Capetown Helicopter Sightseeing
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,913
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From: London
Here are a few pics to whet your appetitie.
I flew a fixed-wing, but the pics may give you some ideas for a good sight-seeing trip.
Approaching a farm strip at Kersefontein
- near Hopefield, about 90 nm N of Cape Town
Kersefontein Farm is a wonderful old Cape Dutch homestead which is also a guest house.
The owner, whose family have farmed there since 1770, is a keen pilot, very knowledgeable aviation enthusiast and excellent host. Just a quick stop on this occasion, but we'll stay a night or two on our next visit.
Link here for more information.
Following the Western Cape coastline back to Cape Town
Quick detour around Robben Island
The prison - now a 'Mandela' tourist attraction
Table Mountain and the Lion's Head
The Twelve Apostles, just South of Cape Town en route to Cape Point
Cape of Good Hope, from False Bay looking out over the Atlantic
If you want to see more of SA than an international city, I highly recommend a trip to Oudtshoorn in the Kleine Karoo. We drove, but I assume the scenery is just as impressive from the air.
FL
I flew a fixed-wing, but the pics may give you some ideas for a good sight-seeing trip.
Approaching a farm strip at Kersefontein
- near Hopefield, about 90 nm N of Cape Town
Kersefontein Farm is a wonderful old Cape Dutch homestead which is also a guest house.
The owner, whose family have farmed there since 1770, is a keen pilot, very knowledgeable aviation enthusiast and excellent host. Just a quick stop on this occasion, but we'll stay a night or two on our next visit.
Link here for more information.
Following the Western Cape coastline back to Cape Town
Quick detour around Robben Island
The prison - now a 'Mandela' tourist attraction
Table Mountain and the Lion's Head
The Twelve Apostles, just South of Cape Town en route to Cape Point
Cape of Good Hope, from False Bay looking out over the Atlantic
If you want to see more of SA than an international city, I highly recommend a trip to Oudtshoorn in the Kleine Karoo. We drove, but I assume the scenery is just as impressive from the air.
FL
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 15th November 2006 at 08:04.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: An Island near France
Cheers Flying Lawyer
We are going to travel all over but capetown is our starting point.
Flexible on where we go in our three weeks in SA.
Have some good advice from SA friends.
All advice gratefully received.
Guern
We are going to travel all over but capetown is our starting point.
Flexible on where we go in our three weeks in SA.
Have some good advice from SA friends.
All advice gratefully received.
Guern
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Hi Guern,
go to Capetown waterfront and walk down the fishery wharf. At the end you'll find 4 small Helicopter companies. Some with Robbies but also some with Jet Rangers. They offer trips arround Capetown, the cape and to other places.
Or you can try a wild ride in an old Huey also offered on waterfront Capetown.
Enjoy the beautifull area.
Always happy landings
Spencer17
go to Capetown waterfront and walk down the fishery wharf. At the end you'll find 4 small Helicopter companies. Some with Robbies but also some with Jet Rangers. They offer trips arround Capetown, the cape and to other places.
Or you can try a wild ride in an old Huey also offered on waterfront Capetown.
Enjoy the beautifull area.
Always happy landings
Spencer17
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: abroad
In Capetown at the Waterfront there are 4 helicopter comanies that do that do flips round the penninsular, but they do charge tourist prices. The companies at the airport will do the same but for much less, just means you will have to get to the airport.
In the waterfront:
www.civair.co.za
www.nacmakana.com
www.sport-helicopters.co.za
www.base4.co.za
They are all much the muchness, although NAC probably have the largest and nicest selection of aircraft.
At the airport:
www.cloud9air.co.za
www.heli.co.za
www.silvercross.co.za
VE Helicopters - 021 9348073
www.base4.co.za
ENJOY!
In the waterfront:
www.civair.co.za
www.nacmakana.com
www.sport-helicopters.co.za
www.base4.co.za
They are all much the muchness, although NAC probably have the largest and nicest selection of aircraft.
At the airport:
www.cloud9air.co.za
www.heli.co.za
www.silvercross.co.za
VE Helicopters - 021 9348073
www.base4.co.za
ENJOY!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: uk
Check out thunder city. I did a flight in one of their lightnings and it blew me away. Being greedy I went for a flight in in a hawker hunter later the same day doing various aerobatic manouvres. Felt sick as dog afterwoods and took about three days to get back to normal but ranks as one of my top life experiences to date.http://www.thundercity.com
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
From: Land of damp and drizzle
Not directly related to flying, but if you're planning to hire a car (which is basically a must), check out some of the local operators, as they're often cheaper than the big-name internationals (Avis, Hertz, etc) - try www.kulula.com . If you do plan to go with one of the big companies, book from here before you go, as it works out rather cheaper (from experience), and you generally get a better deal anyway.
Also, if you're planning to fly domestically (Cape Town to Johannesburg, for example) again, check out the smaller local operators, most of whom allow you to book online - again kulula.com, and there are a few others.
As far as sight-seeing goes, there's the Garden Route (basically a drive up the south coast), Wilderness and Knysna are stunning. Alternately, if you fancy something a little closer, try Hermanus - it's a bit touristy and expensive, but it's still a beautiful seaside town (also great for whale-watching). There's also loads of wine-tasting to be had around CT - Stellenbosch is just along, with way more wine farms than you'll get to; also cheese and berry farms and a brandy distillary. If you don't mind a bit more of a drive, Paarl and Robertson offer better value wine, but with a little less choice.
If you're planning to fly yourself, I believe you need to convert your license to an SA one, which is supposed to be fairly simple. If you'd like any more stuff-to-do ideas, drop me a PM
Also, if you're planning to fly domestically (Cape Town to Johannesburg, for example) again, check out the smaller local operators, most of whom allow you to book online - again kulula.com, and there are a few others.
As far as sight-seeing goes, there's the Garden Route (basically a drive up the south coast), Wilderness and Knysna are stunning. Alternately, if you fancy something a little closer, try Hermanus - it's a bit touristy and expensive, but it's still a beautiful seaside town (also great for whale-watching). There's also loads of wine-tasting to be had around CT - Stellenbosch is just along, with way more wine farms than you'll get to; also cheese and berry farms and a brandy distillary. If you don't mind a bit more of a drive, Paarl and Robertson offer better value wine, but with a little less choice.
If you're planning to fly yourself, I believe you need to convert your license to an SA one, which is supposed to be fairly simple. If you'd like any more stuff-to-do ideas, drop me a PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 57
From: UK
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: An Island near France
Cheers for all the advice guys.
I had already checked out Thundercity but I think that would blow the budget for the whole holiday having asked the price! Would love a trip in the Lightning, Bucc or Hunter.
I had already checked out Thundercity but I think that would blow the budget for the whole holiday having asked the price! Would love a trip in the Lightning, Bucc or Hunter.
