Hot-Air Ballooning
Africa’s Serengeti has the largest animal migration on earth, with over two million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras on the move. The scope is too much for the eye to take in—unless you go by balloon. From the sky, you float above the herd with a 360-degree view. And, because the aircraft is silent, a skilled pilot can bring the balloon’s basket just yards above the majestic creatures—the ultimate closeup.
For those special places best seen from above, a balloon beats a helicopter or sightseeing plane. You lift off so smoothly, it’s hard to believe you’re leaving the ground just on the force of hot air. But in no time you’re hovering high above, with the silence only broken by the occasional trigger of the propane burner to gain altitude.
The Serengeti is the continent’s classic balloon trip, but South Africa and the vast sand dunes of Namibia are also must-fly safari spots. African flights run $400 to $600 a head. Even more famous for ballooning—and also less expensive (about $200 to $250)—is Turkey’s Cappadocia. It is a fantasy land of surreal rock formations, towers and cave dwellings where as many as 150 operators fill the sky with a dizzying array of shapes and colors.
But you needn’t leave the country for spectacular ballooning. Albuquerque, New Mexico offers the appeal of mountains that meet desert landscapes. Similar U.S. hotspots include Monument Valley, Utah and Sedona, Arizona. In the U.S., flights run $175 to $275. Wine country has its own appeal, from the Napa Valley to New Zealand. It’s even sexier when dotted with ancient castles and medieval hilltop towns, as in Tuscany and the Loire Valley.
While the scenery changes, the process is similar for every destination. It is best to schedule your flight early in your trip, because weather conditions might cancel your ride and you’ll want to reschedule. Balloons usually fly at sunrise and a picnic breakfast is served as you watch the giant canopies inflate. Then it’s into the basket (most hold eight to 16 passengers). With a hit of the propane burner you rise as much as a few thousand feet. After about 45 to 70 minutes, the pilot gently puts down and, as is customary worldwide, they pop the bubbly.
