5 min read Cape Town

Cape Town from the Sky: a Birthday Helicopter Ride to remember (with video)

Hout bay harbour chapmans peak drive
Cape Town from the helicopter tour ride: flying over Hout Bay Harbour, heading to Chapmans Peak

For my husband's first stay in South Africa, I wanted to go all out and for him to fall in love for Cape Town as much as I had since first landing there in 2007. As it was his birthday and the weather was gorgeous, we wanted to make the stay even more special. We chose to visit Cape Town from the ski and booked an helicopter tour of Western Cape right before sunset, in the purest glow of golden hour.

Check our video!

This was my first time flying a helicopter and I was quite excited. I have a natural fear of heights and flying but ever since doing the air balloon safari in Tanzania, I became much more confident about flying. My husband is a former marine and riding a helicopter is a much acquainted joy for him. This time around he wouldn't have to jump from one like he did several times in the past whilst training for combat.

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Our journey began leaving the Table Bay hotel where we were staying at, in a short 2-minute ride to the helipad on the V&A Waterfront. When we arrived we were weighed - an experience that made me embark on a weight loss journey a few months later, as I discovered I was 35 pounds heavier than my husband! - and had a security briefing. This flight would be just us and the pilot so it felt very romantic and unique.

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We didn’t record the whole thing. That was on purpose. We wanted to be fully present in the moment, chasing sunlight over the ocean. But we did capture a few snippets. Little videos, taken between heartbeats, to remember how it all looked, how it all felt.

We met our pilot, settled in plane and within seconds, the Cape Town Waterfront dropped away and the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean shimmered beneath us.

Taking off, first overview of the Waterfront, Lion's Head and Signal Hill, with the majestic Table Mountain in the background

We floated over Cape Town Stadium, traced the curve of Green Point and Sea Point, and watched as Lion’s Head rose confidently above the skyline.

Cape Town Stadium, Signal Hil and Green Point.

The pilot banked toward the coast, where Clifton’s creamy beaches and Camps Bay’s cosmopolitan rooftops appeared like a postcard brought to life. Then came the 12 Apostles, rugged and timeless, watching over the ocean like sentinels. A quick turn of the head, and there it was: Robben Island, subtle yet powerful, carrying history in every wave.

The 12 Apostles at Table Mountain and flying over Clifton, Sandy and Llandudno Beaches

Back to mainland, we flew over the rugged beaches of Llandudno and Sandy, before heading to Hout Bay and flying over the Chapmans Peak.

Hout Bay and its gorgeous harbour - Chapman's Peak drive heading to Cape Point

On the return loop, the magic only deepened. We circled the majesty of Table Mountain, its flat top kissing the clouds. We passed over the leafy suburbs of Constantia and Claremont, before gliding over Groot Constantia Wine Farm, where during that stay we bought far more wine than we planned to, including the storied Vin de Constance, once favoured by Napoleon himself during his exile on St. Helena.

Flying over Constancia, Wynberg, Kenilworth and Claremont. We also flew over Cape Town University in Rondebosch

As the tour was finishing and we were heading back to the Waterfront, we flew by the more industrial part of Cape Town in Observatory and Woodstock, as well as the CBD (Central Business District) which has an office and corporate life during the day and a vibrant restaurant vibe during the evening.

Cape Town's Observatory, Woodstock and CBD

And then it was time to land with a soft approach right by sunset, filled with magic and wonder at the incredible scenery before us. What a privilege it was, from start to finish.

Last sights before landing back in Cape Town's Waterfront - How gorgeous is this part of the world?

This was truly a celebration of love, of landscape and of living life to its fullest. There are few cities that give you mountain, others give you ocean, others give you vineyard. Cape Town gives you all at one.

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Landmarks We Flew Over:

Table Mountain

Cape Town Harbour

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town Stadium

Lion’s Head & Signal Hill

Green Point & Sea Point

Robben Island

Clifton Beaches

Camps Bay

The 12 Apostles

Llandudno Beach

Hout Bay & Chapman’s Peak

Constantia & Groot Constantia Wine Estate

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