Activity Description
The Victoria Falls Microlight Flight is one of only two activities available to experience the magnificence of the waterfall from the air. And certainly the most unique. Take to the skies in a completely open light aircraft or microlight. A simple flying machine that is mostly open giving you uninterrupted views of the incredible views before you.
Unlike a helicopter, a microlight can only take two people at a time. The pilot and a passenger. Meaning the flight you have is unique to you and no one else will have the same flight.
The Victoria Falls Microlight flight is only offered in the cooler parts of the day. Being a light aircraft, it is very susceptible to the weather, and in particular the up draft common during the heat of the day. This means that you experience will either be in the early morning or the late afternoon.
Both are amazing times to be in the air above the waterfall as it is generally calm. The river is still and the wind has died down. Regardless of which session you take, you adventure starts the same, meeting your pilot and going through all the safety procedures necessary when flying.
Once complete, you hop on board this very different style aircraft. Unlike other planes where the pilot is upfront and you are behind, with very little knowledge of what he does in front. Not in a Microlight. Here you jump in right next to him. Two seats side by side and that’s it. No other passengers, just the two of you.
Most importantly, you fasten your seat-belt, and this isn’t a flight where the “fasten seat-belt sign” will ever be turned off. Reason being, there are no doors or windows. Other than a wind shield in front of you, and the wings above you, it’s completely open. Daunting in the beginning, but makes for an incredible experience.
Like the helicopter flights there are two options when it comes to duration, you can either opt for the 15 minute waterfall flight only, or the 25 minute waterfall and safari flight. The safari flight takes you over the Zambezi River and surrounding National Parks in the hope of seeing some of the larger animals that call this area home.
The Victoria Falls Microlight Flight is a completely unique experience and is often something that is done as well as the Helicopter flight, rather than instead of it.
Microlight Flight Activity Requirements
Age Limit: Minimum age is 12 years old.
Minimum Height: No minimum height
Maximum Height: No maximum height
Fitness Level: No Fitness Requirement.
Maximum Weight: 100 kg Maximum
Experience Level: No Experience Requirement.
Additional Information
Duration: The whole excursion from time of pickup to drop off is 1 hour for the 15min flight and 1.5 hours for the 25min flight.
Seasonal Activity: The Gorge Swing in not a seasonal activity and is done throughout the year.
What to wear: Clients are advised to wear comfortable clothing items. Please don’t wear scarves, or jackets with belts or ties which may come loose during the flight.
What to bring: Clients are advised to bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, cash or credit card should you want to purchase the photographs of your flight on a DVD and passport.
How safe is the Victoria Falls Microlight Flight?
Like any flight, a microlight flight does have an element of risk to it. However the track record is impeccable when it comes to safety. Even though it has somewhat of a dare devil feel to it, gliding above a raging waterfall in an open air light aircraft it is very safe.
Pilots are well trained and very experienced, often with several thousand hours of experience under their belts, and all vetted and checked by international aviation standards.
The Microlights themselves are rigorously checked and triple checked before and after every flight. Services and replacement of parts are done well before their recommended due date to ensure there are no equipment issues.
What is the difference between a Victoria Falls Microlight Flight and a Helicopter Flight?
These two aerial experiences over Victoria Falls are completely different. For starters a microlight flights is done alone with the pilot, whereas a helicopter flight is done with up to 6 other people, sometimes strangers.
The Victoria Falls Microlight flight is only available from Zambia, guests staying in Zimbabwe, will need to cross the border into Zambia in order to do this flight. Helicopter flights can be done in Zimbabwe.
As mentioned above, Microlights are very susceptible to the weather conditions and generally only operate during the cooler parts of the day, between 6am and 9 am in the morning and between 3pm and 6pm in the afternoons. Obviously dependent on the weather. Helicopters, being more robust as able to operate all day, with only sever weather conditions casing them to be grounded or delayed.
One of the best parts of a microlight flight is that they have a much lower flight circle than helicopters. With quite a busy airspace above the waterfall at times, air-crafts are given specific altitudes at which to fly. Microlights have the lowest altitude meaning that you get a much closer experience of the Victoria Falls and surrounding areas.
In the end, the only similarity between these two activities is that both offer an aerial view of the Victoria Falls, other than that, they are completely different, and we highly recommend both.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included: Return road transfers from Zimbabwe-Zambia border .During the cooler winter months, a warm flight overall will be provided.
Excluded: National Park fees which are currently US$6pp. For safety purposes you may not take your own camera, however we offer a wing-mounted digital camera that is operated by the pilot during your flight. These images can be purchased after your flight.
