TERMS AND CONDITIONS

BILL HARROP’S “ORIGINAL” BALLOON SAFARIS (PTY) LTD.

Non-scheduled licenced airline – Air Service Licence: N146D

As of 20 November 2023

Please note that the below terms and conditions are lawful and binding between the Client (i.e. the agent, client,

passenger or any third-party supplier) and the Operator.

Clients undertake the below terms and conditions as such, and any omissions or changes to this document will the

binding to the latest edition of the terms and conditions as set by the Operator.

Magalies River Valley Launch Site

1. Flight Ticket descriptions:

1.2 Traditional: This flight ticket entitles the ticket holder to rebook the date of the flight (within 12 months from the date of issue) or

request a refund in the event of cancellation by the Operator due to unsafe flying conditions. Re-booking of a flight date is subject to

availability and the flight must be undertaken within 12 months from the date of issue. This flight ticket applies to a shared balloon flight

(with other passengers) and does not entitle the holder to an exclusive flight.

Please see Section 9: Refunds for more.

1.4 Transfer of ownership

Flight tickets are non-transferable nor exchangeable for cash. Flight tickets must be presented by the original ticket

holder to remain eligible and valid. A special concession application is required to transfer ownership of flight tickets

by the originator of the reservation (the original owner of the flight ticket). On receipt of the request, the original owner

will be required to complete the transfer of ownership process to re-allocate to another passenger.

1.5 When selecting a flight ticket package

Please keep in mind that hot air ballooning is 100% weather dependent, should we have to cancel the flight due to

unsafe flying conditions (such as strong wind, rain, or any other weather occurrence), then the Operator will not be

held liable for any accommodation reservations, transfer reservations, or expenses of a personal nature, made in

anticipation of the hot air balloon flight.

1.6 Flight Vouchers

Flight vouchers are valid for 12 months from the original date of issue only. Extensions will not be granted for flight

vouchers. The onus is on the recipient to pre-book and fly before the expiry date noted on the voucher.

2. Minimum passengers required

A minimum of 4 full fare paying passengers is required to justify a Flight Departure at the Magalies River Valley launch

site, but these can be from 4 individual sources.

Unless a private balloon flight for two passengers in a 2-passenger balloon is booked and confirmed.

3. Confirmation

FLIGHTS AND SERVICES will only be considered as having been “confirmed”:

• on our receipt of the full and final pre-payment (or the furnishing of the required irrevocable guarantees) seven (7)

business days before the date of departure.

• A minimum period as most recently outlined in writing or contract.

Unless a waiver has been given, in writing by ourselves, about any booking or series of bookings. 

On receipt of the full and final payment, the client, therefore, accepts the full terms and conditions as well as the

conditions of carriage.

Provisional reservations which are unpaid, are unconfirmed. Only receipt of the full and final payment will confirm a

reservation/flight ticket. Full and final payment needs to be paid 7 business days before the departure date.

On effecting payment by a bank deposit or transfer, the client is required to urgently e-mail us a copy of the relevant

transaction documentation to the address given with our banking details.

The onus rests with the client to ensure delivery of any payment, and the client must therefore reaffirm the delivery of

payment with us (the Operator) should he/she not receive an acknowledgement, or relative communication from us,

within 2 business days of it being affected.

The first bookings paid for will receive precedence over others unless otherwise expressly stated in writing by us (the

Operator). The greater the delays in the client’s upkeep of any agreed payment schedule, the less precedence that

the client’s booking will receive over other bookings currently on file.

4. Postponements and Cancellations by the client/passenger

4.1 If any element of the tour is cancelled by the passenger or agent, or if a participant does not arrive at the agreed

location at the specified time to take up any particular element of a booking, that element will also be considered as

“cancelled by the passenger” and any pre-payment will be forfeited.

4.2 If a passenger needs to postpone the booking, a minimum of 5 business days’ notice needs to be sent in writing.

If notice is not received, then the ticket shall be non-bookable or refundable.

