A 4am start was called for as we headed back into Pilanesberg for an unforgettable hot air balloon safari. Taking off as dawn was breaking, the views were breathtaking and we were entertained by our vastly experienced pilot, Marty De Kock. For those who haven’t taken a hot air balloon journey before, it’s a unique experience. Given the balloon is moving at with the prevailing wind, there is no rush of air to tell you what speed you are flying at. The result is a remarkably calm and peaceful voyage. The other advantage is there is little noise to spook the wildlife below and we were treated to sightings of lion, rhino, hippo, impala and even a cheetah. The flight lasts an hour, with a game drive to and from the launch site, and culminates in a champagne brunch in a game lodge. Allow around five hours in total, but given the start time, the day has hardly begun.
There is a large casino minutes away from the Palace Hotel, and the hotel itself also offers its own gaming VIP suites, something very familiar to Macau visitors.
For those not gambling, the range of additional activities on offer is staggering, from the Valley of the Waves water theme park and nearby lake where you can water ski, wakeboard or jet ski in the unlikeliest surroundings, to plenty of kid’s offerings including Camp Kwena, the Stimela Train, Bumper Boats, and the Kowabonga Club.
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