Experience exceptional hot air balloon rides from the finest venues in South Africa.
Chosen for their exquisite scenery, fine ballooning weather, accommodation options, tourism and interest value.
They include the majestic splendour of the Maluti mountain range in Clarens, the Golden sands of the Kalahari, Gauteng’s Cradle of Humankind, the Vaal river and Vredefort Dome meteorite impact site of Parys, the rolling hills of the Natal Midlands, Champagne Valley in the Majestic Drakensberg Mountains, the beautiful Tala Valley just 45 minutes from Durban, the Panorama of Sabie and Graaff Reinet’s valley of desolation.
Experience the Finest Ballooning that South Africa has to offer with loads of colour fun and in the company of highly experienced crew.
We have been flying these venues safely for more than 14 years. Our balloons, professional experience and hospitality will assure you of an exceptional experience.
Mlendeni Sitole will tell you his stories of the night skies. He has built a star gazing hammock camp for you to relax and observe the heavens and listen to the night sounds. He makes you feel like you have never seen the night sky before when you go stargazing at Antbear Lodge. The Milky Way arcs over you like a giant swathe of smoke – reminiscent of the African tale of its origins where a strong-willed girl who became so angry when her mother would not give her any of a delicious roasted root that she grabbed the roasting roots from the fire and threw the roots and ashes into the sky, where the red and white roots now glow as red and white stars, and the ashes are the Milky Way.
Mlendeni has been assisted by Antbear Lodge as part of its community development entrepreneurial program to get his business started. Your support is very much appreciated.
Explore the Drakensberg foothills without the burden of a backpack walking from lodge to lodge, having your luggage transported for you and looking forward to excellent 3 course meals. The Drakensberg Slack packing trail is a luxury hike offering comfortable and varied accommodation experiences each night, luggage transfers and delectable catering.
Giants Castle Slack Packing Trail
The Drakensberg slack packing hiking trail includes some of the most scenic and bio diverse parts of KwaZulu Natal. This hiking trail provides access to private land, a game reserve and locally forged conservancies. Special places where people normally would not have access. All you need to do is organise a group of friends or join one of our prearranged trips, and look forward to a gentle stroll carrying nothing more than a packed picnic, some binoculars and a good birding book.
This is a three day round hike encompassing curated paths through the Zulu Waters Private Game Reserve and the Lowlands Conservancy. Well known for its rich biodiversity, the daily hikes are gentle in distance and gradient making this hike a perfect beginner’s hike for families and for those less experienced and fit. The lodges offer locally grown, home cooked meals as an added bonus.
In the summer, there are rivers and dams to swim in and plenty of picturesque picnic spots on route.
What makes Antbear Lodge special is that this is quite possibly one of them most sustainable lodges in South Africa. Here you will find home made cheese from their own milk, own eggs from their own home grown chickens and a wonderful organic garden. They also offer a luxury cave for accommodation
Hiking starts heading up to the top of the mountain with spectacular views looking out over the Drakensberg Mountains. Then down into the valley where you feel far away from everywhere
Day 2. Leopards Lair Lodge
Leopards Lair Lodge – Giant Castle Central Drakensberg
Leopards Lair is one of those lovely places full of family atmosphere offering a real agri tourism experience. Meet Lalie their hand reared eland, their rescue emus and ostriches and the rest of their farmyard menagerie.
Your walk from here starts off easy and then drops back down into the Mbogta Valley. And then the high light where you enter the Zulu Waters Game Reserve
day 3. Zulu Waters Shaka Lodge
Zulu Waters Shaka Lodge – African safari luxury
Shaka Lodge offers the the lapse of luxury withing the Zulu Waters Game Reserve. Your own private chef will prepare delicacies that will make you want to stay forever.
Almost your whole day will be hiking inside the Game Reserve. You might see rhino, zebras, buffalo, ostriches, eland, water buck, wildebeest and so much more.
Fast facts
Duration: 3 days, 3 nights Recommended fitness level: Easy to Moderate Average daily walkingdistances: 12-15km Accommodation types: Lodges including dinner and breakfast. Lunch packs are supplied daily. All dietary requirements available. Price: from R7900 per person inclusive of accommodation, all meals, luggage transfer, registered guide & conservancy fees Group size: 6 persons in a group Guide: Deon Small registered mountain guide.
Bespoke tours can also be arranged for organised groups with special interests like butterflies, birding, ecology, wild flowers, mediation and star gazing.
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