Those with a more adventurous spirit often seek less conventional ways to experience South Africa. Microlight flights fit the bill perfectly, allowing daredevils to cruise over the coastline at altitude, taking in the scenic beauty in a way few do, while getting an adrenaline rush at the same time.
Microlights, sometimes lovingly called “trikes” because of their three wheeled design, resemble hang gliders with motors. In South Africa, many people use these to explore the terrain, and their use in the tourism industry is booming.
If this sounds up your alley, awesome! Here are some things you should know.
It will blow your mind
The ability to be suspended in the air, outside the confines of an airplane, is awe inspiring. You don’t realise how removed you are from the visceral experience of flying when you’re in a plane, until you’re flying in a microlight. Being able to swoop close to valleys, feeling the wind on you, flying alongside a flock of birds, and and generally feeling like superman totally changes your perception of flying.
Anyone with a taste for adventure will find microlight flying satisfying.
You’ll want more
It’s no surprise that many tourist stops offering microlighting also offer certification. It only takes 20-25 hours to become certified, and after that you can rent microlights and explore South Africa by yourself. Those spending slightly longer time in country on their vacations might find themselves addicted.
Not everyone chooses to pursue certification, but if you are interested, it’s available.
You’ll want a camera
Ever wonder how all those cool aerial shots are taken without windows, and wings in the way? Although many are taken with helicopters, and more recently, drones, microlights offer a great opportunity for photographers. You can great perspectives on herds of animals, cityscapes, and miles of coastline that you wouldn’t get otherwise.
The photographically inclined will be stunned by the options for pictures. Unblocked aerial views from a microlight are magical, and when you tell people you took them, they will be impressed.
You’ll probably be scared, but you’ll get over it
There’s no denying it. Zipping around on a microlight gives the impression that you’re falling sometimes. Millions of years of evolution are sometimes screaming at you, and it can be hard to silence it. Lots of people find themselves gripping on tightly during the first few minutes, but after a while you’ll start to get used to it, and by the end of the ride you won’t even remember what you were afraid of.
Although it may sound scary, and sometimes it even is scary, we recommend looking into it. These flights are very safe, and after the initial shock wears off it’s a fantastic experience.
Overall, we’re big fans of microlight flights. It’s easy to just do standard tourist activities while visiting South Africa, and if that’s all you want to do then that’s great. But if you want to step outside of the typical tourist experience, and see some of South Africa’s unique offerings, the microlight flight is a great time, and we think you’ll love it.