Elite Traveler Spring 2023

Flight of fancy Hot air balloon safari over the Namib Desert

There are few things worth waking up at 4am for, but cruising thousands of feet above the Namib Desert in a hot air balloon is certainly one of them. If you’re staying at andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, start the day with a cup of co ff ee delivered directly to your suite via a neat hatch, before trundling through the wilderness in the pre-dawn dark to Namib Sky Balloon Safaris. As you arrive at the launch site, a Game of Thrones -esque roar of fl ames lights up the dark sky, illuminating the team as they in fl ate the larger-than-life balloons. It’s only as the enormous balloons begin their ascent into the sky that the sun breaks the horizon, casting a celestial glow across the dunes. Once in the air, it is the wind and the wind alone that dictates where you go; your pilot can take charge of the altitude but the direction you head in is in nature’s hands. Bar the occasional ‘swoooosh’ of fi re, the journey is unbelievably peaceful as the balloon gently weaves its way through the air. Below, there are otherworldly views of Namibia’s resilient wildlife, veins of dried-up riverbeds and the swooping crimson dunes of the Sossusvlei corridor to gaze upon. After an hour or so of drifting, a fi nal thrill might be on the cards if your pilot thinks a ‘sports landing’ (when the basket hits the ground with a controlled sideways tip) is the best route. Otherwise, it’s a graceful touchdown before indulging in an extravagant breakfast in the heart of the desert. The lavish spread includes homemade cakes, locally made jams and spreads, and a gorgeous array of meats — don’t miss the cured zebra (yes, really). You might be in the middle of nowhere but not a single luxury is bypassed: Expect pristine white tablecloths, dramatic champagne sabrage and free- fl owing bubbly to end the morning of a lifetime. Namib Sky Balloon Safari from $494 per person; andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge from $1,134 per night. Contact info@namibsky.com, +264 636 83188, balloon-safaris.com, staybeyondgreen.com

Words Kim Ayling. Illustration Kate Evans - Folio Art