The Long Ranger Helicopter Trip

A thrilling trip in the Bell 206 Long Ranger Helicopter

Flying over the Kruger National Park, securely strapped in and seated beside a dashing young helicopter pilot in the front of the bright yellow Bell 206 Long Ranger helicopter isn’t something I do every day. After a quick briefing, Hennie Botha, the pilot, started the engine and just after 9am we lifted off from a virtually deserted Skukuza airport.

What a spectacular way to traverse the bushveld! We are headed to the Inyati airstrip, where I will be met by a guide to kick-start my week-long stay at Dulini – spending time at Dulini Leadwood, Dulini River and Dulini Moya. Where normally a road transfer takes about an hour and a half, exiting the Kruger National Park at the Kruger Gate and circumnavigating the Sabi Sand Private Reserve to the Newington Gate, our ETA after take off is just a mere fifteen minutes.

Hennie points to a herd of elephants below; dusty, brown-coloured bulky shapes marching through the bush. Flying at a speed of 100 knots, equivalent to 180 kilometers per hour, we are only able to spot smaller game as we come in to descend. I can see a herd of impala, and several giraffe browsing from acacia trees.

The Mpumalanga Helicopter Co., based in Hazyview, offers a variety of scenic flights over the lowveld, as well as private charters and even an experience for guests to take part in air surveillance with a qualified ranger from the rhino anti-poaching unit in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which brings in all-too important funding to help protect the lowveld rhinos.

Expertly setting down the Long Ranger in a patch of grass close to the airstrip, Hennie performs his shut down procedure and before too long, the rotor blades slow down and we are good to disembark.