The tradition dates back to 1783, when the pioneering Montgolfier brothers launched the first untethered hot-air balloon in France. While crowds marvelled, farmers were less impressed when the strange flying machines landed in their fields. Early aeronauts soon discovered that offering Champagne smoothed relations. What began as a diplomatic gesture quickly became a cherished ritual – a toast to safe landings and the winds that carried them.

Today, more than two centuries later, the tradition remains inseparable from hot-air ballooning. The journey itself is unhurried and quietly magical, drifting wherever the sky allows.

The story… WORDS & PICS Namib Sky Balloon Safaris

There are moments in travel that entertain you. And then there are moments that quietly rearrange you. A sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert belongs firmly in the latter.

Long before the first light touches the dunes, the desert is still – vast, ancient, and waiting. A soft flame breaks the silence as the balloon envelope slowly rises against a sky shifting from indigo to gold. Then, almost imperceptibly, the earth releases you.

Yet the experience begins well before the balloon leaves the ground. In the cool pre-dawn quiet, guests are welcomed by a close-knit team of pilots and ground crew from Namib Sky Balloon Safaris, their calm confidence setting the tone for the morning. There is time for coffee, introductions, and quiet anticipation. Every movement – from briefing to inflation – carries the ease of experience and the pride of people who know this landscape intimately.

Once airborne, you drift into one of the oldest deserts on earth, carried entirely by the wind. There is no engine, no vibration, no imposed direction. Just the whisper of the burner and the quiet awe of suspension above a landscape sculpted over millions of years. From above, the Namib reveals patterns invisible from the ground. Towering red dunes cast long shadows across pale plains. Ancient mountains rise from the desert floor like weathered guardians. Dry riverbeds snake through the sand like calligraphy, while oryx move slowly below in a world that suddenly feels infinite.

It is not only the scale that humbles – it is the silence. A profound stillness that allows you to hear your own breath and feel the immensity of space. In that hour between night and day, you understand why the Namib remains one of the last true wildernesses on earth.

The landing, gentle and unhurried, is followed by Namib Sky’s signature desert breakfast – an elegant spread served in the open wilderness, where each group is seated at their own private table. Champagne glasses catch the morning light as stories are exchanged beneath vast blue skies. If there is one experience that defines Namibia – one moment that captures its raw beauty and grandeur – it is this: rising with the sun above the Namib.

Because some journeys change your itinerary. And some quietly change you.

Across Africa, the celebratory glass now follows extraordinary aerial adventures – from the towering dunes of the Namib Desert to the wildlife-rich plains of the Masaai Mara and the bushveld of South Africa’s Mabula Game Reserve – each flight ending, as tradition dictates, with a sparkling toast beneath an open sky.

The post Hot Air Balloon Safaris – Namibia, Where Silence Takes Flight appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

That particular kind of bushveld quiet you only find in the still of the morning – when the air is cool enough to feel fresh against your skin, and the landscape seems to hover in that in-between moment, gently stirring and awakening.

I’m staying at the luxurious Safari Plains in the Mabula Private Game Reserve; my first action on waking is to check the weather – thankfully it is still, so we are good to go. A short game drive later has us standing in the half-light, anticipation building as the balloon slowly fills.

And then, almost without noticing it, we are rising.

No rush, no dramatic moment. The ground simply falling away and suddenly we’re suspended above it all, drifting into a silence that feels deeper the higher we go. The only real sound is the occasional burst of the burner – a soft whoosh that quickly fades, leaving us once again wrapped in stillness.

Below, the bush began to reveal itself in the early morning light. Long shadows stretch from every tree, while hints of green push through the winter palette – new growth catching the sun, the landscape quietly shifting seasons. From above, the patterns became clearer: game paths thread through the veld and trees cast elongated shapes across the earth.

We drift slowly, carried by calm morning air, the visibility beautifully clear in the cool of the season. We can see for miles, the view extending to the Waterberg Mountains in the distance. And then, movement.

A small group of zebra nibbling their way through fresh growth. A giraffe, impossibly elegant, pauses just long enough to glance up before continuing on. A white rhino trundles behind her young calf – such a privilege to see.  There’s something quietly surreal about this, the way the wildlife carries on as if this enormous balloon above them is the most natural thing in the world.

No engines. No urgency. No sense of intrusion. Just the bush waking up beneath us.

The landing comes as gently as the ascent – a soft touch back to earth, almost unnoticed. The vastness folds in, replaced by the immediacy of ground beneath our feet. It was a different kind of safari altogether. Slower. Softer. More about feelings than sightings.

And then, as tradition dictates, a glass of bubbly in hand – we toast to a beautiful flight, a gentle landing, and a moment that will linger long after it’s over. Thank you to Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris!

Across Africa, the celebratory glass now follows extraordinary aerial adventures – from the towering dunes of the Namib Desert to the wildlife-rich plains of the Maasai Mara and the bushveld of South Africa’s Mabula Game Reserve – each flight ending, as tradition dictates, with a sparkling toast beneath an open sky.

