There are a number of places on earth where hot air balloon flights are a memorable experience but in South Africa – ballooning is simply magical. The allure of Africa attracts visitors from far and wide on a yearly basis. The main reason for this is the abundance of wildlife, supreme natural beauty and a vibrant atmosphere with loads of culture. If you are a big fan of safaris and sightseeing, then let us tell you that there is almost nothing like seeing the best of Africa from high up in the air.
Here are just some of the reasons why South Africa is considered a premier location for hot air balloon rides:
Nobody enjoys being covered in layers of thick clothing while gliding through the air in the dark. South Africa has the perfect climate for hot air ballooning, with moderate winds and warm, sunny conditions. This allows you to enjoy a renowned African sunrise while you slowly ascend and the sun will keep your bones nice and warm for the rest of the journey.
Flying over lakes and cities can be a unique experience, but observing wildlife below as they continue with their daily lives is something few people are privileged enough to see. Added to this, South Africa’s mountainous terrain and lush bushveld just makes it even better.
South Africa is amazing simply because it always keeps you guessing. Not only is each part of South Africa visually different, but the lifestyle of locals also differs. This means that you are treated to a rich cultural experience wherever you go, with the only shared trait being friendliness.
In South Africa, you really do get more bang for your buck. Your balloon experience will get you coffee/tea on arrival, a one hour flight, sparkling wine and orange juice on landing, a flight certificate and a delicious full buffet breakfast which you can enjoy while you go over the details of your journey.
At Sun Fun, we use our years of experience to provide you with the ultimate hot air balloon trips. Contact us now to find out more!
March 31st, 2011
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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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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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Sun Fun Africa Safaris, based in the magnificent Magaliesberg, offers air balloon rides in an area renowned for its panoramic view of Africa’s wonders. The Magaliesberg mountain range is nestled between the highveld savannah of the Witwatersrand and the African bushveld. The mountain range is nearly 100 times older than Mount Everest and supports spellbinding fauna, flora, geology and archaeology.
Formed well over two billion years ago, the Magaliesberg Mountains are a true African treasure and home to hundreds of animal and plant species. The history of man in the area is nearly as rich as that of nature though, as the region has seen both turbulent and tranquil times. Many years ago, African tribes and Voortrekkers alike moved amid the fields and plains engaging in great battles and daring hunts, all within the regal shadow of the Magaliesberg Mountains. The mountain range itself is approximately 120km long with its highest peak reaching about 1 780m above sea level. Due to the high ground that supports the range it is only 300m above the land.
It is in this majestic natural environment that Sun Fun Africa Safaris hosts its spectacular balloon flights. Patrons sail gently through the air observing this pristine landscape in a depth and detail that no other form of travel (not even other forms of air travel) can compare to. The sense of wonder as one gently navigates the skies over Magaliesberg can not be compared to any other journey. With over 120 species of trees, over 100 types of grass, over 90 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, over a dozen types of frogs and nearly two dozen forms of lizards, it is a journey that bears repeating.
Share the awe inspiring sight of prowling leopards hunting amidst the kloofs and ravines or try to spot of the wide range of snakes found in the area. All of this, on top of an aerial adventure through balloon flights conducted by top professionals in the industry. At Sun Fun Arica Safaris air balloon rides are not a business but a calling, and one we love sharing with families all over South Africa.
September 28th, 2010
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The team here at Sun Fun has had some interesting safety questions from sky shy clients who were preparing for their first balloon safari. Naturally, once you’re up in the air a feeling of peaceful wonder immediately takes over. Our pilots just smile as the questions drop away and that look of awe spreads on the faces of our holidaymakers. More than one of our expert pilots will tell you that this is why they love their work. It’s a feeling so much more personal than traveling in a noisy helicopter or a frantic airplane, but, let’s take a look at those safety questions and how the balloon works its magic.
Operating on the basic premise that ‘hot air rises’ a hot air balloon functions on reliable and time honoured scientific know-how. Many people practice hot air ballooning as a recreational sport, revelling in the feeling of freedom and relaxation. This traditional mode of flight has a proven safety track record and is certainly more secure than some forms of more modern aviation.
To properly examine the safety of hot air balloons, it would be helpful to understand how they work. Sporting a large bag called an envelope which is attached to a sturdy gondola, the air in the bag is heated with the assistance of an open flame. As the air is heated, the balloon rises. The pilot controls the ascent by manipulating a valve which restricts or opens up the flow of air. At the conclusion of a flight, the pilot gradually lets out enough air, causing the balloon to drop gracefully to the landing area.
