SA2SA: My Breathtaking Hot Air Balloon Safari

The guys getting the balloon prepared right before dawn.

You haven't lived until you've seen dawn breaking over the beautiful South African landscape from the peaceful basket of a hot air balloon.

With so much happening at the Palace of the Lost City, it was tempting to stay out the night before and live it up, but a 4:30am wake up call forced some common sense in to our group.

After being picked up in an open air Safari truck at 5am from the hotel, we were driven to the Pilannesburg National Park in the dark. Our guide kept his spotlight scanning both sides of the scrubby hills surrounding our truck, either to help us see animals or to protect us from them. Regardless of the intention, his trusty shotgun made us feel a little safer from roaming lions.

All rugged up with my Liza Emanuele cape on and a woolen blanket across my knees, I managed to spot a white rhino and its baby in the low light of pre-dawn!

Me standing in front of our group right before we jumped in.

The balloon itself was from Air Trak Adventures, and was being filled alongside a massive lake when we arrived. It has a whopping 250,000 cubic feet of volume and more than 47kms of stitching. What I'm saying is that it was huge. A comforting factor when you're about to sail up and over some of the most dangerous animals on earth.

This is the lake we took off over. So beautiful.

The serene peace of the morning was soul restoring, and teamed with the breaking dawn, there was a beautiful calm among those of us adventuring in to the sky.

The actual take off and journey in the balloon was wonderful. It was incredibly gentle and didn't actually feel like you were moving. We moved between 4.5 - 9kms/hr but because you are moving with the breeze, you don't actually feel the wind on your face. Those in the group with height fears had absolutely no trouble and loved it just as much as the rest of us.

South African sunsets are simply amazing.

From the sky we spotted more white rhinos, impalas, warthogs, antelopes, zebra, and wildebeest to name a few. We even heard a lion roar echo through the sky!

Our reflection in the lake we took off over.

Our balloon pilot was quite a character as well - Tony Corrie - an ex-ad man from the UK who moved over for a change of pace many years ago. Full of great stories and certainly a great person to make you feel like you're in safe hands.

Some of the beautiful landscape in the National Park.

It's quite cool seeing this shadow following you around.

We landed so gently we weren't sure we were on the ground!

Our guide protecting us as we landed.

Some of the white rhinos we spotted!

Our post-ballooning champagne breakfast at the lodge!

After we had landed and were safely escorted back to our Safari truck (which had driven around to where we set down), we were taken back through the national park in daylight so we were able to spot many more animals who were all up & about in the sunshine!

The final hurrah was a champagne breakfast to celebrate at a lodge on the other side of the big security fences that surround the national park. Nothing like some bubbles to help ease you in to a day you started at 4:30am!

I can't recommend this experience enough. It's a little pricier than other activities on offer, but it's also a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you'll never forget it. They even give you a little certificate as proof at the end of the breakfast!


Follow my adventures on Twitter @KellyNoble or by searching #SA2SA
For South African Holiday deals, please visit www.southafricanholidays.com.au
For more information on South Africa , please visit www.southafrica.net
For more information on Sun City, please visit www.suninternational.com
For more information on SAA flights and reservations please call 1300 435 972 or www.flysaa.com

Off To South Africa! #SA2SA

The last week has been an absolute whirlwind, and this has been the first chance I’ve had to sit down and write something. Namely, because I’m on a 14-hour flight to South Africa and time is something I’ve now got.

I left Sydney about 12 hours ago, and am only a couple of hours away from Johannesburg – my first South African destination.

I’m loving that it’s a direct flight (thanks South African Airways & Qantas!).

To get to Sydney on time though, I had to fly in from Adelaide the night before (ie yesterday afternoon) and encountered a domestic vs international luggage issue.

I had packed my suitcases according to international baggage limits, and was caught out when checking in my baggage for the Adelaide-Sydney leg. Beware! Despite my trip being booked at the same time, I had to comply with domestic limits as I was travelling on separate days (so not technically a connecting flight). I managed to move some weight around and avoided excess baggage but it’s certainly something I’ll keep in mind going forward!

After arriving in Sydney I stayed at the Stamford Airport Hotel. Not bad. Not bad at all. The hotel was actually really nice (and only 5 minutes away from the airport), and although the prices for the room service were quite steep, their Asian-inspired menu was reasonable and yummy. I managed to use the airport shuttle to and from the hotel, which only set me back $6 each way.

Fast forward to Duty Free. I think I should win some sort of award for not shopping. It took all of my willpower but I managed to board the flight with only a MAC lip gloss to show for my 3 hours of window shopping. That’s got to be a new record for me.

Now it’s just a matter of refraining from buying too many things while overseas so I can fit some presents in my bags for my gorgeous little baby girl. She celebrated her first birthday on Sunday so she’s certainly due some special presents upon my return.

Not long till we land now… exciting times!

Follow my adventures on Twitter @KellyNoble or by searching #SA2SA

For South African Holiday deals, please visit www.southafricanholidays.com.au
For more information on South Africa , please visit www.southafrica.net
For more information on Sun City, please visit www.suninternational.com
For more information on SAA flights and reservations please call 1300 435 972 or www.flysaa.com

Qantas, Lunch, Wine, Hilton, Ivy, Wine, Wine, Wine, Hilton, Win.

Wine Australia (@Wine_Australia) are presenting the A+ Australian Wine Celebration in April (#AussieWine). As a wine lover, media person, social media advocate & supporter of the industry, I've been invited to attend the launch of celebrations today at the A+ Australian Wine Fair at the Ivy Bar (@IvyBar) in Sydney.

Am I excited?

In a word, yes.

I arrived in Sydney early this morning and to begin the day's special activities, we enjoyed a special winemakers lunch and VIP preview of the Wine Fair, before checking in to the Hilton, whom will incidentally be having all Australian wines by the glass for the duration of the A+ Australian Wine Celebration.

Follow my adventures today on Twitter @KellyNoble

More info about the A+ Australian Wine Celebration

Australia’s greatest ever wine celebration kicks off nationwide in April 2012, with close to 100 events taking place across the nation, celebrating the diversity and excellence of our local offerings.

The A+ Australian Wine Celebration launches for the first time from 12 to 29 April 2012, and all Aussies are being invited to get involved in the country’s biggest collaboration of wine events.

Held in capital cities and across many of our most beautiful regional communities, the A+ Australian Wine Celebration is set to include an exciting collection of wine, food and music festivals, meet the winemaker opportunities, gourmet dining events and exclusive tasting opportunities.

To find out what A+ Australian Wine Celebration events are happening near you, click here