolves across Africa, you’ll find it continues to offer perspectives once reserved purely for professional photographers and filmmakers. These flights can now provide us regular plebs comprehensive views of Africa’s diverse ecosystems and landscapes, changing the way we partake in the continent.
Wild Africa Tours:
Who: Stanly Safaris
Costs: Range from $12 000 – $25 000+
WhatsApp: +27 84 876 0553
Email: [email protected]
Cape Town Tours:
Who: Cape Town Helicopters
Costs: Range from €129 – €1 624
WhatsApp: +27 84 766 7777
Email: [email protected]
