Find Something New
My journeys will take you to new places foreign and domestic...
Taking a Helicopter Ride in Africa: Cape Town From Above
November 17, 2017
Anyone who knows me knows I’m afraid of small planes, which I call “baby planes.”
I am willing to take an extra stop on the way to my destination or drive 6 hours just to avoid flying in a plane that seats less than 80.
So it’s unclear what had possessed me.
Maybe it was the fact that I was in Cape Town by myself.
The friendly guy who chatted me up about helicopters rides at the V&A waterfront
Or maybe I was just feeling fabulous and fly (get it?)
Nevertheless I found myself texting my friend Nigel at 12pm.
“You want to take a 30 minute helicopter ride around Cape Town’s coast today, my treat.”
His response “Are you serious?”
My response “Yes. We can have up to 3 people.”
His response “cool”
So at 430pm I had paid the 7,500 Rand and met up with Nigel at a coffee shop close by the Waterfront Helicopters shop – with whom I had booked the experience.
Nigel and I waited for his other friends to arrive as I stumbled through a drink order.
“Can I just have Almond milk?”
“We don’t serve just Almond milk. Do you want coffee or hot chocolate?”
“I want Almond milk.”
“I can’t do it.”
Nigel comes to my defense. “Why can’t you just pour the almond milk?” Nigel says to the barista as he shoots me a brotherly look which says “What’s wrong with you?”
In the end I got my almond milk with hot chocolate and finally the friend of Nigel’s friend arrived. We make our introductions, his name is James. He’s a friend of Sean, who is Nigel’s friend in Cape Town.
I’m sweating balls and everyone is just excited.
We meet up at the sales office of the Helicopter Waterfront shop and they take us in a golf cart to the Helicopter pad. At this point there’s no chickening out.
We walk to the helicopter, take some pictures, and I seat myself in the front of the Helicopter next to Dimitri.
It’s not that I want a better view, it’s that if something goes wrong I can use my “How to fly a helicopter” YouTube watching skills to save us.
Dimitri is just smiling as he takes off. We all get our headsets and he goes off into the air.
500 feet up
800 feet…
1000 feet…
2000 feet….
Wow, Cape Town is deliciously beautiful from above.
My nerves calm as we sore through the air on rotating wings and giggle and laugh with each other and admire the beauty. It is worth every dollar.
“Can you do tricks?” Nigel peps up and asks.
Dimitri quickly responds by rocking the helicopter in the air back and forth.
My stomach is like #No.
Typical Nigel, typical.
Travel Puts A New Lens On Your Relationship
Older post
Why you should visit São Tomé and Principe: Paradise not to be missed
Newer postYou might also like
February 7, 2021
January 12, 2021
February 20, 2019
December 25, 2018
November 15, 2018
November 1, 2018
1 Comment
LEAVE A COMMENT
The Latests Musings
Four Ways to Explore Panama City, Panama in 36 hours February 7, 2021
From Bucket List Couple to Life Changes January 12, 2021
You're Back from A Year of Travel! Now What? July 4, 2019
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific site.