Working together with about 25 people (ground crew & catering team) and four pilots, the family business started in 1991 by Eric and Nancy has now been carried on to the second generation, Denis and Andreia.
Eric was born and bred in the DRC. Together with Nancy, they are the founders of Namib Sky. After having fled several wars in central Africa, they decided to head south. They finally found their little piece of paradise in the Namib desert where their dream was sparked!
Instructor for Namibia, Eric still loves his flying after three decades in the Namib. He shouts a lot, but nobody takes him too seriously. Eric and Nancy love to travel the world but always come back to give the team a hand when needed.
Denis grew up in the Namib Desert, surrounded by balloons in a big sand pit! With over two thousand flights he is now the Senior Accountable Manager for Namib Sky as well as the Designated Examiner for Namibia. Ballooning is a second nature to him and when not in the air, you will find him in the Namib Desert looking for San pre-historical sites or catching snakes with his brother!
His better looking half is without doubt Andreia, she is the Managing Director and keeps everyone sane. They say dynamite comes in small packages and once you meet her you will know why! Nothing escapes her and everything can always be improved if you ask her! Together they are the second generation of Namib Sky.
Meet our coordination genie! Formally at the head of our reservations team, Janine has grown into the company since her initial post in 2018 and has become our very own Base Manager. Consistency and reliability are her first languages, and this shows in absolutely everything she undertakes to challenge!
Janine’s love for order apparently comes from her father’s side. From creating order to giving orders, and to even ordering on amazon… But she also loves cheesecake, reading, Le Creuset and pineapples – no guavas.
After several years working in the airline industry, Tresia finally joined our reservations team! She is the lovely voice answering your calls, responding to your queries and ensuring you are on time at the meeting point. Nothing gets past her, and you can be sure your booking will be handled in the most professional way!
If you don’t meet Tresia on the phone, you will most likely find her at the check-out counter after your flight making sure you had an amazing time. Tresia loves dressing up, she also loves clear handwriting, credit card details, punctuality, vouchers and booking forms!
Pronounced “EEVOE”, he is our Safety and Quality Assurance Manager, but most importantly he is Janine’s husband.
Coming from a long line of tourism, his attention to service, quality and safety are not his only strong points – he is also an amazingly skilled pilot! Having trained with Namib Sky Balloon Safaris from ground crew to Commercial Pilot level, he knows all the ins and outs of the operation and the Namib desert! You will most likely meet him at the commands of the balloon (or Janine´s). Ivo loves Football, Portuguese food and hiking. His friendliness is contagious and you can be sure to have an unforgettable time with him!
His mum calls him Timothy, but we just call him Tim. This true gentleman has a knack for floating above the clouds and below the radar of ordinary life.
Whether he’s soaring high at balloon fiestas worldwide or holding court at his local pub in the UK, Tim’s story is as colorful as the balloons he pilots. From a skydiving club fiasco involving warm beer and a guy named Martin, to a plaque with carved names… Tim’s journey is a tale best told over a pint in person.
When he’s not gallivanting across the globe in a balloon rig with his trusty sidekick (his lovely wife, Mel), Tim can be found professing his love for leaking Land Rovers, indulging in pudding (the British kind, of course), and graciously signing autographs for his adoring fans.
With Tim at the commands, you’re not just along for the ride – you’re in for a buoyant adventure filled with laughter and passion for life!
Meet Captain Ruan! Growing up in the farmlands of South Africa, Ruan was introduced to the exciting world of ballooning by chance – his farm being in the vicinity of a balloon operator, his inspiration really came from above! After crewing for balloon operators during weekends & holidays, he decided it was time to raise the bar and so began training to become a balloon pilot. He found his calling for Namibia and enjoys sharing his passion for flying with all his passengers. He loves to braai and walk his dogs, and is always in a good mood unless his steak is over-cooked. You will be sure to have a “LEKKER” time with him onboard!
The son Crocodile Dundee never knew about is known as Paul, also a distant cousin of Chuck Norris, he is a former military man. Diligence and discipline transpires in everything he does. After finding an abandoned balloon in a shed, a story straight out of a movie unfolded as he decided to take on a new challenge… Having now flown all sorts of balloons, he is always calm under pressure and happiest at the commands of a large flame thrower. Paul loves to hike, read and enjoys baking croissants. You will be sure to have a great time as he takes you on a trip to cloud 9.
Bradley, also known as Brad, is originally from Australia. After having spent most of his youth “down under” guiding tour busses, he decided it was time to go “up over” and so became a balloon pilot.
With over 2000 hours of flying experience in many different countries including South Africa, New Zealand, Kenya and the UK, Brad has finally joined our team here in Namibia! He says he speaks the Queen’s English, although we suspect otherwise. Brad loves to have a good laugh, and you are sure to have a really fun time with him onboard! He also loves bricolage, light coffee, his mom and Isuzu trucks.
Laurent (Lenny, for those who have trouble pronouncing french) fell in love with ballooning while volunteering as a teacher at our Little Bugs ECD. He arrived from Belgium to gain some experience teaching young children at our community school. During the weekends, he also volunteered as a balloon crew member and very quickly fell in love with ballooning!
Once the seed was planted, he went back to Belgium and decided to change career. After obtaining his European pilot licence he has finally returned to where he truly belongs; at the controls of a large flame, showing his passengers the Namib Desert from above! His love for ballooning is as contagious as his French accent!
