Tag: Activity

  • Helicopter Flight Over the Okavango Delta – Is It Worth It?

    One of Botswana’s most unforgettable experiences

    There are countless ways to experience Botswana’s legendary Okavango Delta. You can glide silently through the reeds in a traditional mokoro canoe, spend days exploring the waterways by boat, or head out on game drives in search of elephants, lions and leopards. Each of these reveals a different side of the Delta.

    But there is one experience that shows you something none of the others can: seeing the Okavango Delta from above.

    After many years of travelling through Africa and well over a hundred game drives across the continent, we thought we knew what to expect. Then, on our very first afternoon in Botswana, we climbed into a doors-off helicopter in Maun. Within minutes, we realised we had never truly understood the Okavango Delta at all.

    A Landscape Unlike Anywhere Else

    The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike most rivers, the Okavango never reaches the sea. Instead, water flowing down from the Angolan Highlands spreads across the sands of the Kalahari, creating the largest inland delta on Earth.

    Every year, seasonal floodwaters transform the landscape into an ever-changing maze of channels, lagoons, islands and floodplains. From the ground, you experience individual parts of the Delta. From the air, you finally understand how everything connects.

    The winding waterways spread across the land like veins, weaving between palm islands and patches of woodland. Looking down from above, it becomes clear why the Okavango supports such an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. It isn’t just beautiful — it is an ecosystem on a breathtaking scale.

    Flight Options Over the Okavango Delta

    Visitors staying in Maun have several options for experiencing the Delta from the air.

    Fixed-Wing Scenic Flights

    Small aircraft offer the most economical way to see the Delta. They generally fly higher than helicopters, covering greater distances and providing spectacular panoramic views.

    Advantages

    • Lower price
    • Longer route
    • Excellent overview of the Delta

    Disadvantages

    • Windows can create reflections
    • Less flexibility
    • Wildlife appears much smaller
    • Not ideal for photographers

    Doors-Off Helicopter Flights (Our Recommendation)

    For us, this is the ultimate experience. We chose Helicopter Horizons, one of Botswana’s best-known helicopter operators, which specialises in scenic and photography flights.

    Unlike a fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter can fly lower, slow down over interesting wildlife sightings and hover briefly where conditions allow, giving passengers an entirely different perspective. On the photography flights, the doors are removed before take-off for completely unobstructed views.

    Every passenger is guaranteed a window seat, and the pilot provides fascinating commentary throughout the flight, pointing out wildlife and explaining the unique ecology of the Delta. The result feels remarkably immersive — you aren’t simply looking through a window, you feel part of the landscape.

    Why We Chose Helicopter Horizons

    Before travelling to Botswana, we researched the available operators and settled on Helicopter Horizons for their strong reputation, experienced pilots and clear focus on photography. They offer a wide range of experiences, including:

    • 45-minute doors-off scenic flights (“Discover the Okavango Delta”)
    • 60-minute “Okavango Delta through the Lens” doors-off photography flights
    • Scenic flights with a drinks stop (champagne, Okavango gin or craft beer)
    • Helicopter-and-mokoro combinations
    • Elephant Havens orphanage visits
    • Full-day combinations with a boat trip and game drive
    • Helicopter transfers and overnight stays at remote safari lodges
    • Multi-day helicopter safaris

    For most visitors — and especially photographers — we believe the 60-minute doors-off flight offers the best balance between flight time, value and photographic opportunity.

    Our Experience

    We deliberately booked our helicopter flight for the afternoon we arrived in Maun, before beginning our self-drive safari through Botswana. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions of the entire journey.

    Only minutes after take-off, Maun disappeared behind us. The dry bush gradually gave way to shimmering waterways, lush islands and seemingly endless floodplains, and the landscape became more spectacular with every passing minute.

    The pilot constantly pointed out wildlife below. Large elephant herds moved between islands, hippos occupied the deep channels, buffalo gathered around permanent water, and groups of giraffe looked almost miniature as they crossed the floodplains.

    Yet what impressed us most wasn’t any particular animal. It was seeing how everything fitted together. From above, we could finally appreciate how the waterways shape every movement of wildlife across the Delta — something no game drive could ever show us.

