Hot Air Ballooning - Magaliesberg (Near Johannesburg)

Hot air balloon flights are one of the most romantic pursuits you could ever imagine. From way up high you are treated to a 720-degree, wrap-around panorama that lets you view pretty much everything from your slowly drifting vantage point. One gets a real sense of weightlessness, and apart from the occasional hiss of the balloon, total peace rules the skies with the only sounds coming up at you from the bushveld or countryside below.

Hot Air Ballooning - Magaliesberg (Near Johannesburg)

Itinerary at a Glance:

  • Overview

    Bill Harrops Balloon Safaris

  • How it works

    Hot Air Balloon Flight

  • Information

    How Do I Prepare For a Hot Air Balloon Flight

Overview

Bill Harrops Balloon Safaris

Owned and managed by husband and wife team Bill and Mary Harrop, this balloon safari operation rests in the capable hands of a couple who have been in the balloon operation business for the better part of three decades.

Sip on a glass of bubbles and soak in the experience as Bill Harrop and his team steer you over the green valleys, beautiful mountains, glassy lakes and a tapestry of farmlands. Bill Harrops operates his balloon safari in the Magaliesberg area just north of Johannesburg - a location which boasts some of the most amazing ballooning conditions around the world. Bill Harrops is a licensed, non-scheduled air transport service - (License No: N146D).

Just after take off over the Magaliesberg
Getting ready for the launch, Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris

How it works

Hot Air Balloon Flight

Larger balloons carry between six and 18 passengers at a time, which allows the balloon operator to treat each passenger to one of the most memorable, enjoyable experiences of his/her life. Don’t believe it? Just ask the 3000 happy passengers that do a balloon safari each year with Bill Harrops Balloon Safaris!

Balloon trips commence every morning at sunrise
Hot coffee/tea is served while the crew prepares the balloon for flight
The flight is approximately one hour in length
Champagne is served on the landing
After your flight, you will be transferred to a ground base for a freshly cooked, country-style breakfast
A champagne brunch and citations for bravery are also included

Restrictions
Children must be 7 years and older and must be 1.3 metres in height.
Passengers must be fit and able to jump unassisted from a height of 60cm and stand for the duration of the flight. 

In flight over the Magaliesberg
Just after take off, sunrise

Packages including accommodation & a flight
Special Select Ballooning Lodges packages are also available. These include dinner and African accommodation at a fine lodge or country house near our balloon launch field, as well as the hot air balloon flight, and an optional car rental at a special rate. Special game-viewing balloon safaris are also available on request. Please do not hesitate to contact a friendly African Travel Gateway representative should you have any further queries about hot air balloon trips.

Information

How Do I Prepare For a Hot Air Balloon Flight

BRING: Pack a camera, binoculars and video camera if you can access this technology. The views from aloft are incredible and you will be disappointed if you bring nothing to record your experience.

CLOTHING: Early mornings are quite chilly, so we recommend that participants dress in layers to peel off as the day gets warmer.

FITNESS: You should be fit enough to climb in and out of a basket. Participants should be nimble, able to jump unassisted from a height of 60cm and stand for the duration of the flight.

Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris

Pricing (quoted in ZAR)

Nov 2024 - Oct 2025
R3,695 per person - Normal scheduled flight (requires minimum 4 passengers to fly)
R3,545 per person - for groups of 6 - 11
R3,445 per person - for groups of 12 - 23
Price on request - for groups of 24 or more
R13,400 - Exclusive use of a balloon that can take 2 passengers & 1 pilot

  • A minimum of 4 passengers are required to confirm a flight

  • Costs Include

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

    Costs Exclude
    Transfers to and from the launch site (African Travel Gateway can arrange these for you)
    Travel insurance
    Personal items

    Your Safari Planning starts here.

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    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.
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