Take a hot air balloon from Hoedspruit, located near the edge of the Kruger National Park and experience the beautiful landscapes of the Blyde Riven Canyon. Set your destiny to the wind and become part of nature. In the quiet kingdom of clouds, far from the hussle of the modern world, all you can hear is the voice of the wind and the hissing of hot air from the gas burner.
Hot Air Balloon - Rides - South Africa Balloon at Kruger National Park
Hot air balloon Kruger National Park - South Africa
R 1.210 per person
approx. 60 minutes
Minimum booking: 2 people
Special features: The price does not include transport costs to Hoedspruit!
Just in time for the wake-up call for most of the wilderness, our hot air balloons ascend at dawn of sunrise in the vicinity of Hoedspruit. Come on board and gain the best experience for your life.
Where are we flying?
We cannot determine the direction in advance. Only the wind shows us our way!
Are we going through the Kruger National Park?
In no case will we fly into the Kruger National Park!
When do our balloon rides start?
Our trips happen all year round. In midsummer, the start time is 5 a.m. in the early morning. In winter it is around 6:30 a.m. The first meeting takes place about 20 minutes before sunrise.
Where is the meeting point for our balloon ride?
- We'll meet near HOEDSPRUIT
We leave Hoekdspruit and take off on a fairytale balloon ride. Experience the magic of flight, which is lighter than air. At the foot of the Drakensberg steep bank we become part of the wind. It carries us to a previously unknown place in the distance.
The flight only lasts an hour and shows us the picturesque Lowveld region of the Blyde River. Our flight area is approx. 15 km west of Hoedspruit. We fly over an area of private nature reserves, wildlife reserves and normal farmland.
The beautiful mountains in the south and west offer protection from the prevailing winds. The flying conditions are excellent on many days of the year. Especially in winter (best safari time) the air is fine-washed and clear of rain. On some flight days, there is an indescribable view of the distance as far as Mozambique.
Photo opportunities with the hot air balloon:
For every amateur photographer, a balloon ride is a special occasion to photograph the area from lofty heights. When the sun rises and a light fog envelops the landscape - then dream images arise. With a lot of luck you will be able to photograph unique vegetation and some wild animals.
At great heights, we cannot guarantee first-class animal pictures, because then even a giraffe is a small shadow animal. Running wildebeest or other antelopes can only be seen as small lines.
Our crew and pilots have developed a good instinct over time and also ensure an informative and safe adventure with the flight altitude. Certainly this trip between Kruger National Park and the Canyons will be a wonderful experience that you will not forget your life.
Transfer:
All guests who have booked a transfer will be brought back to their accommodation or lodge.
Booking process:
We meet early in the morning and serve a hot coffee. In the meantime, you can take photos of an eight-piece balloon inflating and the preparation for the ride.
All of our customers receive a safety briefing. Just in time for sunrise, we try to get off the ground. Indescribable moments arise when the red fireball can be seen on the horizon.
Hot air balloon tours Kruegerpark
Our altitude varies from 2,000 feet to flying over a treetops.
The pilot is constantly on the lookout for a favorable direction for flight dependent on pleasant winds that differ depending on the altitude.
The duration of the balloon flight:
The flight takes about 60 minutes. At the end of the flight, the pilot selects a safe landing site that cannot be determined in advance.
Landing is not easy and it is an exciting event. The basket is falling and is still being carried by the surface wind. A light air ensures a soft landing. Like a ship, the basket has an anchor function. As soon as it hits the earth, the journey slows down immediately and we can land.
The ground crew have our balloon in their sights most of the time and are chasing us. Shortly after we land, the ground crew will arrive and the remaining air will be released from the balloon. Our guests can enjoy themselves with a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice and recover from the journey.
Can children join?
Children can participate, but they should be about four feet tall.
Who can participate?
Our guests have to be healthy enough so that they can stand in the basket for an hour without assistance. Each guest should be able to climb in and out of the basket independently.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women should postpone the balloon flight for after they have given birth.
What clothing is appropriate?
It can be very fresh, especially in the early morning. Warmer clothing would be an advantage, especially in winter.
Your equipment:
Binoculars and cameras can be brought along.
TV teams
TV crews should inform us of your flight baggage in advance.
Your pilots and our airships
Our pilots are trained and fully qualified. They are experts in their field and are very familiar with the winds in our region.
Which balloons do we fly?
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Kavanagh 210: 1 pilot plus 8-10 passengers
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Thunder & Colt 180: 1 pilot plus 6 passengers
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Kavanagh 120: 1 pilot plus 4 passengers
How to reach the launch site
Self-drive: You will receive directions from us. We advise you to stay overnight in the area.
Roads: It can be particularly dangerous when approaching at night as there are many wild animals on the roads. Even hippos stay up to 15 km outside of their watering hole.
We ensure safe parking for your rental vehicle. At the end of the balloon ride, we will bring you to your vehicle.
Paid transfers
Some accommodations like game lodges offer a transfer. We can also refer you to reputable tour operators.
Amount of transport costs
They depend on the distance and number of participants. Please keep in mind that the Kruger National Park is very, very large.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation by a passenger - less than 24 hours before the flight departure: 50% of the total cost.
No-show: 100% of the total cost.
Cancellation by the operator: 100% refund.
Bad weather:
We might be forced to cancel a balloon ride if heavy wind or rain is expected. We endeavor to receive accurate weather information in advance so that we can confirm or cancel a balloon ride the day before at 4 p.m. However, in some cases the weather can turn unexpectedly bad overnight and then we need to be able to contact the lodge or passengers early in the morning to prevent them from driving unnecessarily to the launch site.
In the long run we find that we can fly about 8 out of 10 days, but sometimes we have wind problems that force us to cancel most flights. But according to our record, 80% of all bookings work. So when angels travel, the sun shines!
What information do we need when booking ?:
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Desired date of the balloon flight?
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First name, surname and weight of each passenger
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Name of the lodge
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Lodge telephone number
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Passenger mobile phone number:
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Self-drive or do you want a transfer?
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Invoice name
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is this a special occasion that we should know about? (e.g. birthday or wedding day)
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Contact number of relatives
Now it's up to you to book a ride above or below the clouds. Experience the spirit of flight and an exciting day of vacation.
Your Kruger Park team
