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Lift off to a whole new view
Helicopter flips
Take a helicopter ride and indulge your dreams.
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
Some helicopter tours will take you to the top of a mountain to get married.
Helicopter flips are a wonderful and oft-overlooked means of viewing a region from a unique vantage point - and they're time-saving for the busy traveller.
South Africa's vast Drakensberg and Cape mountain ranges, 3 000-km long coastline, stunning Cape Winelands and its many extensive wildlife reserves teaming with game are just a few options open to those who decide to take to the air to appreciate the beauty of this southernmost part of Africa.
Helicopter tours with a destination beyond Cape Town might include wine tasting, shark-cage diving or whale watching, while a similar trip in KwaZulu-Natal offer a visit to the scenic midlands or a Drakensberg helicopter tour to visit exotic and breathtaking destinations like Cathkin Peak, Vultures' Retreat, Cleft Peak and the Organ Pipes.
In North West Province game viewing is a premier tourist attraciton, while Mpumalanga Province offers the unbeatable beauty of the Blyde River Canyon with its high mountain cliffs, cascading waterfalls and natural bushveld vegetation. Flips in this part of the country include picnics on the mountainside!
Helicopter rides differ vastly in cost depending on the number of passengers, duration of the flight and type of helicopter. Commercial flights and airport transfers are generally fairly competitive, but private charters, game viewing and specialised flips like movie shoot trips or ex-Vietnam Huey helicpter sightseeing are likely to be a little more expensive.
A trip along the Cape Peninsula from Cape Town to the Cape of Good Hope for 50 minutes will set you back R2 100 per person, while a quick flip over the city for four - taking in Cape Town Stadium, Clifton, Camps Bay and Twelve Apostles mountains - costs about R500 per person.
Whatever your choice or location in South Africa, the visual experience of a helicopter flight is guaranteed to remain an unforgettable one and well worth the investment.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Cape Town Helicopter Tours
Phone: +27(0) 21 462 6755
Email: info@cape-town-helicopter-tours.com
Beach and Bush Adventures
Phone: +27 31 266 9221
Sunrise Aviation
Phone: +27 (0)13 744 9254
Fax: +27 (0)13 744 9251
Cell No : +27 (0)83 625 6991
E-mail sunavian@soft.co.za
Helicopter Adventure Tours
Phone: +27 (0)21 462 6755
Cell: +27 (0)72 327 2840
Fax: +27 (0)86 634 6568
What will it cost
Prices generally vary according to location and number of people per trip, but expect to pay between R500 and R2500 per person.
What's happening
The Durban Airshow usually takes place in August each year.