The torch is lifting the envelop of the balloon

Before dawn, near Solitaire in the Namib desert, pilot Rob Lowson is directing silhouettes in the dark to  unroll the envelop of his hot air balloon. Putting up such craft is no small affair, first the canvas need to be  inflated with a powerful fan in order to blow the torch into the opening. The wind has picked up and keeps flattening the envelop dangerously close to the flame. Finally, the ballon stand upright, Rob and three paraglider pilots are  in the basket ready to take off!

Chris Lotter, first Namibian to drop from a hot air balloon

Chris Lotter over the Namib desert

Linda Willemse, Chris Lotter and Walter Neeser get a lift to 1000 meters and then drop in the desert sky with their canopies. I’m hanging under the basket in a comfortable harness for a smooth ride to catch the action.

I am getting ready to catch the action, photo by Pieter Steenkamp

Later in the day the pilots ride the evening thermals along the ridge at Spreetshoogte

Riding the magic wind, the evening thermals at Spreetshoogte

A martial eagle gliding along the ridge with Linda