Hot Air Ballooning - Near Cape Town
An early morning hot air balloon flight while based in Cape Town or the Cape Winelands is definitely a must for the just slightly adventurous traveller. It gives visitors to Cape Town a completely different perspective of the Cape, and the scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Life Ballooning operates in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The hot air balloon operation has its launch site between Cape Town and Paarl just off the N1 at the junction 39. This launch site allows for flights (or floats!) that drift silently over the spectacular Western Cape scenery, that varies from the beautiful wine farms of the Cape winelands, views of Table Mountain - the signature skyline of Cape Town, and long beaches, the ocean, farms and suburbia ... it literally depends on the gentle breeze of the day!
About the Hot Air Balloon Flight
The toughest part of the exercise is getting up before sunrise and driving the 25 - 30 minute from Cape Town to the hot air balloon launch site, however this hardship is quickly forgotten when you are welcomed with hot tea and coffee, whilst the hot air balloon is prepared for launch. Before boarding all passengers undergo saftey briefing and as part of this briefing are introduced to some interesting facts and figures of hot air ballooning.
Formalities aside you now board the basket and lift off into the skies above the Cape Winelands. The flight lasts approximately an hour and is very dependant on weather conditions as to the direction, altitude and ultimate duration that the hot air balloon flight takes. Your fully qualified and experienced pilot will point out significant land marks and answer the questions you have, while you take in the 360 degree view of textures of green, blue & browns. Photo opportunities abound so snap away ...
Upon selecting a landing spot where the ground crew will be able to access, you land and celebrate your acheivement with some good sparkling wine - home to the region. A certificate of bravery, signed by the pilot who flew your hot air balloon is awarded to all passengers, and to round of the celebration you are then transferred from the landing spot you are transferred by road to a local restaurant called the Joostenburg Bistro where you enjoy a full breakfast and more tea & coffee, and from here you take a drive back to your hotel.
What to bring on a Hot Air Balloon Flight
Depending on the time of the year, the morning air can have a little bite to it, so it is advisable to wear long pants that you don’t mind getting dirty, stirdy shoes, or sneakers (as you will be climbing in and out of the basket) and a warm jersey such as a fleece and a wind breaker. Open sandals, high heel shoes and the like are not a great aidea for hot air ballooning, neither are skirts or dresses. Once up in the air it is often warmer in the basket so you can always remove jackets and fleeces.
The most important items to bring is your camera (fully charged!), a pair of binoculars (if you have) and of course a sense of adventure and your sense of humour. Flights always take place in the arly morning as the air is at its most stable, so the lighting is very conducive to great photos.
The Hot Air Balloon Pilot
Your pilot for the flights has accrued twelve years of hot air balloon flying and in the process notched up over 1000 flights, spanning twelve different countries. He holds a full UK commercial pilot’s licence, and South African standard. He is also a hot air balloon flight instructor at the South African school of ballooning. So rest assured you are in safe and experienced hands!
Cost of the Hot Air Balloon Flight
The flight packge for 2012 is ZAR 2300 per person. If you have a larger group, the 6th passenger goes free.
Cost Includes
Tea & Coffee upon arrival
The hot air balloon flight (approx 1 hour)
Sparkling wine upon landing & a bravery certificate
Transfer back to the base
A full breakfast at the Joostenburg Bistro
Cost Excludes
Transfers to and from the launch (we can arrange this for you)
See our African Safari Specials ... here we host great specials for safaris, tours, hotels and lodges !! The latest addition to our specials is a 7 Day Tanzania Safari, added on 28 Mar 2012 ...
Take a look at what's new in the Africa Safari industry ... here we host African safari news, new safari camps, new African tours, important travel alerts and more ... the latest addition, the Selinda Canoe Trail in Botswana!