5th Dimension Helicopter Safaris offers unique luxury helicopter safaris designed for both the adventurous of spirit and those wishing to see Southern Africa from a totally different, mind changing perspective.

Theme safaris for specific interests such as golf, fly-fishing or reliving the many battles of long ago and finally the peace that formed this magnificent land are available...or clients may design their own unique safari. Whatever it may be, consider planning your own reality….free your soul... and together we will actualise your fantasies……Give wings to your dreams.

This is the personal account of my first helicopter trip from Durban, down the Wild Coast to Port St Johns.

The Anticipation:

The planning of the trip, the idea of flying in a helicopter, what would it be like? How would it feel? What scenery and countryside would we see? Where were we actually going? The anticipation of the pleasure ahead, the excitement building….

The Start of the Journey:

The first sensation after the thrill of lifting up and swooping off, (just like the movies…!!) is the slowness, the flight is gentle and un-rushed. There is time to look around and absorb and notice. It's an amazing feeling rather like a bumblebee, buzzing this way and that, exploring, inspecting and moving on, senses being filled along the way..

The wind rippling across acres of sugar cane fields like soft arms of a corps de ballet, the children waving, chickens running for their lives from this huge predator, the cows gazing incredulously though calm as always…even the pattern over gum plantations is interesting.

We follow the contours of the land... down the sides of the valleys... up the other side.... over rivers meandering carelessly through the countryside looking for the sea….

The Sensations:

- truly awesome

- such clear vision and quiet

- like being in a movie

- exciting…a permanent grin on my face.

- 3 dimensional

- life will never be the same again

- this journey is totally involving, and part of the experience, not just a way of getting from a – b.

- emotion

- I never knew the earth looked like this!

The Actuality:

We reach the Port Edward and the Wild Coast begins… Quite magnificent, it is immediately so beautiful it almost hurts.. rolling hills at first, gentle but wild and remote, untouched by commercialisation or development, and Man’s desire to own everything.. I remember so well the round hills sprinkled with the African houses, painted green on the north-facing walls, cattle and goats dotting the landscape with contour tracks around the hills – the wide meandering rivers, and then the cliffs with the sea pounding the base; the waves trying to get higher and higher before being pulled back by the gravity of the moon. All seen before but from the shore and what a different perspective it was from the air….

We flew up one of the rivers, open and wide at the mouth, becoming more and more narrow sliding into steep gorges with heavily wooded sides. Silent, secret places without sign of life or civilization. Just unadorned Africa………It made me feel so incredibly privileged to be able to experience this…

Then we came to the waterfalls…some of the rivers, tired of peaceful meandering, drop down a series of cascades and finally, with a huge sigh of relief, tumble into the sea in a magnificent waterfall…..words fail..

We stop on the top of a hill to clean the helicopter's windows…the ability to do this is just amazing. We inhale crisp, clean air refreshed by the altitude…I love the feeling that one flies so close to reality, just touching what one is seeing. One can only look around with wonder and leave footprints where no others have been.

We fly high over a game reserve and see animals scattered below, peacefully grazing..

At Port St John’s we touch down for the night. I walk along the beach, not ready to go into the pub to talk to others yet, I want to remember the feelings, sensations and sights and store them away in the library of my mind….but once I have done this, I join the others and then…I can’t stop talking!!!!

The Conclusion:

The experience of flying in a helicopter is VERY sensational. There is such a different perspective on everything, even the mundane looks interesting! It truly is another world and a new dimension… I can’t wait to fly again and again…

Why not realise your dreams and let us help you plan your ultimate safari.