Balloon Safaris | South Africa | Otters Den Ballooning Safaris

Otters Den Ballooning Safaris

Otters Den is a River Lodge on an island in the Blyde River at the foot of the Drakensberg Escarpment, near the Orpen gate to Kruger National Park.

We offer fully catered accommodation and a variety of activities for nature lovers or adventure seekers. Whether you prefer more peaceful pursuits like birding and hiking, or adrenalin boosting excitement like white water rafting in the Blyde Canyon and Hot Air Ballooning over game reserves, our qualified and experienced staff will arrange it.

Flights over the African Wilderness
Experience the magic of lighter-than-air flight over the Lowveld Big Game areas adjoining the Kruger National Park. Our pilots and guides will ensure a safe, enjoyable and informative adventure that will be one of the highlights of your visit to Big Game Country.

Where?
We are located near Hoedspruit, and we offer flights over Kapama Game Reserve, Makutsi, Thornybush, Tshukudu and other lodges and game reserves that have suitable terrain. Depending on forecast wind directions, we select a launching site that will place us upwind of a good game spotting area. The decision is usually made the evening before the flight. Self-drive passengers are provided with a detailed map showing the locations of our 12 regular launching sites. For lodge guests who don't have their own transport, we can help arrange a transfer to the launch site.

What to expect:
We meet before sunrise and coffee is served while you watch your eight-storey high balloon being inflated and prepared for flight. After a safety briefing you should be airborne in time to witness the sunrise. Then a change in altitude to search for a favorable wind that will allow you to drift gently over the landscape.

Game spotting cannot be guaranteed but on most flights we see giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, nyala, impala, bushbuck, waterbuck, duiker and warthog. Rhino, buffalo, elephant and lion are more difficult to spot, but there is always a good chance.

After about an hour’s flight, the pilot will select a suitable landing site where the retrieve crew will be in attendance. Passengers don't have to be physically fit, but be prepared to stand in the basket for at least an hour. Youngsters are welcome but should be at least 1.2m (4 foot) tall, so they can see over the rim of the basket. Sparkling wine and fruit juice are served after the flight. Passengers are then also invited to have breakfast at Otters Den.

Terms:
A minimum of two passengers and a maximum of 18 per flight. If weather conditions don’t allow a flight on the day of your booking, you are entitled to a full refund, or you can choose to carry your ticket over to another day.

What to wear and bring along:
Though Winter dawns can be nippy, once you're up in the basket, it will be surprisingly warm. Warm clothes will be useful during pre-flight. Cameras and binoculars can be brought along.

Staff and Equipment
Your pilot is, of course, fully qualified and is also an expert in environmental interpretation. We fly a Kavanagh 210 that carries pilot plus 8 passengers, a Cameron 180 that carries pilot plus 6 passengers and a Head 120 that carries pilot plus 4 passengers..

Licensing, Insurance etc:
Changing Tides 1126 CC trading as Suncatchers Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Class II Air Service License No. N691D
Liability Insurance: SA Eagle Policy Number AV1/041