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Helicopter Horizons are based in Maun, the gateway to Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As the only helicopter charter company in the region, they are in a unique position to provide travellers with unforgettable scenic flights, excursions and private transfers that only a helicopter can afford.

Helicopter flights and experiences are designed to complement any safari itinerary by offering a unique perspective of Botswana’s wilderness, wildlife & communities. For guests who are interested in conservation or exploring must-see areas that are only accessible by helicopter, these experiences offer something truly special.

In addition to this, the company also offers a range of other helicopter-based services like photographic and filming flights and helicopter safaris.

Helicopter Scenic Flight over the Okavango Delta Credit: James Gifford Helicopter scenic flight overlooking elephants in the Okavango Delta

Helicopter Sunset Scenic Flight Credit: James Gifford Helicopter sunset scenic flight over the Okavango Delta

Okavango Panhandle Helicopter Scenic Flight Credit: James Gifford Helicopter scenic flight overlooking the Okavango Panhandle

Helicopter Photographic Scenic Flight Credit: James Gifford Helicopter photographic scenic flight over some zerbras in the Delta

Blue Skies, Green Grass And A Helicopter Credit: Danny Crous Incredible low flying in a helicopter over the Okavango Delta floodplains

Helicopter Aerial Shot Over Xigera Lagoon Credit: James Gifford Helicopter flight over Xigera Lagoon

Helicopter Photographic Scenic Flight Close Up Credit: James Gifford Close up of photographic scenic helicopter flight

View From Inside Out Credit: Danny Crous Amazing open door scenic flights for an unrestricted view

Bird's Eye View of Crocodile From Helicopter Credit: James Gifford Helicopter flight over a crocodile swimming in the Okavango Delta

Helicopter Transfer with Elephant In The Background Credit: Kyle de Nobrega Helicopter waiting for guest to arrive for a transfer with an elephant walking in the background

Beautiful Guest On A Helicopter Transfer Credit: James Gifford Guest on the ground on a helicopter transfer from camp to camp

Floodplain Shot With Helicopter Credit: James Gifford Helicopter transfer from lodge to lodge over a massize floodplain in the Okavango Delta

Crystal Clear Waters Over Xigera Lagoon Credit: James Gifford Helicopter transfer scenic flight over crystal clear waters

Shot Over Filming Crew Rigging Up Helicopter Credit: Shot Over Filming crew securing camera equipment on the Helicopter

View From Above On Buffalo Credit: James Gifford Aerial photo of a massive heard of buffalo

Flight On A Filming Helicopter Credit: Shot Over Helicopter with film camera to shoot amzing footage over the Okavango Delta

Giraffes On The Horizon Credit: James Gifford Photographic helicopter flight

Hippo In The Water Credit: James Gifford Helicopter scenic flight flying over the river in the Delta

Time for A Private Lunch Credit: James Gifford Tailor made safaris with helicopter transfers to remote locations

Helcioter Overnight Safari Credit: James Gifford Mobile safaris with a private helicopter to take you remote locations

Vibrant Delta Credit: James Gifford Helicopter flight over the vibrant and contrasting colours of the Okavango Delta

Tsodilo Hills From Above Credit: Danny Crous View from a helicopter of the world heritage site of Tsodilo Hills in Botswana

Winding Through The Panhandle Credit: James Gifford Helicopter scenic flight over the deep winding rivers of the Okavango Panhandle

Walk To The Top Credit: Danny Crous Guided walks and talks through the sacred grounds of the Tsodilo Hills

Tsodilo Hills Scenic Credit: Helicopter Horizons Helicopter scenic transfer around the Tsodilo Hills

Blue Skies, Green Grass and Giants Credit: Kyle de Nobrega Helicopter scenic flight over a heard of elephant in the Delta

Elephants On Approach Credit: Martin Harvey Elephant Havens is an orphanage for orphaned and abandoned baby elephants

Elephants Walk By Helicopter Credit: Helgardt Pretorius Elephants walking past the helicopter at Elephant Havens

Cattle, Bush and Helicopters Credit: Danny Crous Flights in and out of the remote communities in the Delta

Greetings In The Bush Credit: Danny Crous Being greeted on arrival to expeience the cultural side of conservation in the bush

Patterns From Above Credit: Danny Crous Chief herdsman talking to the guests and pilot about co-existence of wildlife and thier livelihoods

Co-Existence Chatter Credit: Danny Crous Herdsman talking on the confilt between cattle and wildlife in their community

Chilli Brick Credit: Life With Elephants A "chilli brick" is elephant dung burnt with chillis to detour elephants and is demostrated as part of the cutural tour

Song And Dance Credit: Life With Elephants After the tour, traditional singing and dancing is done by the community

Life With Elephants Interactive Show Credit: Life With Elephants Guests are encourage to join in on the festivities after the cultural experience followed by traditional song and dance

Musical Drums Credit: Life With Elephants During the cultural tours, communities members play traditional music

Craftsman At Work Credit: Life With Elephants The day to day challenges of living amongst elephants are explained by village elders

View From A Pilot and Guest Credit: `Reggie Views from above and possibly trying to find the perfect landing spot for a champagne stop

Time For A Quick Drinks Stop Credit: Reggie Taking in the breathtaking views on the ground as you sip on a drink mid flight

Sunset With A Champagne Credit: Reggie Soaking in the last rays of the sun on a sunset champagne stop before flying back to camp by helicopter

Elephants In View From Above Credit: Danny Crous Helicopter pilot spotting game from the air and share knowledge with thier passangers

