Hot Air Ballooning - Cradle of Humankind (Near Johannesburg)

If you have a morning free in Johannesburg or Pretoria, why not rise to the occasion, and do a hot air balloon flight … The Air Ventures hot air ballooning operation is located near Johannesburg, about a 45-minute drive north of Sandton. The flights operate each morning (subject to weather of course).

Hot Air Ballooning - Cradle of Humankind (Near Johannesburg)

Itinerary at a Glance:

  • Overview

    Hot Air Ballooning - Cradle of Humankind

  • Option 1

    The Classic Hot Air Balloon Flight

  • Option 2

    The Safari Hot Air Balloon Flight

Overview

Hot Air Ballooning - Cradle of Humankind

The hot air ballooning experience entails a serene 50 minutes, during which you float over the picturesque countryside of the Cradle of Humankind and Magaliesberg, with a glass of bubby in hand. The area is characterized by gently undulating grassland hills and valley bushveld. Several farms, small game reserves, dams, homesteads and tree-lined country roads make for an enchanting landscape over which to drift - sometimes at height, and other times at tree top level.

The Air Ventures Hot Air Ballooning operation caters for individuals and groups, as well as the romantics who dream of an exclusive balloon flight for two (…and the pilot of course!) – a notoriously romantic option for popping the question, or just doing something special for your special someone!

Getting the balloons ready just before sunrise
Launching into the sunrise

Option 1

The Classic Hot Air Balloon Flight

The classic balloon flight is the more traditional experience, and flies over the Cradle of Humankind or the Magaliesberg Mountains – just depends on where the wind blows. Although near Johannesburg, green fields, farm dams & distant mountains become your 360-degree panorama. The entire experience covers approximately 3 hours. The morning’s outline for the Classic Balloon Experience goes as follows:

* Meeting time at luxury Lodge – to be advised
* A road transfer to the launch site
* You are served tea, coffee and biscuits while you watch the setup of the enormous balloon
* Enjoy your hot air balloon flight for approximately an hour, taking in peaceful views of the Cradle of Humankind or Magaliesberg Mountains
* Keeping with the hot air ballooning tradition, we celebrate with champagne and * orange juice
* Upon landing you are transferred back to the lodge for a full English breakfast and presentation of certificates

Gorgeous views during your flight
Just after launching from the lodge

Option 2

The Safari Hot Air Balloon Flight

The Safari Flight experience offers passengers a more ‘African safari’ experience. The flight launches from inside the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve (near Johannesburg) and allows passengers to view the game from the air. The flights eventually normally drift out the boundaries of the reserves sometimes over other reserves of the surrounding countryside. About 80% of the flights have had sightings of at least 2 of the ‘Big Five’ during the flight. The morning’s plan takes about 3 – 4 hours and looks something like this:

* Meeting time at luxury Lodge – to be advised
* Transfer to the balloon launch site inside the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve
* You are served tea, coffee and biscuits while you watch the setup of the enormous balloon
* Enjoy a game viewing hot air balloon flight for about an hour
* As with the Classic flight we celebrate with champagne and orange juice
* Upon landing you are transferred back to the 5 Star Lodge for a full English breakfast, followed by the presentation of certificates

Taking off in the game reserve
Views of the plains below

Hot Air Balloon Prices (quoted in ZAR)

Classic Hot Air Balloon Experience - 2025 - Check Live availability & Book Now
R3,300 per person
R3,150 per person (for a group of 6 - 11 pax)
R3,050 per person (for a group of 12 - 50 pax)
R9,950 for an exclusive flight (Price is per couple +1 pilot)

Safari Hot Air Balloon Experience - 2025 - Check Live availability & Book Now
R3,450 per person
R3,300 per person (for a group of 6 - 11 pax)
R3,200 per person (for a group of 12 - 50 pax)
R10,300 for an exclusive flight (Price is per couple +1 pilot)

Costs Include

Classic or Safari Flight
Tea/Coffee and biscuits
Orange juice and champagne
Full breakfast
Transfer from landing sight to the lodge

Costs Exclude

Transfers to and from the lodge
Travel insurance
Personal items

Your Safari Planning starts here.