    The Biggest Surprise

    Before the flight, we expected to be impressed by the wildlife. Instead, we found ourselves captivated by the landscape itself.

    The Okavango Delta is alive. Every channel changes with the seasons, every island creates its own miniature ecosystem, and every flood influences where animals feed, breed and migrate. Only from the air can you truly appreciate the extraordinary complexity of one of Africa’s last great wildernesses.

    A Photographer’s Dream

    If you enjoy wildlife photography, a doors-off helicopter flight is an unforgettable experience. Without doors, there are:

    • No reflections
    • No scratched windows
    • No distortion from glass
    • Completely unobstructed views

    The helicopter frequently changes altitude, allowing photographers to capture everything from sweeping landscapes to surprisingly detailed wildlife images.

    Photography Tips

    • Bring two cameras if possible.
    • A standard zoom (24–105 mm equivalent) is often more useful than an extreme telephoto.
    • Secure every camera with a comfortable strap.
    • Avoid loose hats or lightweight clothing.
    • Wear darker colours to minimise reflections in the open cabin.

    But perhaps our biggest piece of advice has nothing to do with photography: don’t spend the entire flight looking through your camera. We became so focused on taking photographs that, afterwards, we realised some of our strongest memories weren’t photographs at all. They were the moments of putting the camera down and quietly taking in the incredible landscape beneath us.

    If we were to do the flight again tomorrow, we’d probably take slightly fewer photographs and spend a little more time simply enjoying the experience.

    What Wildlife Can You See?

    Every flight is different and nothing is guaranteed. Depending on the season and water levels, you may see:

    • African elephants
    • Hippopotamus
    • Cape buffalo
    • Giraffe
    • Plains zebra
    • Red lechwe
    • Tsessebe
    • Impala
    • Nile crocodiles
    • Numerous species of waterbirds

    Lucky visitors occasionally spot predators such as lions, leopards or African wild dogs, although these sightings are naturally much less common. Even when the predators stay hidden, the constantly changing landscape is more than enough to make the flight worthwhile.

    Is It Worth the Money?

    There’s no escaping the fact that a helicopter flight is one of the more expensive activities in Botswana, and for many travellers it represents a significant part of the travel budget. But value isn’t simply about price — it’s about memories.

    If someone asked us today, “If you could only choose one premium activity in Botswana, what would it be?”, our answer would be immediate: the helicopter flight.

    Game drives let you experience incredible wildlife encounters up close. The helicopter lets you understand the entire ecosystem. Rather than replacing a safari, it complements one perfectly.

    Practical Information

    • Flights depart from Maun.
    • Advance booking is highly recommended during peak season.
    • All passengers receive a detailed safety briefing.
    • Aviation headsets are provided.
    • Weight restrictions apply and should be confirmed when booking.
    • Morning and late afternoon usually offer the best light for photography.
    • Don’t forget sunglasses — the open cabin can be windy.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is a doors-off helicopter flight safe?

    Yes. Passengers are securely fastened with aviation harnesses, and experienced commercial pilots operate under strict safety regulations.

    Will we be frightened without the doors?

    Most people are surprised by how comfortable they feel after the first few minutes. The excitement quickly replaces any initial nerves.

    Is 45 minutes enough?

    The 45-minute scenic flight is an excellent introduction to the Delta. However, if your budget allows, we strongly recommend the 60-minute flight, which offers a much richer experience and lets you explore a larger section of the Delta.

    Can we bring cameras?

    Absolutely — in fact, that’s one of the biggest advantages of choosing a doors-off helicopter. Just remember to spend at least part of the flight enjoying the view with your own eyes.

    Final Thoughts

    Botswana offers some of the finest safari experiences anywhere in Africa. You’ll remember elephants crossing dusty tracks, lions resting beneath acacia trees and hippos surfacing beside your mokoro.

    But long after your safari has ended, one image is likely to stay with you: looking down from an open helicopter at a seemingly endless maze of sparkling waterways stretching towards the horizon, while elephants move silently between islands far below.

    Some experiences change the way you see a destination. A doors-off helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta is one of them. For us, it wasn’t simply another activity — it became one of the defining memories of our journey through Botswana. If your budget allows for one unforgettable experience beyond the traditional safari, we believe this should be it.