The post Suspended in Stillness appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

By 6 am we reach the launch site. Everything is already in motion. Massive swathes of colourful balloon fabric stretch out across the ground, as the crew from Mara Ballooning works to inflate it with fans and bursts of flame. We stand watching the transformation.

Then comes the safety briefing, which is clear and concise, outlining everything from take-off procedure to landing positions. Fortunately, the briefing is ‘brief’, as a swarm of safari ants (siafu) has arrived, and everyone is suddenly swiping and swishing at their legs, trying to remove the vicious little creatures. We clamber into the balloon basket and crouch at the bottom, ready for lift-off.

The balloon is now upright. The pilot gives a few controlled pulls on the burner, and almost imperceptibly we began to rise. There’s no dramatic lift, no sudden, jerking motion, just a slow, graceful separation from the earth. In fact, by the time we’re told we can stand up, we’re already airborne. Take-off had been so quiet and gentle we’d barely registered it.

We keep climbing; 10 metres, 50 metres, 100 metres, higher and higher, until the Mara spreads out beneath us. The early light stretches across the plains, revealing an immense, green landscape. Despite being hundreds of metres in the air, there’s no sense of height in the usual way. The balloon drifts so smoothly it felt as though we’re suspended in place, the earth moving beneath us rather than the other way around.

As the light strengthens, life begins to appear below. A family of elephants move in a loose formation, on pathways etched into the grass. A herd of zebra cluster together, their stripes forming shifting patterns against the grass. Small groups of graceful Thomson’s gazelles and purplish-red topi gallop through the grass, apparently undisturbed by our silent presence above.

The pilot adjusts our altitude, rising and dipping to catch the breeze, and then comes the most surreal moment of the morning. We climb higher, the landscape softening beneath us, until it disappears entirely. We’re in the clouds. The world has turned white and weightless, the ground obscured, the horizon erased. There’s no sound, beyond the occasional whisper of the burner. It feels less like we’re flying and more like we’re floating in a dream, suspended somewhere between sky and land.

Eventually, we drift back down through the clouds, and the Mara re-emerges. From this height, the scale is almost overwhelming. Endless plains stretch to the horizon, broken only by winding rivers and dirt tracks. A whole new outlook that’s impossible to grasp when you’re on the ground.

The pilot begins to prepare for landing. We’re instructed to crouch back down in the bottom of the basket, holding tightly to the handles. The descent is steady and controlled, and with the gentlest of bumps, we reconnect with the earth. In just one hour, the Maasai Mara had revealed itself from an entirely different perspective, from the quiet, drifting stillness of the sky.

Across Africa, the celebratory glass now follows extraordinary aerial adventures – from the towering dunes of the Namib Desert to the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti and the bushveld of South Africa’s Mabula Game Reserve – each flight ending, as tradition dictates, with a sparkling toast beneath an open sky.

The post Drifting above the Mara appeared first on Travel Southern Africa.

Pics – Jenman African Safaris

Our recent family trip to Madagascar was an incredible expedition into a unique and unexpected medley of sights and sounds, cultures and histories. Our family of four travelled with two other families — one of four and one of five — a lively mix of ages ranging from nine to fifty-six. There were magical moments for each of us, and shared memories that will no doubt become part of our collective family story.

Coming from South Africa and having travelled extensively through many African countries, we had expected something of an “extension” of Africa — interesting wildlife, similar terrain, flora, foods and crafts. What we was an experience unlike anything we have had before on the African continent. An island that feels at once ancient and otherworldly, offering a unique blend of nature and culture. A destination that is unhurried, surprising, and filled with quiet wonder.

After landing in the capital, Antananarivo, we spent our first night at the quaint and centrally located Hotel Nosy Manga. With its warm hospitality and homely atmosphere, it was the perfect soft landing before our early start the next morning.

Our journey eastward to Andasibe took us through rolling countryside dotted with rice paddies, cascading waterfalls, forest stations and small rural villages where children waved as we passed.

We stopped at the Exotic Park in Marozevo (locally known as Peyrieras Reserve, founded by French entomologist André Peyriéra). A must for anyone fascinated by Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity. Here, we saw iridescent chameleons, jewel-toned frogs no bigger than a fingernail, and a variety of snakes and lizards found nowhere else on earth. We took sooooo many photos here!  The Reserve is far more than just a tourist site – it’s an important centre for breeding and protecting Madagascar’s more vulnerable species. With its strong focus on education, it offers a fascinating and accessible introduction to the island’s extraordinary wildlife before visitors’ head deeper into the nearby forests.  

That afternoon, we set out on a three-hour guided walk through the lush evergreen forest of Analamazaotra Reserve (located alongside Andasibe-Mantadia National Park). The call of the indri, the largest of all lemurs, echoed through the trees, and when we finally spotted them high in the canopy, it was incredible, a true privilege. Their expressive faces and human-like gestures were captivating, and our guide explained that understanding their courtship dances and social behaviours is vital to conservation efforts.

Our two nights at Relais de Mantadia were filled with good food, laughter, and the sounds of the forest at night.

