Balloon Safaris | South Africa | Bill Harrop's "Original" Balloon Safaris

Bill Harrops 'Original' Balloon Safaris

It's sunrise. The silence of your balloon safari is punctuated only by the occasional blast of the powerful burners and the faint call of a bird or animal far beneath. The thrill is indescribable - ballooning truly is something really different and special.

You're sipping fine champagne while hovering gently above the tree tops of the beautiful Magalies River Valley, or drifting majestically high above the Magaliesberg range, just 45 km north of Johannesburg's northern suburbs, a region boasting some of the best ballooning weather in the world.

After landing, savour a delectable champagne ballooning breakfast at our charming, well-appointed country balloon safari base, where you'll be filled with the warmest of memories.

Professional pilots, attentive crew, immaculately maintained equipment, 5 aviation safety awards, make this longest established licensed Balloon Airline in southern Africa the choice of the well informed discerning individual traveler or corporate group.

GAME VIEWING AT ENTABENI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

We now offer you the opportunity to view the magnificent panoramas of this ancient land and enjoy this rare and special privilege of observing the flora and fauna of the World Heritage "Waterberg Biosphere" from the slowly drifting vantage of your hot air balloon.

GAME VIEWING AT MABULA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Mabula Lodge in the Mabula Game Reserve is now included as one of the "Select Ballooning Lodges" packages which are inclusive of Accommodation and Ballooning as well as transfers, if requested.

MAGALIES BALLOON TOUR DESCRIPTION

HOT COFFEE/TEA SERVED at sun-rise whilst the CREW PREPARE THE BALLOONS FOR FLIGHT.

Flight duration: About one hour (dependent on conditions)

Champagne: Served in-flight (or on landing) then Mini-bus Transfer back to our Country Base for a FRESHLY COOKED "FARM-STYLE CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST" and presentation of "CITATIONS FOR BRAVERY"

RETURN MINI-BUS TRANSFERS TO HOTELS for those collected earlier in the morning.

What to wear:
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 are also recommended.

What to bring:
Don't forget your camera and some extra film, or batteries for the video, as ballooning offers some most spectacular photo and movie opportunities.

Fitness:
Ballooning is suitable for adventurers from 7 - 70 (although our 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 - (approx. one hour).

Frequency:
Balloons go up every morning including weekends, weather permitting.

Who are we?
BILL HARROP'S "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 four-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. We run a fleet of six large hot air balloons the smallest of which can carry up to 8 passengers and the largest up to 18.