The balloons used for Gamewatchers Safari tours stand 10 stories tall and are made by Cameron Balloons of Bristol, England. The safari hot air balloons last about 400 flying hours in the fierce African sun, which means they must be replaced every 2 years.
They are twice the size of Double Eagle II, the balloon the Americans used to successfully cross the Atlantic in August 1978.
The largest of the balloons, the Cameron A315, stands as high as a ten storey building, measures 100 feet across at its circumference and has a volume of 315,000 cubic feet (9000 cubic metres). The A315 is among the largest operational balloons in the world. At sea level it has a lift capability of over two tons (2000 kgs), although in Africa they carry only a maximum of 12 passengers and the pilot.
The safari balloon ‘envelope’ is made of a nylon based fabric, superior to that of a spinnaker sail. The basket is made of woven cane and willow by expert craftsmen in the Royal Workshops for the Blind in Bristol. The design has not been surpassed in over a hundred years of balloon flight as there are few other materials that combine strength with resilience for so little weight.
Flight Control – one of the safest forms of flight
The balloon’s lift comes from hot air which is slightly lighter than the surrounding cold atmosphere. The hotter the balloon the faster it rises. As the balloon cools it slowly descends. The pilot can control the balloon to brush the grass or the tops of trees, yet could if he wished, go as high as 15,000 feet. However, the flying in the Mara is kept more down to earth.
The hot air balloon safaris cannot fly in winds greater than 15 mph (30 kph) so the calm African mornings are the perfect time for a safari flight. The balloons must go where the winds take them but, as winds at varying heights often have varying directions, the pilot can choose his height and hence his direction.
Fuel
The safari balloons are “powered” by ordinary cooking gas to heat the air in the envelope.
The fuel system is duplicated in every respect to prevent failure of the burner. If all power should be lost however,( something which has, in fact, never happened) the balloon would enter a stable cold descent with the envelope acting as a parachute. This feature of the balloon makes it one of the safest forms of flight.
The Pilot
To pilot a hot air balloon, it is necessary to gain a pilot’s licence exactly as with other forms of aircraft. There is a set number of hours of instruction and the same theoretical exams to pass as any fixed wing pilot. Also like their fixed wing counterparts, balloon pilots keep log books, carry out pre-flight checks and monitor the weather conditions for safe flying. In addition, the Balloon pilots have undergone extensive professional training and have international experience.
Porini Lion Camp or Porini Mara Camp in the Masai Mara are ideal bases from which to take a Balloon Safari as well as day and night safari drives and safari walks.
