By Jacqui Thompson
With a groan I slap off the alarm clock. What am I doing? It’s a Sunday morning and I should be sleeping – late. Do I really want to do this? It’s already light outside and the air vibrates with bird calls. Obviously they are happy to be up at this hour. A quick shot of coffee enables me to grudgingly admire the pearly pink early morning light. I head off to the rendezvous point to meet Bill Harrop and his team of expert balloonists.

We meet at the Indaba Hotel for a 45-minute transfer to the Skeepoort Balloon field in the Magaliesberg area just north of Johannesburg. We are a mixed bunch; me, Cornelia, an elderly lady celebrating her 85th birthday, a few airline stewardesses and a young couple.

The field is dew-laden and a beautiful brightly coloured balloon lies sleeping on the ground, awaiting an awakening kiss from the wind. The hot air from the burners encourages it to rise. We can sip coffee and watch the crew at work or get involved. Cornelia and I get hands on, mucking about with the ropes and generally getting in the way. With our help (really!) the balloon languidly arises. With the basket ready to fly we all eagerly climb into it. The last ropes leave the ground and we are airborne.

Repeated blasts from the burners take us up towards the popcorn clouds. Everyone has a great viewpoint. We ascend with the sunrise, past V-formation ducks and blasé hadedas. So this is what it’s like to go to heaven. It is very peaceful and quiet. We float, gawk and point, yet all talk softly. There’s something about the altitude, the quietness of our flight or perhaps the beauty of the morning that makes talking loudly seem inappropriate. Houses, cars, cows, roads and fields become toy-like as we sip champagne. Hartebeespoort Dam is empty of pleasure craft at this hour.

Our skilled pilot keeps us on course and after an hour of riding the wind we bump gently down in a field. Shiny-eyed and voices babbling we make our way to breakfast. Funny how all that gazing and champers quaffing can make one so hungry! Bill in his trademark tweed hat presents each one of us with a citations for bravery. Yes, it was tough floating in first class like that.

It is a memorable experience and surprisingly affordable. The company is great at tailor- making what you want and with six balloons in their fleet they take up to 140 passengers and a minimum of two. You don’t need to be fit but you do need to be honest about what you weigh!

The balloons fly in winter and the lie-in and later start of 06h30 is off set by the chilly temperatures. Summer start times are earlier – 05h15 and of course if a breeze sneaks up there is a chance the flight may be cancelled. If that happens they do offer a refund or re-booking option. Go for the re-book!

There’s loads more information on www.balloon.co.za