Four amazing ways to feel Africa’s magic from air

THERE is no better way to see and explore Africa by its width and breadth other than taking to the skies.

The dramatic landscapes of the continent are intriguing as much as they are fascinating and the biodiversity is incredibly astounding.

The vast grasslands, strewn wetlands, rolling hills, arid land, snowcapped peaks and amazing desert life to the north and southern parts of the continent adds to the beauty of Africa.

And the good news is that it is possible to soak in all this with the best aerial tours there is across the continent. The 20-minute Huey helicopter ride across the Victoria

Falls which straddles between Zambia and Zimbabwe is quite an experience.

The United Air Charters is based in Livingstone Town in Zambia and uses military choppers with two open door sides for maximum viewing of the scenery around Victoria Falls.

The chopper with 13 passengers on board soars above the 125-metre-high rock walls of Batoka Gorge and edges closer to the rapids that are the world’s most popular for whitewater rafting.

An adventurous ending is at the falls themselves where you get soaked by water particles popularly referred to as Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning The Smoke that Thunders.

Upon reaching the violent clash of water and rock called Oblivion, the chopper rapidly rises up and over Mosi-oa-Tunya at the falls.

It is all about a splendid flight across the Kalahari Desert that is in southern Africa and the famous Okavango Delta in Botswana.

An aerial view of the ground reveals the glamour of very expensive safari camps.

Each year in March and November, Skydive Diani and Skydivers Association run a week-long skydiving escapade in the Diani Beach which is dotted by white sands.

Skydive Diani offers skydives from US$350 per person.