The Helicopter Flying Safari is based on a successful formula pioneered by Tropic Air in Kenya. The Western Cape offers an equally spectacular location for the helicopter safari with an awesome range of scenery, biodiversity, combined with great weather – all within an hour or two’s flying of Cape Town.
The tailormade package centres around the exclusive use of the helicopter (Airbus AS350) as the Safari vehicle. The pilot acts as guide and host. Carefully selected routes connect stops showing unseen unique remote mountain, sea and desertscapes.
Expert specialty guides are brought in to explore and expand on areas of particular interest. Food and wine, fauna and flora, geology, history, fishing, walking. Itineraries and routes can then be tailor made and themed around these specific interests. Seasonal wonders such as whale watching in winter and West Coast flowers in spring can be incorporated. Up to 3 hrs of flying are available per day allowing plenty of time for exploration and diversion on route.
Clients can choose from a range of suggested itineraries or tailor make from a menu of destinations and stops. The itineraries, a two night stop at each location is recommended, but any combination of these stops could be selected from 1 – 8 nights or more.
The routes are all within a 200 km radius of Cape Town international giving flexibility and easy access. Flight legs are designed to be maximum of 1 hour at a time for comfort, with comfort stops at unique and unforgettable locations
Flight 1
Scenic Airport transfer to hotel
Guests arrive international or local flight at Cape Town International. VIP meet and greet a the aircraft door, escorted through formalities and shuttled to Silvercross Base CTI. Depart by helicopter direct to hotel. Check in and freshen up. Introductions and itinerary briefing.
Flight 2
Scenic Winelands flight lunch and wine tasting stop.
Depart hotel over the Stellenbosch vineyards around Simonsberg, over the gardens of Babelonstoring then following the Berg River over Franschhoek Town and vineyards to Boekenhoutskloof for a cellar tour and tasting. Over the mountains to Vergeleging (est. 1700) for an estate tour and lunch at the elegant Camphor’s restaurant.
Direct back after lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Flight 1
Peninsula Cape Point scenic with 3 stops:
Cape Point, Boulders – with Penguins, lunch.
Departing after breakfast, early if possible. Fly to City Centre then coastwise around the Cape Peninsula to the majestic Cape Point, passing Chapman’s Peak, unspoilt beaches of the Cape Point reserve. Land on the coast at Booitjiesdrif in the reserve. Meet up with your guide for a tour to the Point through the Nature reserve. Return to the helicopter and fly on to Boulders beach and stop to visit the unique Jackass Penguin colony. Then flying low level along the False Bay coast back to the winelands for wine tasting and lunch at La Motte Estate. After lunch an afternoon tour of the Franschhoek motor museum and or Franschhoek town. From La Motte finish with the Devil’s tooth canyon landing at the hotel.
Flight 2
Sundowner mountain scenic, 1 stop.
Flight 1
Franschhoek to Cederberg Wines.
Check out and depart for Bushmanskloof. Routing North through the Paarl winelands, then Bainskloof into the Breede River Valley. Mitchel’s Pass and Ceres and into the Cederberg. Stopping at the Highest vineyards in South Africa (Cederberg Wines ) for a tasting lead by famous winemaker David Nieuwoud. A visit to the Stadsaal caves an option. Alternative option – Hike to the Maltese Cross
Flight 2
Cederberg – Bushman’s Kloof
Continue through deep Cederberg Wilderness with its fantastic sandstone eroded rock formations, Tafelberg and Arch. Arriving at Bushmanskloof for late lunch and check in at the private lodge. Bushmanskloof program – game drive, rock art, walking swimming, relaxing, flowers in spring season.
Flight 1
Local scenic flight, 1 stop.
Stunning mountain and river canyon scenery to explore, combined with a lunch or activity stop.
Flower viewing – in season.
Lamberts Bay Lunch at Muisboskerm
Doring River Rafting or kayak tour – seasonal
Scenic tour of the area Oliphants and Doring river to the sea.
Mountain top lunch picnic.
Flight 2
Sundowner flight.
Flight 1
Bushman’s Kloof – Tankwa – Cederberg – Sanbona, 1 stop.
Depart Bushmanskloof routing towards the Tankwa Karoo basinand the Eastern Cederberg.
Routing into the Southern Red Cederberg stopping at South Africa’s first Truffle farm for a tour and lunch with the farmer(no guessing what’s on the menu)
After lunch heading south over Ceres and the highest mountain in the Western Cape (Matroosberg 7500’) -stopping on top to take in the view.
Onward across the Hex River valley and down the awesomely beautiful and hidden Koo Valley towards Montague.
From Montague into the little Karoo and the 65000 hectare Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Eco-resort with big 5.
Check in at Sanbona, evening game drive.
Flight 1
Local scenic flight – Swellendam, 1 stop.
Morning Game drive.
Scenic flight through the Langeberge (Long Mountains). Visit the historic town of Swellendam, stop for a dop at Ronnie’s Sex shop on the way back.
Late lunch and relax.
Flight 2
Sundowner flight.
Flight Optional
Local Scenic flight depending on hotel.
Shark dive transfer flight in the morning with coastwise scenic viewing of Agulhas (Southern-most tip of Africa)
Early departure for Gansbaai and Shark cage diving or watching.
Return coastwise via Cape Agulhas (most Southern point of Africa).
Lunch at Hotel and afternoon at leisure.
Game drive, beach day, walking, swimming, whale watching.
Scenic flight
To Cape Town with a lunch stop option depending on onward flight connection or program.
Check out of hotel.
Scenic flight into Franschhoek for long relaxed lunch at winelands lunch at chosen venue Delaire, Waterkloof etc.
Last heli flight to Silvercross for check in at CTIA and onward flight out.