The Vastness Of The Pans Credit: Danny Crous Touch down on the Makgadikgadi pans looking at the vast open area almost being otherworldly

Top Of The Rocks Credit: Danny Crous Kubu Island in the middle of the Salt Pans in Botswana surrounded by ancient baobab trees

As Far As The Eye Can See Credit: Martin Harvey Helicopter flight over the cracked earth of the dried salt pans

Zebra Stripes In The Green Credit: Martin Harvey view the large herds of Zebras migrating through the Makgadikgadi looking for water

Pink Flamingos Credit: Martin Harvey Flocks of flamingos living in the flooded vast area of the salt pans

Helicopter Horizons provides a platform for specialized aerial photography and filming. We have worked with several international and local film crews including, National Geographic, NHFU, Disney, BBC and CNN. The Okavango Delta is a unique ecosystem that is one of the greatest destinations for wildlife, offering endless photographic and filming opportunities for amazing footage. Helicopter Horizons has access to platforms that make getting the great footage all the more easier. The helicopter offers a unique perspective and often an unobtrusive and fluid method of getting the great shots.

Whether you are a professional or an avid amateur photographer perfecting your hobby, this is a bucket list experience to capture the perfect shot of the Okavango Delta from a very unique perspective. Your knowledgeable pilot offers a guided experience making sure every vista and sighting is perfectly set up for the best shot. They will find and highlight the terrain’s greatest treasures through the completely unrestricted view guaranteed by removing the doors. With many of the Delta’s most remote areas not reachable in any other way, an aerial perspective is the ideal way to gaze onto the vast Delta and its meandering labyrinth of crystal-clear channels. First and last light, known as the golden hours, offer the best light conditions to capture the perfect photograph.

Four rocky hills, including Botswana’s highest point, jut strikingly out of the surrounding Kalahari Desert plains to form Tsodilo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the remote north-west of the country; a definite must- see for those seeking more than wildlife from their time in Botswana. Over 4 500 rock paintings, some dating back an estimated 26 000 years, adorn the marshmallow-coloured quartzite rocks. The hills are sacred to the San who utilised the caves and spring here until the late 20th century, while there is evidence of human activity here dating back some 100 000 years.

Arriving by helicopter saves a lengthy drive from Maun, allowing Tsodilo to become a fantastic half-day trip, giving guests time to fully appreciate the significance of the hills from the air, and enjoy the game viewing on the flights to and from the Delta or Linyanti.

Guests are accompanied by an unassuming and ever-smiling San guide who will explain the fascinating artwork, presenting a side to Botswana few tourists get to experience. The hike can be demanding, but the hills have an allure that is difficult to describe; perhaps they possess a draw that appeals to something within us all.

Elephant Havens is a non-profit organization working on the ground in Botswana to protect and preserve the African elephant. The orphanage rescues and hand-rears orphaned and abandoned baby elephants, with the goal of eventually releasing them back into the wild alongside other elephants. The organisation over and above works with communities to reduce conflict between villagers and elephants. Through education Elephant Havens hopes to instill an understanding of the importance of conservation and habitat protection in future generations.

Helicopter Horizons aim is to support Elephant Havens in a sustainable, non-evasive and ethical manner. As aerial specialists in the tourism industry, our goal is to offer clients the leisure they would expect from their safari experience but to also help support the environmental initiative to protect local species through conservation efforts. Helping remote sanctuaries and animal rehabilitation centres, by using tourism as a platform to educate travellers on the importance of putting every animal’s protection first.

Our operations encompass the idea of nurturing an intimate relationship between travellers and wildlife in a way that every animal is respected.

In an ideal world there would be no animals in captivity, Helicopter Horizons is delighted to be supporting a genuine conservation organisation that’s main goal is rehabilitation and the total interest of animal welfare.

A visit to Elephant Havens with Helicopter Horizons includes return helicopter transfers, interaction with orphaned elephants, guided by informed and knowledgeable handlers, and a donation to the organisation. Guests are more than welcome to donate further in person.

This experience is the perfect compliment for any visitors to Botswana interested in conservation and culture. The experience combines a visit to two community coexistence projects located in one of the most remote parts of the Okavango Delta.

The first stop will showcase the work of CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably). Human & Wildlife conflict is a daily concern for many people living in the remote villages of the Okavango Delta. Farmers often lose livestock to predators such as lions. A herding program was established by CLAWS and is run by the community to reduce carnivore conflict and benefit livestock owners with veterinary assistance and improved rangelands. The experience includes a talk with the head herdsman of the project and a guided tour of the bomas used for confining and protecting cattle.

On arrival at our second project, guests will be taken on a two and a half hour tour with the ‘Life With Elephants’ tour group in the traditional Hambukushu village of Eretsha. The tour group was set up by the conservation NGO, Ecoexist in an effort to increase benefits coming back to communities that coexist with Elephants. Guests are guided on a tour of the village to experience all aspects of village life, including visiting the local school and a typical farmer household. After the tour, the day to day challenges of living amongst elephants are explained by village elders, followed by traditional song and dance. This unique experience offers a rare insight into remote village life in this part of Botswana, whilst showcasing how people strive to share space and resources with elephants. Ecoexist is facilitating and supporting new elephant-themed enterprises like this one as part of its strategy to promote coexistence between people and elephants.

These remote projects are accessible by helicopter whilst showcasing some of the most picturesque scenes of the panhandle enroute. Together we pride ourselves in offering an integrated, sustainable and people driven approach to empowering communities in Northern Botswana. By booking this experience both projects are able to carry on supporting such an important issue for both villagers & wildlife in Botswana.