Celebrating some of the first black female Hot Air Balloon Pilots : Today at Achieve Global Safaris we celebrate some of the first black female hot air balloon pilots. We would like to recognize the first licensed black female balloon pilot, Captain Joyce Beckwith who is popularly also known as Captain Smiles as she beams away with smiles when navigating over the beautiful lands of the Masaai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Captain Joyce Beckwith is a 33-year-old Kenyan who obtained her license from the acclaimed Airborne Heat Balloon Flying School in New Mexico in 2018 and began flying commercially in 2019. Kudos to you Captain Joyce Beckwith on remaining diligent and earning that Hoy Air Balloon Pilot License!
Going further south to South Africa, we recognize Semakaleng Mathebula who is considered the first female Hot Air Balloon Pilot in South Africa. At the young age of 26 years, Semakaleng Mathebula is inspiring more women to join the Hot Air Ballooning industry in South Africa. With only five female Hot air balloon pilots in South Africa, Semakaleng Mathebula continues to strive to obtain her hot air balloon pilot license with the help of the partnership of the Department of Sports and Recreation and Balloon and Airship Federation of South Africa that supports her flight training. We at Achieve Global Safaris wish you all the best on this journey of your life thus Celebrating some of the first black female Hot Air Balloon Pilots.
While on a Uganda Safari, the Hot Air Balloon safari experience is not far from you. This is an experience you must have on your bucket list or checklist for when you are on a Uganda Safari. To enjoy this experience, look no further than a visit to the Murchison Falls National Park or Queen Elizabeth National Park as they are currently the only spots in Uganda that offer the hot air balloon experience.
Hot Air Balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Hot Air Balloon Safaris at Queen Elizabeth National Park are under the management of Balloon Tours company that has a valid operating license from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. Hot Air Balloon safari experience at Queen Elizabeth National Park will offer you the opportunity to have a panoramic and aerial view of the wildlife such as hippos, herds of elephants, antelopes, giraffes, the western rift valley with some rift valley lakes, gorges of the Kyambura, Lake Edward and George and the Mountain Rwenzori and its escarpments.
The Hot Air Balloon flight experience program at Queen Elizabeth National Park usually starts in the early morning at 0530hours from the Kasenyi gate where clients and crew then drive to the pre-determines starting point and there the clients are served some coffee or tea as the crew assembles the inflatable balloon after they have conducted all required tests like wind direction and strength, temperature and equipment. Balloon take off is scheduled for 0615hours and the flight can take about 45 minutes to one and a half hours depending on the fuel available, prevailing weather conditions and number and weight of the clients onboard the Hot air balloon. At about 0720hours the tourists will land and have a bush breakfast experience where they are offered certificates of participation and then driven back to their places of accommodation to prepare for the other activities of the day.
Hot Air Balloon safari in Murchison Falls National Park
Hot air Balloon Safari in Murchison Falls National Park is under the management of Dream Balloon company that has hot air ballooning experience of over ten years and is licenced by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and certified by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Environment Management Authority thus Celebrating some of the first black female Hot Air Balloon Pilots.
Hot Air Balloon safari experience in Murchison Falls National Park take park in the savanna grassland areas of the national park and offer an impressive view of the various mammals, birds, waterfall and vegetation in the National Park. In Murchison Fall National Park there are two Hot Air Balloon experiences offered which are the sunrise experience that happens in the early morning and the sunset experience which happens in the evening.
The sunrise hot air balloon experience begins as early as 0500hours where the tourists are driven to the starting point where the crew is waiting and preparing for take-off. After take-off, you will be able to have an aerial and panoramic view of the National Park. You will be able to view a few morning activities of the wildlife and see some game like antelopes, buffalos, giraffes, and if lucky, some lions too and not forgetting the stunning view of an African sunrise in the wild. After the flight, the tourists are then taken on a brief game drive and later have a bush breakfast where they are awarded certificate of participation in a Hot Air Balloon Safari flight and this ceremony is celebrated with a bottle of Champaign. All these activities will likely end by 0930hours.
The Sunset hot air balloon experience will usually begin at 1600hours in order to be in time for the sunset while on flight. During the flight, the tourist will be able you view the wildlife and some of the nocturnal wild animals come out of their hiding places and as well as enjoy the seductive African sunset. After the flight you will have an evening game drive and will be dropped back to your respective places of accommodation where you will be issued a certificate of participation thus Celebrating some of the first black female Hot Air Balloon Pilots.
What to pack for you Hot Air Balloon Safari Experience?
Not so much is required but it is important to make sure you are comfortable for the experience. You can carry a light but warm jacket especially for the morning or sunrise hot air balloon experience, some long socks to avoid morning insect bits and sneakers or boots as the paths through the parks are rough and can be muddy after a rainy day. You could carry a hat and sunglasses to for when the sun comes out which can be so bright and hot and of course, you must carry a camera to capture those beautiful views and moments and do not leave behind you adventurous spirit!