Learn from our experience.

Expert advice on safaris & logistics.

Supportive ‘one on one’ service.

Quick Enquire

Read Why Our Clients Love Us

Jim Campbell
Jim Campbell
01 May 2025
We asked for a holiday of a lifetime for my wife's birthday ... and Lize Enderstein and ATG certainly delivered!!! We could not have experienced such a magnificent trip without all Lize's organisation and planning. It was an absolute dream! So much so, we're looking to visit again and will certainly be using Lize for our next adventure. Nothing was too much trouble and all the planning made everything work so very smoothly. We felt like royalty throughout our trip with all sorts of birthday surprises already booked at every location. Incredible!!! We are so very grateful for everything Lize arranged and can't thank her enough and would heartily recommend Lize and ATG. Jim and Melanie xxx
Teresa Harrison
Teresa Harrison
29 January 2025
I have been using African Travel Gateway for about 30 years and not once have they let me down. My travels have been varied, visiting different countries and cultures in Africa, but with their help, it is always a magic carpet ride. Lize has been my contact for many years, and the intineries devised have been spectacular. She really understands our requirements and goes the extra mile to ensure all is OK. This time, we visited South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Everything was amazing. Our highlights, however, were La Fontaine in Franshoek and Camp Xakanaxa in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. We HIGHLY recommend African Travel Gateway
Debbie Isaacs
Debbie Isaacs
21 January 2025
We used African Travel again for the second time over Xmas and New Year. Once again, every little bit of our trip ran smoothly and without a hitch. Their communication was great throughout and we will, no doubt, be returning to them in the future too. Thanks Petru.
Daniel Stewart
Daniel Stewart
08 January 2025
We had the most amazing time on our self drive tour of Namibia organised through African Travel Gateway. Everything from the planning and booking process, to the arrival and welcome in Windhoek, to the app with the itinerary and directions made for a really relaxed and well organised holiday. But the most important part was getting to experience Namibia - what a spectacular country! The only negative was that we should have booked for longer!
Hilda Stanfliet
Hilda Stanfliet
27 December 2024
Amazing hotel booked by Lize of African Travel Gateway, the most attentive service leading up to holiday
Zoe Heelas
Zoe Heelas
27 November 2024
ATG were fantastic from start to finish organising our trip 3 week trip in South Africa.Communication with Debbie was excellent before and during our trip. All accommodation and trips chosen by ATG was fantastic. This is our third trip with ATG and we are already thinking about our next.
Harrison Shore
Harrison Shore
09 November 2024
We used African Travel Gateway to plan our honeymoon, and it was incredible! Putting together the itinerary was really smooth and fun - Lize sent us a few options, and was really quick to make the changes we wanted and let us know what made the most sense. The planning portal had a lot of really useful information so we knew what to expect and made the whole thing very comfortable (this was our first trip to Africa!) The itinerary we ended up with was spectacular, and very well structured. We spent most of our trip in the greater Kruger area (Kapama River Lodge then Walkers Plains Camp) and then finished in Victoria Falls (Vic Falls River Lodge) - each stop was both nicer and more wild than the last, which made for a very cool trip. Some real gems - Walkers and the camp at Victoria Falls had both been open less than a year, and were super luxurious, no way we would have found places like that on our own! And starting at Kapama, which is a bigger operation and a little more controlled (fully fenced, very close to the Hoedspruit airport) was a great way to ease into the trip. The animal viewing at all three locations was amazing - we saw the Big 5 at both camps in South Africa, plus wild dogs and a cheetah at Walkers, and not just from a distance - we were able to get up pretty close at several of the viewings. The guides were excellent at all three, same with the staff, and the other guests! Logistics were seamless - all of our transfers were easy, the lodges knew our schedule and drivers were where they needed to be exactly on time. I would absolutely recommend African Travel Gateway, and hope to work with Lize on our next safari!
