Hartbeespoort > Hot Air Ballooning

Hartbeespoort > Hot Air Ballooning

The unique experience of hot air ballooning is, essentially a rather elegant, eccentric adventure in space and time, and promises an excitement all of its own.  Hover at tree-top height for a chat with or a wave to a local farmer as you go.  Or, if you wish, and conditions permit, your pilot can take you to soar high among the clouds.

There, from the slowly moving vantage of a hot air balloon you will experience the “720 degree” wrap-around panorama of the Magalies River Valley and nearby Hartbeespoort Dam area which, incidentally, boasts some of the best ballooning weather in the world.

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hot air ballooning package inclusions:

On a typical Hot Air Balloon Safari you will be met at the Skeerpoort Balloon Field near Hartbeespoort Dam, or if your package includes a transfer, you will be collected from your hotel and transported by a comfortable mini-bus. 

Just as the sun rise, hot tea, coffee and biscuits are served while you watch the balloons being set up, and if you like you can join in the fun to help the crew prepare the huge colourful balloon for flight in the calm and stable morning air.  

As the hot air balloons take off, enjoy what some describe as the closest thing to heaven known to man – the “magical experience” of lazily drifting with the wind in a Hot Air Balloon, on a fascinating aerial sightseeing flight over the beautiful countryside bordering Gauteng and North-west Province – down the Magalies Valey.  Enjoy Quaff champagne as you go or on landing.   

After landing of the hot air balloon, which can be most fun of all, your ground crew, who have been following in the “retrieve vehicle”, will collect you and drive you back to our well appointed Hot Air Balloon Riverside Country Base where the staff will have freshly cooked hearty full English “champagne breakfast”.   You will be awarded a “citation for bravery” for your hot air ballooning, with due ceremony, after which guests who booked transfers, will be returned to you to your hotel by late morning.

Hot Air Ballooning - important information:

• Except where specifically excluded, the above rates include 14% VAT.

• TOMSA Tourism Levy is included.

• If the hot air ballooning is cancelled by the passenger, pre-payment is forfeited.

• If the hot air balloon flight is cancelled by the operator for safety reasons, the flight is either re-booked OR all pre-payment is returned.

• Should any element of these packages be postponed or cancelled, this will not affect the commitment of any party in the agreement to the supplying and charging for, or receiving and paying for, the other elements of the package on the original dates unless otherwise agreed in writing. 

• A minimum of 4 passengers is required to justify a flight departure, maximum is 140. 

• The operator is a LEGALLY LICENCED AIR SERVICE (No. N146D) and employ HIGHLY QUALIFIED, PROFESSIONAL PILOTS and carry a PASSENGER LEGAL LIABILITY INSURANCE minimum of R1000 000 per person.  Also a SATSA member since 1981, Magalies Meander Member, Crocodile Ramble Member, SADot LICENSED, BEE Compliant - 100% PRL and also a member of the Johannesburg Skal Club - The International Association of Tourism and Travel Professionals. 

• All standard terms and conditions are applicable and available on request.

Hot Air Ballooning - flight times and schedule guideline:

All are dependent on the time of year, weather, wind direction and strength, convenience and accessibility of Hot Air Balloon Landing Sites (Pilots will consider the above schedule, although safety is paramount to all other decisions, closely followed of course by enjoyment).

frequently asked questions about Hot Air Ballooning:

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.

Hot Air Ballooning - operator:

BILL HARROPS “ORIGINAL” BALLOON SAFARIS is a family business run by Bill and Mary Harrop which has been operating as a legally licensed Balloon Air Transport Service since 1981.  Only qualified and experienced pilots are employed and over five-thousand very happy passengers a year are testimony to our professional attitude in entertaining you to one of the most memorably enjoyable experiences of your life.  They run a fleet of six large balloons the smallest of which can carry up to 8 passengers and the largest up to 18.

SATSA  Member Since 1981 * Magalies Meander Member * Crocodile Ramble Member * SADoT LICENSED

(Bill Harrop is also a Member of the Johannesburg Skal Club - The International Association of Tourism and Travel Professionals)

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