To give you an idea of how far hot air ballooning has come in since its inception, we at Sun Fun have found some interesting milestones that occurred along the way.
1783: French chemistry and physics teacher, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier was the first person to successfully get a hot air balloon airborne. This event occurred on 19 September and the balloon was given the name ‘Aerostat Reveillon’. The pilot was a brave sheep who had a duck and a rooster accompanying it. The flight lasted just 15 minutes before gravity brought the balloon back down to earth.
1960: Hot air balloon flights steadily advanced over the centuries and by 1960 astonishing records were being set. Colonel Joe Kittinger set a new record for the highest flight in a hot air balloon, going up to 102 000 feet before he proceeded to jump out. Kittinger set two records on the day, also breaking the parachute jump record.
1987: Duo Sir Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand achieved the astonishing feat of crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a hot air balloon. The pair travelled 2 900 miles in a record time of 33 hours.
1991: Branson and Lindstrand were not quite done though and became the first to cross the Pacific as well, this time travelling 6 700 miles in 47 hours on a route that went from Japan to Canada. The achievement saw them break the world distance record and at the time they were flying at speeds of 245 miles per hour.
2002: Steve Fossett put his name in the history books by becoming the first and only person to go around the world in a hot air balloon – solo! Fossett had attempted the record six times before finally completing the trip.
Find out why these pioneers fell in love with flying by going choosing from Sun Fun’s list of balloon safaris. We would be happy to tell you more about hot air ballooning while showing you the world from a new perspective.
December 23rd, 2010
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Hot air ballooning has evolved over two centuries and today there are some astonishing balloons and events for all to see. To give you a taste of what is out there, Sun Fun has found the largest hot air balloon and the biggest balloon festival in the world:
Biggest hot air balloon:
Bunnies are generally thought of as cute and furry hairballs that you just want to pet. At no point do they make your jaw drop to the floor in disbelief due to their awesomeness and mammoth size – that is until you have seen the Energizer Bunny Hot “Hare” Balloon. Considered the tallest balloon in the world, this giant beast is 15 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty and weighs in at half a ton, promising a completely unique hot air balloon flight to those lucky enough to board the basket. The Energizer Bunny is 166 feet from the base of his feet to the tip of his ears and during flights, other standard balloons are dwarfed by its size as just its ears alone are as tall as the standard balloon. If the Energizer Bunny could wear shoes, it would need a 98 EEEEE in US size, with its balloon sandals being 60 feet long, 12 feet wide and four feet deep. Creating this majestic hot air balloon took 5 000 linear yards of fabric (60 feet wide) and 84 miles of thread.
Biggest hot air balloon festivals:
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, USA, takes place in early October annually and is considered as the largest festival in the world. This nine-day even attracts around 750 balloons, with pilots from around the world in attendance. The fiesta began back in 1972 as part of the 50th birthday celebration of KOB Radio. As the popularity of the event grew, organisers had to eventually limit the amount of entries after having to manage 1 019 balloons in the year 2000. The festival has a number of events that take place over the nine days, and balloons are launched from Balloon Fiesta Park which is located on the northern edge of the city. In 2005, the success of the festival was celebrated with the opening of the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum which focuses on the history of the event as well as that of hot air ballooning.
December 23rd, 2010
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Memories of trips like these last forever…
Madri & Eugene ……………………………………………..Rolina & Benne
Hilton & Janine ……………………………………………………..Adesh & Nitima
Every flight has a unique feel to it. We have passengers from different backgrounds and cultures on every flight which makes for interesting topics of conversation. Each person experiences the beauty of the flight, but not all interpret it in the same way.
Many find a connection to nature which has been lost in the fast moving “city life” and others experience a spiritual awakening
Well, whatever you are looking for… be it adventure, romance, peace, love or fun… We here at Sun Fun can definately help you find it!
Question: What am I missing out on if I do not go on a hot air balloon flight?
Answer: Life…
December 9th, 2010
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What an absolutely beautiful morning! The weather the last couple of mornings have really been playing along perfectly!
Congratulations to Bradley and Diana on their engagement, may love, joy and prosperity bore you 
Freda & George
Freda has the most enthusiastic personality I have ever come across… Freda’s booking was the fastest booking that I have made EVER!! She has a “tjop-tjop” attitude! Life is an adventure, and Freda is taking the bull by its horns!
The Roon Family
Estie & Frank, you are very blessed to have children who spoil you like they did!
Happy happy birthday Patricia! We enjoyed your and Hennie’s company it inspires us to see love like yours
When last have you done something special for someone you love?
Almost a quarter of our planet is a single mountain range and we didn’t enter it until after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the moon. So we went to the moon, played golf up there, before we went to the largest feature on our own planet.
