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Departures:
Hot Air Balloons depart daily at sunrise including weekends and public holidays, weather permitting.
The Hot Air Balloons depart daily from Skeerpoort Balloon Field,
which is very accessible from Johannesburg, Pretoria and
surrounding areas, located roughly 45 minutes from both
Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Hot Air Ballooning take place in the beautiful Magalies River
Valley which, incidentally, boasts some of the safest
and most reliable ballooning weather in the world.
Flight Days:
The Hot Air Balloons fly early, every
morning of the week including Saturdays and Sundays,
weather permitting and provided we have a minimum of
four people. Departure times for the hot air balloons are confirmed when you
book.
Why such
early departures:
The air
needs to be stable for the Hot Air Balloons, in other words very gentle surface
wind and no thermals. As the day heats up thermals and
wind generally get stronger.
How high
does the balloons fly:
The hot air balloons
are able to fly anything from a millimeter to a kilometer high.
How many
people can fit into one balloon:
The smallest hot air balloon takes between four and six
passengers and a pilot, the biggest hot air balloons can take up
to 18 passengers and a pilot. The hot air balloon basket is
divided into compartments where generally 4 people can
fit into a compartment.
Hot Air Ballooning Flight Duration:
Approximately one hour.
Hot Air Ballooning Excursion Duration:
3 to 4 hours (excluding hotel transfers which are
available on request).
Includes:
Pre-flight coffee, tea and biscuits.
Sparkling wine served either in-flight or on landing.
Delectable Full English Champagne Breakfast after the
Hot Air Balloon flight.
Great photo and video opportunities.
The English Breakfast:
There is no
specific menu because this depends entirely as to what
is available at the time.
There is quite a variety
available, which makes it flexible for vegetarians or
special diets if necessary. Special menus can be
created on request.
Please let us know if any passengers require special
diets (vegetarian, non-alcohol etc.) so that we can try
to accommodate them.
Clothing:
Should be warm enough for the chilly early morning but
it should be “peelable” because the sun, excitement and
probably the champagne will soon warm you. “Country”
shoes and a hat are also recommended.
Fitness:
Hot Air
Ballooning is suitable for adventurers from 7 – 70
(although the oldest passenger to date was 90 years
old). Participants should be nimble, be able to jump
unassisted from a height of 60cm and stand for the
duration of the flight.
Safety:
Bill Harrop's "Original" Balloon Safaris is a family
business run by Bill and Mary Harrop that has been
operating as a Legally Licensed Balloon Air Transport
Service since 1981.
Only qualified and experienced pilots are employed and
over five-thousand passengers a year are testimony to
their professional attitude in entertaining you to one
of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of your
life.
They run a fleet of six large balloons that can carry
between six and eighteen passengers each.
Passengers:
Minimum 4 (can be from different bookings), maximum 140.
Don’t forget:
Your camera
and some extra film, or batteries for the video, as
ballooning offers some most spectacular photo and movie
opportunities. |