5. Postponement and Cancellation by the Operator

5.1 Should any element of any tour package be postponed or cancelled by the Operator, this will not affect the

commitment of any party in the agreement to the supplying and charging for, or receiving and paying for, the other

elements of the package on the original dates and times unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The Chief Pilot will determine the suitability for a safe and pleasurable flight based on the weather forecast and other

factors relating to the flight area. Hot air ballooning is subject to safe flying conditions.

5.2 If the flight is cancelled by the Operator for safety reasons (such as bad weather) the flight can either be rebooked

or the pre-payment may be refunded depending on the Terms and Conditions applicable to the package booked.

All flight tickets will be valid for 12 months from the original date of issue.

The Traditional package is fully refundable and the Explore package is only re-bookable. Refer to Section 1: Flight

Ticket Descriptions.

6. Did not arrive for the flight

Failure to notify the cancellation or postponement of a flight at least 5 business days before the date of departure,

could result in a forfeited flight ticket.

Should the passenger fail to arrive for the flight, on the day of the flight, such an absconded flight ticket is forfeited.

Refer to Section 4.1.

7. Extension of validity of flight tickets

Flight tickets cannot be extended once expire. The flight tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of issue, under

no circumstances will extensions be granted.

8. Flights

Pilots will always endeavour to conduct flights for the full duration as published, subject to a paramount consideration

for safety as well as passenger comfort and convenience, and respect for the community and environment in general,

but a duration of 50 minutes is considered as a flight. If the flight is more than 15 minutes less than the published

duration, in the interests of fair business practice, passengers may qualify for a partial refund or a flight at a future

date, as described in our “Short Flight Refund Policy”.

9. Refunds

Refunds, if applicable, will only be made on irrevocably cleared effects and only via the same channels or medium as

the pre-payment has been made, and only to the same company, legal entity or person who affected them. Because

each party in the chain of processing a booking may have individual agreements with the next, so this process is

reversed in the processing of refunds unless expressly requested in writing by the prior party in that chain.

Refunds will be done within 14 business days of confirmation of banking details.  

10. Financial aspects

10.1 An Invoice will be e-mailed to the purchaser, only on request.

10.2 Accounts, invoices and reservations must be PAID immediately on presentation unless otherwise agreed in

writing.

10.3 Overdue accounts will bear interest at the rate of two-and-a-half per cent (2.5%) per month, or the legally allowed

maximum as defined by the Usury Act (South Africa).

10.4 Payment Methods:

No SWIFT payments or international payment transfers are allowed/processed.

Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris only accept two forms of payment:

10.4.1 South African bank to South African bank transfer in Rands (EFT)

10.4.2 Payment with a credit card via a secure payment link provided by the Operator.

11. Liability or loss

Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris does not accept any liability or loss experienced because of the nature of

the balloon activity.

The passenger hereby indemnifies the Operator against any claim or claims for compensation for any damage, loss

or injury whether sustained on board the aircraft or, during any of the operation of the flight, embarking or

disembarking, caused directly or indirectly, to him/her/they or his/her/their belongings which indemnity shall extend to

the passenger’s dependants, estate of any person whomsoever.

Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris does not accept any liability for flight tickets purchased through unauthorised

or unaffiliated channels.

12. Limitations and repudiation

The onus is on the passenger to make full disclosure of any impediments or limitations at the time of making the

reservation. A non-disclosure will result in immediate disembarkation without recourse by the passenger and

associated persons to any loss or damage sustained in any form, actual or consequential.

12.1 Fitness

Participants must be:

• agile enough to climb in and out of the 1350mm high basket without assistance from anyone else,

• be able to jump unassisted from a height of 60cm and

• stand for the duration of the flight (approximately one hour unless stated otherwise).

If these conditions of fitness cannot be met, special conditions will apply which may allow for frail, disabled, or

challenged passengers.

Any passenger who fails, on the pilot-in-command or operations team’s request, to demonstrate the ability to enter

and leave the basket unassisted, stand unassisted and/or jump the minimum height may be declined without

recourse or refund unless otherwise agreed.

