By Selene Brophy
May 15th, 2008
The only influence everyday life should have on your vacation itinerary is for it to be the exact opposite of what you consider the norm.
Taking a different holiday perspective certainly has its advantages.
Some things were totally acceptable in the 80s, which is true of certain parts of Durban. The architecture on Marine Parade, with its turquoise awnings, tells you exactly what I mean. But while the very obvious touristy attractions are there to be seen and done, I'm talking about bringing your itinerary up to speed with the naughties.
You'll flip out with a helicopter trip along the South Coast, a Jetranger to be exact.
The only potential obstacle of this trip is getting strapped in. Passengers decide amongst themselves who gets the best seat in the house - upfront with the pilot. Thankfully I was with an amicable bunch and pilot Dean Riley of African Adventures wasn't forced to intervene in any bickering.
Click here to check out the awesome galllery.
The head-phones everybody has to don, serves a dual purpose; it protects you from the radical noise of the rota-blades and the attached microphone allows for normal communication with your fellow passengers and pilot.
Taking the lid off the South Coast
It's quite a sensational feeling as you lift off from Virginia airbase near Umlanga. Your heart beats faster as you consider the possible dangers associated with all forms of flying. But the view soon drowns out any negativity. It really is splendidly different.
If you're not used to the topography of Durban, then driving along its roads can crank the neck slightly as you crane to see over all the hills. Being up in the air breathes new life into to the term land of a thousand hills. Spread before you is a verdant, shaggy carpet.
From here you make your way over the harbour, past the Bluff and down the South Coast - a true beach delight.
A stretch of golden sand leads to a rocky cove, which then intern leads to quaint little beach after beach, before you hit another golden stretch.
The Durban weather bid me a warm tropical and slightly damp welcome when I arrived in the city. MG, my hotel-transfer driver from the airport mused, "She who arrives with the rain is said to be very lucky."
How lucky I felt to be perched above this Blue Flag coastline on a crystal clear day. I marvelled at the calmness of the water as it revealed the ocean floor with such clarity.
Pilot knows best
Have you ever seen turtles waddling through the waves, it's the cutest sight. How about a wave rainbow? Looking from the vantage point of a helicopter tour, it flashes as the morning sun hits each wave crest.
We lucked out in the whale department but were treated to a brief interlude with a pod of dolphins. Our natural reaction was to want to turn around but Durban Air Traffic Control would not have been too impressed with us as our coordinates had already been radioed through. Dolphin pod or copter collision, you don't need flight school to make up your mind.
An ocean playground
That's the thing with these creatures; they have the entire ocean to play around in. So it makes sense to enjoy this air adventure during the Sardine Run, round about June when the water temperature drops to below to 20 degrees. If you're use to the cold embrace of the Atlantic Ocean, you'll know how wonderfully ridiculous this sounds.
The Sardine run is an underwater experience, brought to life either by diving or watching National Geographic. But being able to see into the water while hovering above gives you a totally different perspective. The marvel of the trip at this time is that the entire spectacle plays out below.
According to Loods Boshoss, owner of the Southern Coast Helicopter Services, it's insight into an eco-system phenomenon like never before.
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