I first introduced doors-off helicopter photography during a migration safari years ago. However, a few years ago, I reintroduced it in my African Wildlife Extreme (AWE) . The experience was unlike anything else, a blend of adrenaline and serenity, where the roar of the rotors gave way to an overwhelming sense of freedom. It sold out instantly and has continued to sell out every year since.
From that first flight, I knew this wasn’t just another activity to add to a safari itinerary. It was a way of seeing Africa differently. From above, the landscapes reveal patterns that remain hidden from the ground, gentle trails etched by migrating herds, rivers winding like silver threads, and the symmetry of flocks stretching across vast lakes. Mountains, valleys, and endless plains unfold in sweeping compositions that evoke a sense of almost painterly beauty. It is a perspective no ground-based view can offer.
What begins as a photography session quickly becomes something deeper. Hanging above vast landscapes with nothing between you and the wild but the open air is an experience that quiets the mind. You feel the scale of Africa in a way that is both humbling and exhilarating. Guests often put down their cameras for a moment to take it in, to breathe, to marvel, to be present.
Due to its impact, I have begun incorporating helicopter flights into many of my bespoke signature safaris. This past year, I even flew with guests out of the Himalayas. No matter the landscape, the feeling is always the same: life looks different when you step outside the ordinary and choose the extraordinary.
Experiences like these remind us that not everything can be measured by a price tag. At the end of our journeys, it isn’t what we own that we carry with us, but the moments that take our breath away, the ones we never forget.
Soaring high above Africa offers more than a photograph. It offers perspective. A reminder that life is short, and the most powerful memories are made when we choose to step beyond the familiar.
Life is too short for ordinary when extraordinary is within reach. If this kind of perspective speaks to you, I invite you to join me on one of my upcoming safaris and experience Africa from a view few will ever know.