Robert Ballard
December 8th, 2010
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The launch site for Sun Fun Africa Safaris’ flights
http://www.whisperingpines.co.za/
The staff at the Whispering Pines Country Estate will be more than willing to help you book hot air balloon flights, accommodation, spa treatments, team buildings, conferencing and many other activities.
Phone them today and make sure you get in before the Christmas rush!
014 577 5901/2
Janice / Richard / Tammy
December 7th, 2010
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How big?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THAT BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to Henning & Emma on their engagement!
Nico, Tania, Gert, Mellet, Kosie and Cathy I am sure you all also enjoyed the extra long flight and beautiful surroundings of the Magaliesburg region
And there we were… and there we went… and there we were still going… and going… and going…
““The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.””
Sun Fun phones home on Vodacom…
I have found some interesting reading material on the Hartbeeshoek tracking station, please follow the link:
http://blogs.sun.ac.za/news/2009/09/15/stellenbosch%E2%80%99s-second-space-satellite-launches-this-afternoon/
I always had the following perception of the Magalies mountain range… “Its a mountain… big deal”
BUT when you sit back and watch the sun rise/set over this “boring” mountain it humbles you… the beauty of it brings you back down to earth gently and causes your heart to skip a beat
All of the Sun Fun Africa Safaris passengers experience this whilst slowly drifting on mother nature’s wings
December 7th, 2010
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And there he was… Edward Cullen…. well not really but Travis reallllly looked just like him!!!
Congratulations to Travis and Lauren on their engagement, may your life together sparkle! 
A big thank you to Ryan, Carmen, Rinky, Sally, Kobus and Ronel for joining us on this special flight
Engagements are by nature temporary,
A passageway to fields in which we’ll grow.
But I have found this year of passage very
Much like the wedded world we soon will know.
There is a permanence in our relation
Drawn not from law or custom but from love.
This year has built a broad and firm foundation
That no hard rain will easily remove.
I am yours, though not quite yet your wife;
You are mine, with one more door ahead.
Soon, soon we will begin our brave new life,
Joined in thought and feeling, hearth and bed.
Till then we’ll wait with patience and with pleasure.
This year of love with you I’ll always treasure.
December 7th, 2010
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Unfortunately, not everybody will have the chance to experience the wonders of hot air balloon flights in their lifetime. At Sun Fun, we are attempting to change that by providing unbelievable special that make this memorable experience more accessible to you. Situated in the majestic Magiliesburg region, you can be assured that every time we take to the skies, you experience something new, unique and simply breathtaking. Whether it is the perfect sunrise, the gently morning breeze running through your hair or the overwhelming feeling of utter freedom, you definitely won’t be disappointed. The two hot air balloon packages on offer consist of the following:
Hot air balloon flight special at R1900 per person:
- On arrival, you can warm your bones with a nice cup of tea or coffee as the preparation for the flight is done
- Board into the basket and gently soar upwards
- After a magnificent hour flight, you will land and enjoy sparkling wine and orange juice before transferring back to the lodge.
- Sit down to a full buffet breakfast and admire the new flight certificate from your trip.
Special occasion flights @ R2050pp:
These flights are perfectly suited to birthdays, anniversaries, engagements and a whole lot more. There is not much that can compete with a mid-air proposal above one of the most superb landscapes in South Africa. This package has everything on offer in the above special, with an added Sun Fun gift basket given to you at the end of your journey.
Sun Fun African Safaris are specialists in the field of hot air ballooning and make guest satisfaction our number one priority. Be sure to browse through all of our hot air balloon flights on offer or contact us for more information.
November 24th, 2010
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Congratulations to Pierre and Andonette on their engagement!!
May the gods of love and prosperity entertain themselves in your lives!
Raeesa & Faheem thank you for also braving the creepy mist to come out and have some fun!!
Melissa & Christo… dankie julle was vet pret!!!
The sun slowly appeared in the mist’s background while our guests got ready for their long awaited flight. After the flight briefing from our pilot, some giggles from our passengers when they were ducking in the basket and the heat turned on to full blast AWAY THEY WENT!
All enjoyed the serenity and beautiful surroundings of the Magalies river valley while Pierre quietly “popped the question” to which an emotional Andonette replied “YES”
Here is to good times and great memories!
BOTTOMS UP!!!!!!!
November 22nd, 2010
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Sun Fun Africa Safari’s has done its first flight from The Georgian, located just outside Magaliesburg.
On our flight the proud new owner of the Georgian, Andrew Mclachlan, his family and their friends joined in on some Sun Fun!
FREE BUSHWALK!!
Like I said…. come with us… we don’t know where we are going!!!
November 18th, 2010
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