When people think of Cape Town, they always think of the sea: the bays, the beaches, the docks, and so on. But there’s a lot more to the city than its coasts. Here are all the ways you can experience flying Cape Town, writes Joshua Kearney.
1. Helicopter tours
Cape Town from above/Wikimedia Commons
Everyone’s heard of going on a guided tour. But how often do these tours take you through the city from above it?
For those looking to experience Cape Town from a bird’s-eye view, a helicopter tour may be just what you’re looking for. These tours take place as short but unforgettable explorations of the city by flying above it.
They’re easy to book, but they can also cost an arm and a leg. If you’ve never been in a helicopter before, that price may well be worth it – if you have the cash to spare.
Cape Town Helicopters offers a number of options. These range from their City Hopper Tour at R2650 per person, to their Full Peninsula Tour at R9950 per person.
Sport Helicopters have a similar suite of choices. Their cheapest option is their 12-minute City Centre tour at R2650 per person and their most expensive is a 48-minute Cape Point tour offered for R9405, though these all include a 30-90-minute harbour cruise as well.
2. Hot air balloon rides
A hot air balloon in flight over Pretoria/Wikimedia Commons
Though there aren’t as wide a range of choices for the romantics among us, there are still a number of options for anyone hoping to catch a hot air balloon ride.
Hot air balloons offer a distinctly more magical experience compared to planes or helicopters. It’s easy to see why they’ve been so heavily romanticised. Unlike the raw brutality of jet engines or bladed propellers, there’s a certain gracefulness and elegance to the simplicity of a hot air balloon.
It may not be a zeppelin, but it’s still a certain kind of luxury. One of the major options is Ballooning Cape Town in the Winelands, found in Kraaifontein’s Klein Joostenburg.
3. Paragliding
A paraglider flying over Cape Town/Wikimedia Commons
For those hungry for a little more energy in when they go flying Cape Town, you can always go paragliding instead. It’s the kind of thing that demands a strong stomach and nerves of steel (or an adrenaline-hungry lifestyle), but there are no few options to choose from.
Paragliding is best experienced in tandem, if you ask me, if only for safety’s sake. Even with experience and training, an extra pair of eyes can make all the difference in the world. Don’t let that stop you, though, because it’s well worth it to experience flight in such a personal way.
Tandem Flight offers an excellent intro flight from Signal Hill for R1750, though there’s a surcharge of R400 if you want any photos or videos. If you’d rather launch from Lion’s Head, Cape Town Tandem Paragliding might be the one for you, charging R1900 for a flight with a R350 surcharge for photos or videos.
Fly Cape Town is another option, launching from Signal Hill or Lion’s Head for R1800 with an R400 charge for in-flight photography. They also offer training, gear, and more if you’re looking to do more than just go for a single flight.
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