Johannesburg - There is, believe it or not, “balloon etiquette” to be observed when you’re floating, seemingly weightless in a hot-air balloon, above the rolling hills of the Magaliesberg.
Bill Harrop, one of the most experienced balloon pilots in the country and a near legend (although he would probably pooh-pooh that) puts us straight about behaviour in the wicker basket.
You have a bird’s eye view of everything… and, even though you may not be impressed with someone’s yard, just keep your voice down.
In the still morning air, a voice carries a long way and those on the ground will hear every word you’re saying. So don’t disturb people and keep your voices down.
It is quiet… apart, that is, from the gas burners, which heat the air to provide lift. They’re pretty big and they can be pretty loud.
The balloon rises gently. Bill looks around as we gain height and asks if any of the passengers are uncomfortable. He’s done this hundreds of times and he knows by experience that some people get afraid and ask to be set down immediately.
Fortunately, none of this happens and we float higher. We wave at the locals and we see a large 18-wheeler stop and the driver getting out to take a picture. Bill waves.
As the peace envelops us, I mentally make a tick against my “bucket list” of adventures. There’s no rush of adrenalin, just a sublime peace that comes from the wide open spaces of Africa.
Everything has a different perspective from this altitude and the view back towards Magaliesberg is, or almost, as far as God’s Window, not so majestic but impressive.
We glide along and at one stage we are a kilometre high; the sun is rising all the time and we feel its warmth on our faces.
It’s just so pleasant I feel we could stay up here all day.
The conversation grows muted as we appreciate the breeze, blue skies… just a perfect day.
Then, all too soon, it is time to land. Bill contacts the ground crew and tells them where we are.
They have been following us along the main road all the time and had us in view. The balloon inches down down on to the field, skimming the top of one of the farmworkers’ cottages.
“Landing position!” comes the command from Bill. Then a bump, lift and bump and we’re down.
The landing crew hangs on to the basket to stop us from bouncing, and that is it. We are neatly inched, lifted and placed in the trailer, which transports the balloon, from where we disembark from the basket.
A perfect way to spend a morning.
Valley Lodge & Spa in Magaliesberg has a special offer combining accommodation the night before the balloon trip, which we found was an excellent way to do things.
Spending a relaxing overnight, with excellent food and a spa treatment, if you want, enables you to be ready for the pre-dawn start to the adventure.
And, after it was all over, we tucked into a huge sparkling wine, oyster and full breakfast, which we all needed after so much excitement. Cloud Nine additional rates range from R2 089 a person to R1 581 a person for groups of about 24-plus. Rates include a flight of about an hour, South African bubbly or orange juice on landing and a souvenir flight certificate.
l www.valleylodge.co.za - Saturday Star