Lion Sands Helicopter Experience

Cascades and Canyon Picnic Flight

Soar above Lion Sands Game Reserve and into the Mpumalanga escarpment - tracing a landscape of ancient gorges, cascading waterfalls and one of the world's great canyons, ending on a private mountaintop with a picnic and no one else in sight.

Unique Helicopter Experiences at Lion Sands

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Expert Pilots

Expert Pilots

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Views

Once-in-a-lifetime Views

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Blyde River Canyon Fly Over

Blyde River Canyon Flyover

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Blyde River Canyon Fly Over

Escarpment Waterfalls and Gorges

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Panorama views from above

Panorama Route from Above

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Private Picnic

Private Mountaintop Picnic

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Canyon Country

Canyon Country

East of Lion Sands Game Reserve, the terrain shifts decisively. Rock formations that have been eroding for 600 million years give way to cliff faces, plunging gorges and the vast bowl of the Blyde River Canyon - seen in full only from the air. Flying this route turns the Panorama Route from a series of famous viewpoints into a single, connected landscape. The Three Rondawels, The Pinnacle, Panorama Gorge - from altitude, the geological logic of the place becomes clear.

The Experience

Your pilot follows the escarpment route past the canyon's defining features before setting down on a secluded mountaintop with no road access. A beautifully prepared picnic awaits, with the Mpumalanga Lowveld spread out below. The stop is unhurried, private and entirely yours. Each flight is shaped by weather and conditions on the day, making every journey slightly different from the last.

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - The Experience
Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Flight Details

Flight Details

- Duration: Approximately 2 hours, including picnic stop - Departure time: 10h30 - Advance booking: Minimum 48 hours required - Tinga Lodge and Narina Lodge guests depart from Skukuza Airport (5-minute transfer) - River Lodge and Ivory Lodge guests depart from Sabi Private Airstrip (15-minute transfer)

Aircraft Options

Bell JetRanger - This 4-seater aircraft is ideal for couples or small groups of up to four guests. Bell LongRanger - This 6-seater aircraft is suitable for larger groups of up to six guests.

Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Aircraft Options
Lion Sands Helicopter Experience - Important Info

Important Information

Flights are subject to availability and weather conditions. Passenger weights are required prior to booking; luggage is limited and subject to pilot approval. If weight limits are exceeded, an aircraft upgrade may be required at additional cost. Routes may vary at the pilot's discretion. Bookings are confirmed upon full prepayment. Cancellation fees apply. Contact the reservations team for group enquiries and additional arrangements.

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