MZANZI ISSUE 16

Adventure
For a fee from R4,675 per person you can fly in the iconic
Huey army helicopter that came to symbolise the Vietnam
War. The choppers take off from the V&A Waterfront for an
action-packed ride along the edge of Table Mountain, across
the city and Robben Island, low level flying skimming the
waves along the beaches of Big Bay and Melkbos with the
wind rushing through your hair as you sit in the open side door.
There are chopper flips in places as varied as viewing wild
animals in the game parks, to the red dunes of the Kalahari, the
beautiful coastline of the Garden Route, spotting great white
sharks or southern right whales from the air, or circling over
the city of Durban and environs. You name it, and someone
will fly to it.
There are also fixed-wing aircraft operators around the country
who offer a variety of sightseeing flips or adventure activities.
For instance, Percy Tours of Hermanus offer Cessna plane
flights, and skydiving among other airborne activities in the
Western Cape. A hot favourite is watching the whales at
Hermanus from the air in one of their planes.
Hot air ballooning
For those who would like to try this superb experience, there
fortunately are quite a number of hot air balloon operators
and agents across South Africa and in the neighbouring
countries. Hot air balloon operators in South Africa offer
aerial experiences of such splendid natural scenery as the
golden sands of the Kalahari and its wild animal population;
the towering splendour of the Maluti Mountain range, part of
the Drakensberg system at Clarens in the Free State close to
the Lesotho border; or the sheer beauty of the timeless, lonely
Valley of Desolation with is dolomite columns that rise high
and precariously from the valley floor.
Or you can join the birds above Gauteng’s Cradle of Humankind
to take in the Africa from where we all originally came. Another
hot air balloon trip elevates you high above the Vaal River and the
small town of Parys, and drifts across the more than 2-million
years old Vredefort Dome, site of the largest meteorite impact
on earth. Yet another awesome game-viewing balloon ride
can be enjoyed over the Pilanesberg National Park departing
from Sun City, allowing for absolutely the best way to view the
park and its many animals. Or check out the Western Cape
and the Winelands from a hot air balloon?
Hot air balloon experiences are tailored to cater for a wide
variety of events, from balloon safaris, to game viewing,
adventure rides, scenic trips, romantic rides, and rides geared
specifically for birthdays, anniversaries, engagements or
other special events. Most of the hot air balloon operators will
throw in champagne or other liquid refreshments on board,
with a champagne breakfast at the end of the flight, either in
the veld where you have landed, or at a nearby hotel, lodge,
game lodge or wine estate.
iStock-Johannes J Dempers