Tourism stands as a key driver in the South African economy and have been proven as one of the most effective tools used in empowering individuals and uplifting communities. SA is often referred to as ‘a world in one country’, and as such our Rainbow Nation boasts an array of award-winning destinations and cultural experiences, with a solid infrastructure for visitors, to boot.
Statistics (SA) reports that the local tourism industry is rising from the post-pandemic ashes, with tourism accommodation bookings up by 86.6, a significant year-on-year increase. Search trends indicate an up-swing in keywords focusing on premium and authentic experiences, with many locals specifically swopping the ski slopes of Biarritz or beaches of Croatia to instead explore SA.
This is precisely the market that Explore Collection is aiming to attract, explains Neil Warren, CEO of Cape Town Helicopters. “Our vision behind this component of our business is to enable a new brand of contemporary South African travelers to experience world-class adventures, right here in our magnificent backyard”, he explains.
What sets the Explore Collection experiences apart are their unique nature. “We have – as a family, and with friends and colleagues – explored the unrivalled Cape and adjoining regions for decades, and our dream is to now share these diverse secrets with our guests”, Warren continues.
Their bouquet of experiences truly transcends the imagination, with the central theme being aerial adventures. Many tourists have delighted in their helicopter flips, reveling in an eagle eye’s view of iconic landmarks such as Robben Island, Table Mountain, and Cape Point, but this is but a tiny part of their elevated view of the southern tip of Africa.
There is so much to choose from: imagine tailor-made tours to the West Coast, to join an award-winning chef on the beach for a magnificent meal capturing the local flavour of West Coast seafood prepared while you sip on chilled champagne.
Or book an extended trip into the Kgalagadi Desert where, you can go on a dawn game drive to see the legendary, black-maned Kalahari lions, or listen to fiery-necked night jars shrilling outside your luxury tent at night. Nothing stops you from joining the ancient San hunter-gatherer people from the area to go wildlife tracking in one of the oldest deserts on the planet, either.
Plus, there is our helibiking adventure, which is an experience like no other. Fly directly from the Cape Town Waterfront to the Stellenbosch mountains. Our state-of-the-art helicopter is equipped with aviation-approved bike racks, allowing you to experience this natural high with your mountain bike on some top-class Cape’s singletrack.
Our helicopter seats up to 6 passengers, and the short travel duration enable visitors with limited time to quickly reach inaccessible locations, with both half-day and full-day trips on offer. Or extend your adventure to include overnighting in selected wilderness destinations, including the Cederberg and Karoo. Game viewing, nature immersion, star gazing, peak bagging … the sky is the limit!
The bottom line? Our team at Explore Collection has curated a combination of the continent’s most authentic destinations and premium experience, and they are waiting to hear from you.
Images Courtesy: Jacques Marais Media
