Another spectacular Western Cape scenic flight – with whales!

Some gifts are quickly forgotten. Others stay with you every time you look out over the ocean - a Western Cape scenic flight.

On a clear October morning, two guests arrived at Cape Winelands Airport for what they believed would be an ordinary outing. Their brother, from Germany, had quietly arranged something different for them whilst on their trip to the Cape: a surprise scenic flight over the Winelands and the whale coast.

Western Cape Scenic Flight

After a short briefing and an unhurried walk to the aircraft, we departed from Cape Winelands, routing south-east over the patchwork of vineyards and farmland. The Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch valleys lay open beneath the wing, framed by the Cape’s mountain ranges. It is an breathtaking way to see the Western Cape: geography, agriculture, and landscape all in one frame.

Unforgettable Aerial Journey: Whale Watching from Above the Coastline

From there the flight turned coastal, tracking from Gordon’s Bay along the shoreline with long lines of swell folding towards the beaches and rocky points. Approaching Hermanus and Walker Bay, the reason this route is so special made itself clear. Whales were spotted below us, with around ten distinct pods spread along the coastline, and we held a gentle orbit overhead to give our guests unhurried time to watch and take this special sighting  in.

For the couple in the back seats, this was more than a sightseeing flight. It was a shared moment anchored to a place and a view they could not have reached any other way. For us, it was exactly what a scenic flight should be: well-planned, fun, safe, and personal.

Scenic flights with Africa Sky Runners

This flight is one example of the scenic experiences Africa Sky Runners operates along the Cape coastline and Winelands.

From our Western Cape base, guests can choose:

• Cape Peninsula Scenic Flights:

  • Aerial routes that showcase Table Mountain, the Atlantic seaboard, Cape Point, False Bay, and the surrounding coastal and mountain landscapes from a clean, elevated perspective.

• Hermanus & Walker Bay Whale Watching by Air (in season) :

  • Flights that route over the Overberg and Walker Bay, offering an aerial view of southern right whales in one of the world’s key whale habitats, subject to season and conditions.

• Winelands & Coastal Combinations:

  • Itineraries that link the Cape Winelands with sections of the coast, allowing guests to experience vineyards, mountains, and shoreline in a single, well-structured flight, while stopping for lunch in some spectacular venues.

For travellers, families, or friends looking to mark a visit or a milestone with something memorable, our scenic flights are intended to feel exactly like this recent journey: quietly exceptional, professionally executed, and rooted in the real character of the Cape.