Things to do in South Africa

Take to the skies with a microlight flight at Garonga Private Game Reserve

Not only is the flight in a microlight a thrilling adventure, the scenery at Garonga is very dramatic…

By Kyle Kaidy

Operations Manager and Flight Instructor

Whilst game drives and bush walks are always a popular activity from Garonga Private Game Reserve, seeing the bush from the air provides a whole different experience. Due to our wonderful climate, flying conditions are generally good throughout the year. We normally fly in a three-axis Bantam microlight which provides a 180-degree aerial perspective. We have two aircraft, each taking the pilot and one passenger.

As Garonga has its own private airstrip we can conveniently collect guests directly from the lodge for either a 20, 30 or 60-minute flight over the Greater Makalali Game Reserve. Not only is the flight in a microlight a thrilling adventure, the scenery at Garonga is very dramatic with the Makhutswi River cutting through the open plains with a backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains. We can cover a large area and as well as the spectacular landscape, from our bird’s-eye-view we often see plenty of wildlife from the air including hippo, giraffe, kudu, impala and elephant.

I love the freedom of flying and being able to interact with new people from all over the world as I show them this special part of South Africa from the air.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Cape Town, Safari and Mozambique Beach
by Adele Jones

Length14 Days

Price range£5,395 - £5,675pp

Alfred & Kyle Kaidy

Originally from Grahamstown, Kyle has been based at Hoedspruit for the past five years as operations manager and flight instructor. He is a Grade B flight instructor in gyrocopter, Bantam and Jabiru microlights and regularly takes guests from Garonga Safari Camp for an aerial perspective of the wilderness. When he isn’t flying, Kyle loves being outdoors, hiking and fishing.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.