Hot air ballooning is performed by travelling with the wind, though the pilot has some control over their direction via their altitude due to various air currents running in different directions. Generally, the best time to fly is in the early morning hours as wind speeds are still low. Lower wind speeds make hot air balloons a great deal safer, and the flights are more enjoyable, since the balloon gently coasts on its path rather than being buffeted along.
So the weather does play a major role in ballooning safety and we will ensure that we avoid extreme weather patterns during our flights. Our pilots are gifted in being able to tell good flight weather from bad at the very first signs of a change in climate – a sense developed by years of practise and extensive knowledge of the area. That’s not something that you get with your pilots licence, although they have those as well. For these few reasons and so many more, balloon safaris are perfectly safe and provide an experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the sky.
September 27th, 2010
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The majesty of a balloon flight, combined with an exciting new elephant safari experience – this is the Ivory Package, a brand new weekend package from SunFun Africa Safaris. This fantastic ballooning experience includes an animal from the ‘Big Five’, namely the great and majestic elephant. If you have ever wanted to fly high into the morning African sky and then interact with the largest land mammal on earth, then the Ivory Package should be your first choice. Simply drop us an email and enquire about this unforgettable package – we will then go to work in creating your special moment, a timeless experience.
Some more inclusions of the package follow below:
- The flight certificate for the balloon trip.
- A warming cup of coffee or tea upon your arrival.
- A full hour of hot air ballooning. Take to the skies and see Africa as you have never seen it before.
- When you land, you will be greeted with a tall glass of either sparkling wine or freshly-squeezed orange juice. From there, you will be transferred back to the lodge.
- At the lodge, an incredible buffet breakfast will be waiting for you. Dig in and fill yourself for the next leg of the journey, namely…
- The interaction with the elephants. Feed, touch and enjoy communing with nature’s giants.
Book now and enjoy our elephant safari!
August 25th, 2010
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A corporate package like nothing on earth – you will fly high above the skies as you view the plains of Africa like never before. This hot air balloon trip is ideal for those who are looking to experience the ultimate business getaway adventure. The Executive Ivory Weekend Breakaway is one of SunFun’s most exclusive premier packages. A balloon flight, two nights’ accommodation, an unforgettable elephant experience as well as an early morning game drive – this is without a doubt an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Details of the trip follow below:
- A one hour hot air balloon flight (with the included flight certificate). This will then be followed by a delicious glass of sparkling wine or orange juice. After your ‘champagne breakfast’, you will be transferred back to the lodge for a delicious morning meal.
- Two nights’ accommodation at the ultra-luxurious Askari Lodge.
- The two hour Elephant Experience. This is a fun, and educational session that lets you interact with the elephants, feed them and touch them. The gentle nature of this massive animal will surely move you to tears.
- A three hour game drive. Either early in the morning or the afternoon is the best time for game viewing. Saddle up and view the other ‘Big 5’ of Africa.
This is choice corporate package, so call or email today to enquire about the Executive Ivory Weekend Breakaway.
August 25th, 2010
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The 2010 Astra Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is set to have a particularly festive atmosphere, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of modern hot air balloon operation in Western Europe.
While the United States boasts the claim to the inception and manufacture of the world’s very first hot air balloon, it was in Bristol that Don Cameron fought the good fight to bring propane-fuelled balloon flight to the other side of the great Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Cameron constructed the Bristol Belle in 1960 and then proceeded to open Cameron Balloons, a business which today boasts the title of the world’s biggest balloon manufacturer.
Modern hot air balloons are differentiated from those that went before by the onboard heat source, propane gas, which allows for air inside the balloon to be continuously reheated during flight. Previously, air had to be heated on the ground before takeoff, which was incredibly dangerous and accounts for the less than rousing enthusiasm with regard to balloon rides prior to the new design modification.
The fiesta is set to kick off on the 9th of August at the city centre, with the ballooning teams dressed to the nines in period dress from the 1960s.The main events are to be held between the 12th and 15th of August, with reams of balloons ascending each morning and evening for the duration of the festival. The customary ‘night glows’ will also be on display – this delightful spectacle involves balloons, tethered to the main arena, lighting up in sequence to music. Afterward, spectators can look forward to a fantastic fireworks display.
Balloon flight truly is a miracle of modern technology. This carefree mode of transport provides a great way to experience the romance of yesteryear, as you soar through the clouds without a care in the world. Why not take the plunge and book a flight? You will never regret having enjoyed a hot air balloon ride – it is simply magical.
August 17th, 2010
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