Hamdan nazarudin
Hamdan nazarudin
28 September 2024
Contacted Lize to get assistance with our trip. Her help has been really great! Enquiries are replied within a short period. Even asking for last minute arrangement of extra baggage and early hotel check-in. Itinerary are also seamless at every transition of camps and location.
Archie B
Archie B
16 August 2024
Travelled across South Africa with ATG. They picked the most amazing places to stay where we felt like royalty. The planning was efficient and there was regular communication during the booking process. The knowledge of Lize was excellent and so we knew what to expect at each stage. Would we use them again? YES, of course, and we are!!! - Already planning our next trip across Namibia for next year!
yvonne omer
yvonne omer
07 August 2024
We chose African Travel Gateway because of their awesome reviews and they did not disappoint! Bianca created a fabulous itinerary combining a luxury private reserve experience, a trip to Victoria Falls, a riverboat stay viewing the animals from a different perspective, ( and BTW the best scrambled eggs we have ever tasted) and a stay at a lodge where we saw different animals and a ride on a bush plane landing in what seemed the middle of nowhere! Every connection was seamless, no stress traveling at its best.Our hosts and guides were excellent, and lovely people. The food was wonderful and of course loved the sundowner drinks and our first” Bush Bar! Would definitely go back for more adventure, thank you ATG for a lovely experience!
Jennifer Morawiecki
Jennifer Morawiecki
06 August 2024
We've just returned from an incredible two-week holiday across Botswana and Zimbabwe with African Travel Gateway. The arrangements made by Bianca were perfect, the documentation provided was extremely thorough, and every detail of our journey was meticulously planned. Communication was excellent throughout. Coming from North America, we felt it best to work with a travel agent located in Southern Africa and it was absolutely the right choice. Highly recommended!
Maria Lohan
Maria Lohan
01 August 2024
Lize helped us find accommodation in Kruger when there was practically none to be got - and t was the best place. The tours she booked were tremendous and the people she booked were great and we are very grateful and glad we had the opportunity to book with Lize. Maria & family form Belfast
Arishana Riek
Arishana Riek
03 July 2024
Tailormade itinerary with knowledgeable guides (Apartheid Museum and Cradle of Humankind).
Sivan Debeljakovic
Sivan Debeljakovic
03 July 2024
Petru, of African Travel Gateway, planned our 12-day South Africa-Zimbabwe itinerary for three of us (arriving from two continents). Her expertise, keen insights, and care in arranging the most perfect accommodation for us, prompt and efficient transfers/drivers, and booking all internal flights, meant this was the smoothest, most enjoyable holiday experience, ever! We covered a lot of ground in a short time, but the precision-timing with transfers, and Petru's choice of such knowledgeable and personable tour guides really made all the difference. Huge thanks to Natasha (Afrifriends) and Chris (Paradise)! Highlights were: The Peech Hotel in J'burg (delightful boutique hotel with a fabulous breakfast - thank you, Oliver!); Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe; Nkorho Bush Lodge in Sabi Sand (if you want up close & personal experiences with the wildlife, this is where you need to go!); Rickety Bridge Manor House in Franschhoek (perfectly appointed and beautiful accommodation); Boschendal Winery (try the pinotage; farm shop is a must!); Woodstock Markets in Cape Town (so much to see and buy here!). We had the most exceptional holiday – we will definitely return to SA in the future, and will be utilising the expert services of Petru at ATG. Thank you again, Petru.
Sergio Santini
Sergio Santini
03 June 2024
Petru has been our reference person at African Travel Gateway: she organised our self-drive travel through South Africa during April 2024. The itinerary has been tailored according to our wishes and her suggestions. She did a great job , fully meeting our requirements and tacking care about us in real time even during the trip. We really enjoyed the safaris she proposed and we saw what has to be seen in this beautiful country for a 3 weeks visit. The TravelKey App was new for us; it is an efficient tool and has been a very positive experience, having everything filed in the HP.
Recommended on