By Jay Martin

This is the first in a series of posts that will examine the travel habits of the ultra wealthy, those who are only concerned about where they are going, not how much it will cost.

As the global economy sinks further into turmoil, the stress of watching an investment portfolio lose seven figures in a month is causing old money and nouveau-riche alike to look ahead to their next extravagant holiday. And with angry employees and investors beating down their doors, we might soon see a deluge of luxury travellers taking to the skies in search of a suitable getaway to help them forget about their temporary problems.

While the wealthy may travel to the same locations as the budget-conscious, chances are they will see it through different eyes. Take South Africa, for instance. Most visitors to this country will never view Africa's largest saltwater estuary from the cockpit of their own private helicopter. They will never enjoy a picnic lunch on the pristine beaches of Kosi Bay, followed by some fly-fishing at the mouth of the estuary. That's because to do Africa in style, you need a lot of money and an appetite for travel that cannot be satisfied with typical fare.

At nearly 4,000 USD per day, per couple, Distinctive Africa offers a Southern African experience of rugged luxury that whisks guests by helicopter to some of the roughest terrain on earth, only to return them in time for a multi-course dinner of Pan-African cuisine and African wine on the veranda of their luxury resort. According to the Distinctive Africa website, helicopter safaris offer the discerning luxury traveller the chance to see more of Africa in a shorter period of time, and from a vantage point reserved usually for the vultures.

For the wealthy, travelling Africa by helicopter makes perfect sense. Distinctive Africa describes helicopter travel as the safest means of travel in Africa, and the easiest, as most destinations are only otherwise reachable by a long, dangerous journey in an off-road vehicle. The helicopters they use are among the most fuel efficient available and the commonly-used EC-120 utilises "fan in fin" rotor technology that makes them quieter than most helicopters and ideal for tracking and viewing wildlife.

The phrase "helicopter safari", however, might not conjure an entirely accurate image of what actually takes place. Most think of safaris as an opportunity to track African wildlife in their natural habitat, and then shoot them. Helicopter safari guides instead offer wildlife viewing and most use the helicopters only to reach the destination, where guests transfer to sport utility vehicles to more closely observe lions, gazelle and other wildlife. Some companies that offer hunting use helicopters to track wildlife that has been shot from the ground. For the right price, those interested can hunt directly from the helicopter. A recent trend, called "green hunting", allows guests to shoot animals with tranquillizer darts, wildlife researchers then swoop in and tag them, all without killing the animal.

One of the key parts of luxury travel is having someone else take care of everything, and the all-inclusive luxury helicopter agencies in Southern Africa spare no detail. Because helicopter travel removes the hassle of moving groups of people and their luggage from place to place, guests can choose a single luxury resort to serve as their African base of operations. Helicopters move fast, and patrons of luxury helicopter safari services can see many sites and cover a lot of ground, all in one day and without having to wake up early. Whether it is fly-fishing, golf, first-class wildlife refuges or the Victoria Falls, guests need only choose how they prefer to experience both the rugged and lavish sides of Southern Africa.

WHO TO CALL:

Distinctive Africa – Phone: +27 31 205 5500; Website: www.distinctiveafrica.com

The Safari Company – Via the online form at www.thesafaricompany.co.za

5th Dimension Safaris - Phone: + 27 (0)12 811 0331; Website: www.5thdimensionsafaris.com.

WHERE TO STAY:

Singita Lebombo (Kruger National Park) – Features morning and evening game drives, a health and leisure spa, and a 12,000 bottle wine cellar. Phone: +27 21 683 3424; Website: www.singita.com; Email: singita@singita.com.

Phantom Forest (Garden Route) – Eco-friendly resort features rooms on stilts above the trees, four-course dinners prepared with local, organic fare, and views of the indigenous forest and mountains. Phone: +27 (0)44 386-0046; Website: www.phantomforest.com; Email: reservations@phantomforest.com.

Photo Credits:

1) Co Pilot by mickeymox via Flickr (Creative Commons)

2)Not Quite a Safari Camp by sanctu via Flickr (Creative Commons)

3)ZS-RTG 5th dimension safaris by Pieter van Marion.