12.2 Disabled, frail or challenged passengers

All disabled, frail or challenged passengers should be accompanied by an abled body person for the duration of the

activity. Please refer to our Conditions for the Carriage of Disabled, Frail or Challenged Participants.

12.3 Pregnant Passengers

Please note, that pregnant passengers will not be allowed to participate in the hot air ballooning (as per our Safety

Regulations).

12.4 Children Passengers

Passenger safety is our main priority and therefore the following regulations about children are in place:

• Children must be 7 years and older to participate in a hot air balloon flight & children must be 1.3 meters in height

- and be able to see over the edge of the basket.

• Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian for the duration of the activity.

• Please advise on booking, the number of children in the party - as well as their ages and weights.

• The pilot reserves the right to refuse to load children, who are too small, on the hot air balloon, for safety reasons.

• Children Passengers could be measured on the morning of the flight, at check-in, to ensure they comply with the

minimum height requirement. Should the child not be deemed tall enough to safely participate in the hot air balloon

activity the flight ticket will be forfeited (non-refundable nor re-bookable).

12.5 Animals

No animals, pets, or birds are allowed on company property, vehicles, or balloons except bona fide trained guide dogs.

Please ensure you can provide guide dog certification at the time of making the reservation.

Waivers, concessions, or indulgencies may be considered on the merit of the individual situation and will have effect

only when confirmed by us (the Operator) in writing. Any indulgence that we may grant the Client shall not constitute

a waiver of any past or future rights of the Operator.

Special Terms and conditions for frail, disabled or challenged passengers:

All passengers must adhere to the minimal regulations pertaining to fitness, failing to disclose any medical conditions

will lead to the passenger not being allowed to board the balloon and will therefore forfeit his or her ticket.

Please note that pregnant passengers will not be allowed to participate in the hot air ballooning (for safety

precautions).

Fitness: Participants must be nimble enough to climb in and out of the 1350mm high basket without assistance

from anyone else, be able to jump unassisted from a height of 60cm and stand for the duration of the flight

(approx. one hour unless stated otherwise). If these conditions of fitness cannot be met, special conditions will apply

which may allow for frail, disabled, or challenged passengers.

Any passenger who fails, on the pilot-in-command’s request, to demonstrate the ability to enter and leave the basket

unassisted, stand unassisted and/or jump the minimum height may be declined without recourse or refund unless

otherwise agreed.

The onus is on the passenger to make a full disclosure. Non-disclosure will result in immediate disembarkation

without recourse by the passenger and associated persons to any loss or damage sustained in any form, actual or

consequential.

Additional Terms and Conditions:

Before booking pre-existing medical conditions, and recent surgical procedures must be disclosed.

 We do require a minimum of 4 passengers to justify a scheduled flight – these can be from separate reservations. We

advise that you consult us first before quoting or confirming your client. Space is limited, and reservations are subject to

availability.

 Ensure you confirm and quote the appropriate rate to your client.  Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris will not make

concessions when quoting clients on previous or incorrect rates.

 Full and final payment must be completed 7 days before the date of departure.

 The ticket must be used within 12 months of the original date of issue.

 Please keep in mind that hot air ballooning is 100% weather dependent, should we have to cancel the flight due to unsafe

flying conditions (such as strong wind or rain), then we will not be held liable for any accommodation reservations made in

anticipation of the hot air balloon flight.

 Hot air ballooning is subject to safe flying conditions.

 If the guest needs to postpone the booking, a minimum of 5 working days’ notice needs to be sent in writing. If notice

is not received, then the ticket shall be non-re-bookable.

 Children Passengers will be measured on the morning of the flight, at check-in, to ensure they comply with the minimum

height requirement. Should the child not be deemed tall enough to safely participate in the hot air balloon activity the flight

ticket will be forfeited (non-refundable nor re-bookable).

 Refunds will only be processed back to the Agent/account payment was made; the onus remains on the agent to assist

with facilitating the refund to the client.

 Refunds could take up to 14 business days to be processed.

 Should your client/s miss the flight, the flight tickets will be forfeited as per the Terms and Conditions.