Experienced balloon pilots and crews gathered in the Magalies River Valley from 17 to 19 July 2026 for a weekend of friendly flying challenges, competition and camaraderie, celebrating 45 years of Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris. Here are the overall placements and prize winners from the Winter Fun Flights 2026.
Forty-five years after taking one of our early hot air balloon flights, a guest from Germany rediscovered her photographs and shared a heartfelt message that reminded us why sunrise ballooning creates memories that last a lifetime. Join us as we look back at how hot air ballooning has evolved since 1981, and why the magic of drifting silently above the Magaliesberg at sunrise remains unchanged.
Behind every sunrise balloon flight is a highly trained pilot. Discover how the Balloon School, in partnership with Alpi Aviation, is helping to train the next generation of hot air balloon pilots and preserve the future of ballooning in South Africa through mentorship, practical experience, and aviation excellence.
Following our Tourist Attraction of the Year win in 2025, Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris is proud to be recognised once again as a finalist in the 2026 Tshwane Tourism Association Awards during our 45th anniversary year.
Celebrate 45 years of sunrise ballooning with the Adventure Awaits Winter Edition 2026 from Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris. Discover winter ballooning inspiration, heritage stories, Birthday Bash offers, luxury experiences, and unforgettable moments above the Magalies River Valley.
At Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris, the safety and protection of our guests remains extremely important to us, both online and during your experience with us. We would like to remind members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with travel-related social media accounts, websites and online advertisements. Recent activity across the tourism and…
