Blowing Hot Air

If I could travel everywhere in a hot-air balloon, I would. But that’s not the first thought that crossed my mind as my alarm went off at 4am on the morning of Day Nine – the first thought was far more succinct. And rude. Bleary-eyed, I made my way through the casino to the lobby, unbelievably past some slot machines that were already (or still) occupied.

We were picked up by a Game Trackers guide and taken in a game-viewing (read: open-air) truck to the centre of the Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. It was pitch black and freezing cold, and there were fresh signs of elephants in the vicinity of the road. The guide’s shotgun was loaded and ready, and there were three spotlights trained on the surrounding bush. They picked out a giraffe and a couple of hares, but luckily no angry elephant herds.

In the distance, we noticed several bursts of bright light – our pilot was testing the burners, we were told. As dawn began to break, we got closer and closer to the sound of the giant fans being used to fill up the AirTrackers balloon. It was bigger than I imagined and very ‘Around The World In 80 Days’. Soon we were climbing in, blowing some hot air and taking off into the morning sky.

If you ever get a chance to ride in one of these, do not hesitate. It’s the most peaceful and balancing feeling in the world – so calm, quiet and restorative, and pretty much out of your control. The pilot can adjust the altitude but there is no way to control the speed at which the balloon moves or the direction it takes. It’s entirely dependent on the movement of the air. But you don’t think of any of that when you’re up there. In fact, in my ecstasy over not having to deal with accelerator levers, brake handles or anything that involved sitting down, I didn’t think of much at all.

So if I could travel everywhere in a hot-air balloon, I would – but I do realise how impractical it would be as transport in Cape Town. And I don’t even want to think about landing and parking one of these – at least in the Pilanesberg there are wide open spaces (albeit populated by lions and rhinos).

While I was having my lofty experience, the team was busy with underwater shots in the heated Cascades pool, some of them allegedly involving Huey. (These reports are unconfirmed and photographic evidence is scant.) In the afternoon, production moved to the Royal Staircase for the last editorial shots at the Palace. The set was briefly invaded by a troop of baboons; they strolled on through without causing too much chaos.

On the note of baboons, one tried to break into Suga’s room while she was having an afternoon nap. As in, he pulled at the handle of the sliding door – twice – as though to check whether he could get in. Perhaps, like my love-tapping elephant, he was trying to flirt with her… but only succeeded in giving her the fright of her life.

Author: Ania Rokita