Leaving Andasibe, we drove through the countryside to Manambato, once a bustling holiday resort on the shores of Lake Rasoabe. From here, a covered motorboat transferred us along the legendary Pangalanes Canal to our next stop. This route, said to be the second longest canal in the world, is a continuous waterway of about 645 km in length, which leads from Tamatave, the northernmost end point, to the village of Farafangana in the south, running parallel to the Indian Ocean. There are so many aspects of life to see along the banks, unique to the people and culture of Madagascar – from women washing clothes in the shallows, to children paddling narrow wooden pirogues.

Our destination was Akanin’ny Nofy, meaning “Nest of Dreams”, on the shores of Lake Ampitabe — a fitting name for such an idyllic setting.

We stayed at Palmarium Beach Lodge, nestled amid palms and sand, with lake views so tranquil they seemed painted. The nearby Palmarium Reserve was an absolute highlight. Here, we were able to observe a variety of lemurs up close, from playful black-and-white ruffed lemurs, inquisitive crowned lemurs, and the gentle, wide-eyed sifakas leaping gracefully between trees.

That evening, we set out on a nocturnal walk in search of the elusive aye-aye, Madagascar’s strangest and most endangered lemur, which have been introduced to the island and are looked after, fed and guarded around the clock. With their spindly fingers and curious faces, they looked almost mythical. Watching them gnaw open coconuts in the still darkness was an unforgettable experience — the sounds of crunching husks amplified in the darkness, creating a sense of stillness in time.

From Akanin’ny Nofy, we continued to Toamasina (Tamatave), where we stayed at Hotel Beach 501, one of the best-known accommodations on the east coast of Madagascar. The following day we boarded a small charter flight north to Ile Sainte Marie, then took a short boat transfer across glassy turquoise waters to Ile Aux Nattes, a tiny island just off its southern tip.

Staying at the delightful island resort of Sambatra Beach Lodge, we enjoyed the white sandy beaches, swaying coconut palm trees, and crystal-clear ocean waters. Known for its scenic beauty and remote serenity, our three families found plenty to do – from swimming, paddling, and exploratory hiking, to leisurely reading and relaxing along the quiet and shady beaches. This was a kind of heaven like no other!

Evenings brought everyone together at the beach bar – parents sharing travel tales while the teenagers enjoyed the evening chatter around the bar. The staff welcomed us with warmth and easy smiles; their joy and pride in their island were infectious.

After three blissful nights, we moved on to the main island of Ile Sainte Marie, a long, slender stretch of tropical beauty fringed by lagoons and coral reefs. Once a haven for pirates, the island has a colourful history and a fascinating cultural blend of Malagasy, Creole, and European influences.

We split our group between two exquisite lodges, Natiora and Samaria, each perched above their own picture-perfect coves. At Natiora, we had access to stand-up paddle boards and canoes and experienced some of the best snorkelling one could imagine while exploring the open waters.

While staying at Natiora, we learned about inspiring local conservation initiatives shaping the island’s future. The Tsara Kobaby project, which is working to create a vast terrestrial and marine protected area around Sainte-Marie. Through community patrols, forest monitoring, and training in sustainable livelihoods, the project is helping to weave conservation into everyday island life. Equally impressive is Projet Récif Île Sainte-Marie, which monitors coral reefs and marine ecosystems using globally recognised scientific methods.

Knowing that both land and sea are being carefully protected added a deep sense of appreciation to our time here – a reminder that this island paradise is also a living, breathing conservation story.

For our final stop, we rented two self-catering beach houses on the island’s quieter east coast to give us a completely different experience of Ile Sainte Marie. We hired scooters to explore the island, which was a highlight for the teenagers, who relished the freedom of exploring independently without the adults! Daily explorations included setting off along good, quiet roads to find hidden beaches and small villages.

We shopped for fresh local produce – fragrant vanilla, bright limes, coconuts, and just-caught fish – and cooked our meals together, often dining outdoors under a canopy of stars. We swam, snorkelled, browsed for souvenirs, and bought beautifully woven baskets and locally made crafts that now fill our homes with happy reminders of our time there. One evening, we celebrated a birthday at A-Varangue, a charming restaurant overlooking the sea. Its laid-back atmosphere, excellent food, and friendly service made for a perfect farewell dinner.

We loved the island’s ‘old-school’ charm and relaxed local vibe, we weren’t treated as intruders or outsiders, and we were never harassed by anyone. We were welcomed everywhere we went, and we all felt completely safe in our surroundings, even when riding or walking at night.

Our final day took us back to Antananarivo, where we returned to Hotel Nosy Manga for one last night. We shopped at the local craft market before leaving, making sure to spend the last of our Malagasy Ariary on locally made goods – hand-made jewellery, crafts, and specialty items, such as cinnamon and vanilla. 

As we boarded our flight home, there was a collective sigh – that bittersweet blend of gratitude and reluctance that comes at the end of a truly special journey. We all agreed this was one of our best family holidays, and worthy of another visit in the not-too-distant future.

JENMAN SAFARIS

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