There are numerous tourism companies that offer flight packages for visitors to view the beautiful scenery so abundant in South Africa. Visitors can fly over the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal in a helicopter, the Kruger National Park in Limpopo in a microlight or take a hot air balloon ride for a trip over the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng province.
The more adventurous can fly in a supersonic military jet and view Sun City, situated in the bushveld of South Africa's North West Province and surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Pilanesberg. Scenic flights are also offered along the Garden Route and west coast of South Africa and visitors can choose either a helicopter or microlight to view the crashing waves or the majestic whales during mating season.
The more daring can paraglide off Table Mountain in Cape Town for a breathtaking view of the Mother City and the ocean, or take off from Rotary Way in Hermanus to view whales and dolphins.
Helicopter Flips
A number of national parks and game reserves across the country recently introduced helicopter ‘flips’ for visitors. The Kruger National Park offers helicopter rides that give visitors a spectacular view of the Limpopo landscape and the diverse game that the park has on offer. In Cape Town, a helicopter flip of about 30 minutes gives a stunning view of Table Mountain, the breathtaking Twelve Apostles Mountain range overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the numerous wine farms of the Cape. A helicopter flip over the shores of the Western Cape between June and November will give visitors an unforgettable experience ofwatching whales as they congregate to mate and calve.
Hot Air Ballooning
One of the safest ways to fly and view South Africa’s beautiful scenery is hot air ballooning. Usually done at sunrise, a ride in a hot air balloon provides an uninterrupted view of the landscape from a height of about 20 metres. Mpumalanga offers ideal weather conditions to go hot air ballooning all year round. A flight over the beautiful Sabie River Valley near Hazyview gives passengers a stunning view of the small hills and hidden valleys, and the attractive,lush vegetation at the foothills of the mountains.
Based near Lanseria Airport, north-west of Johannesburg, Air to Air Africa offers visitors hot air balloon rides over the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site. Situated deep in the Cradle of Humankind is The Cradle, a 3 000 hectare nature reserve where passengers can view a wide diversity of flora and fauna.
And then there is the ever-popular Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris - enjoy a champagne breakfast while drifting over the Magalies River Valley, an hour from Johannesburg or view game in the Waterberg Biosphere from a relaxed vantage point.
Microlight Flights
One extremely adventurous way to experience the beauty of South Africa’s scenery is to take a ride in a microlight, an ultra-light aircraft known for its compactness and versatility. There are various schools around the country, like the Leading Edge Flight School in Hoedspruit, that offer introductory microlight flying. Gauteng has also been identified as a prime microlighting destination because of the low wind speeds all year round. The Cape West Coast and The Valley of a Thousand Hills in Kwazulu-Natal offer striking microlightflights above wild shores and magnificent scenery further inland.
Paragliding Sites
Table Mountain in Cape Town is a prime site for paragliding. The mountain offers ideal and very adventurous ground for paraglider pilots to fly off and then land on a rugby field on the north side of the mountain. Because of the treacherous winds, only highly experienced gliders can fly off Table Mountain. Hermanus in the Western Cape also offers an excellent paragliding site at Rotary Way, an 8-km ridge on the East Coast.
Whale Watching
Watching whales in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience. These large mammals can be found on the coastlines of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Hermanus is an excellent place for watching whales in South Africa. The town offers whale watching tours and many vantage points have been set up to accommodate the hundreds of people who flock here for the Hermanus Whale Festival held in September every year.
Viewing of whales can be carried out from the water in boats, but viewing of species that usually stay some distance from the shore is done from a helicopter, microlight aircraft or a 4-seater light aircraft. Species of whales that can be viewed include Southern Right whales, humped back whales and killer whales.
Flying Schools
There is no greater experience than flying yourself in a gyrocopter or microlight, or paragliding off a mountainous area of your choice. Most aviation companies require visitors to have some form of training and experience to fly any of these machines. There are various aviation schools around the country that offer pilot training for a nominal fee. There are full-time residential schools in Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape as well as standard flyingschools in major centres across the country.
© Photographs are courtesy and copyright of Air to Air Africa; Nhongo Safaris and Sky Adventures.
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