Cape Town Helicopters fly us into and around this spectacular South African city.
Nothing is quite as special as watching a helicopter coming into land. Especially knowing that it is doing so, expressly to pick you up and whisk you away in style.
Tour operators Ker & Downey Africa create high end personalised travel arrangements for private clients. They know how to make a client feel special. Working in partnership with Cape Town Helicopters is one of the many trappings they have in their toolbox.
A Helicopter Sightseeing transfer across Cape Town is a breathtaking adventure. The city is renowned for its stunning landscapes, and travelling in a helicopter offers an unrivalled opportunity to see them.
Soaring high above the city, in our Airbus H120 we are treated to unparalleled views of iconic landmarks, vibrant neighbourhoods, and natural wonders that make this South African gem unforgettable.
Table Mountain is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The mountain’s flat-topped silhouette is even more striking from the air, and its surrounding valleys and peaks create a mesmerising tapestry.
Also known as “the hummingbird”, the Airbus H120 is one of the lightest, quietest helicopters to ever take to the skies. Since the early 1990s, Airbus has been the tour helicopter of choice for professional tour operations worldwide. At the forefront of eco-friendly aviation, it leads the way in responsible aerial tourism in South Africa.
The difference is incredible
We climbed onboard and donned our aviation-grade headsets. Made by Bose, these are top of the range, noise-cancelling headsets far removed from the $300 consumer models available to the public. Cape Town Helicopters spends approximately $1000 for each of these aviation-grade headsets—ten times what typical tour helicopter headsets cost. But the difference is incredible. The Bose system electronically “reads” all outside noise, then generates the precise opposing frequency waveform to cancel that noise before it ever reaches your ears. We flew without the noise exhaustion common in helicopters.
For Cape Town Helicopters the H120 is favoured for its open cabin design that affords a 180° sweeping view for each passenger.
With the Cape Peninsula being declared a nature reserve it has been imperative to fly helicopters that have the least impact on the environment. Cape Town Helicopters has taken the lead locally, by purchasing machines that are certified to operate in noise sensitive areas.
Airbus H120
The Airbus H120 make use of the high-tech, enclosed “Fenestron”, or “Fan in Fin,” which replaces conventional tail rotor systems. Fenestron is safer, quieter and more efficient and uses 25% less engine horsepower, which instead is utilised by the main rotor system. They are certified at 60 decibels flying at 1500 feet. This is the accepted noise limit for sensitive areas. So, when you fly with them you are not spoiling someone else’s day in the Cape Peninsula Nature Reserve.
We flew across the Cape Winelands, with their lush vineyards stretching across rolling hills. More adventurous routes may extend to Cape Point, where the dramatic convergence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans creates a spectacular sight.
Jayden, our experienced pilot narrated the journey, so that our flight combined luxury, and adventure, with education. The sheer scope of Cape Town’s beauty is best appreciated from above. This makes helicopter sightseeing a must for travellers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whether for photography enthusiasts or nature lovers, this activity has given us memories to last a lifetime.