Historic Balloon Inflation During the Early Days of Bill Harrop’s Balloon Safaris

An early Bill Harrop hot air balloon being inflated in the Magaliesberg during the pioneering years of commercial ballooning in South Africa.

An historic image showing one of Bill Harrop’s early hot air balloons during inflation before sunrise. While balloon technology has evolved significantly over the past four decades, the timeless ritual of preparing for flight remains one of the most magical parts of every balloon safari.