For years, the closest most people in Abuja got to the sky was a hotel rooftop or the hike up Katampe Hill. That could soon change. In early October 2026, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and its private partners unveiled a hot air balloon in Abuja and flew it in a test flight. They are presenting it as the start of commercial balloon rides in Nigeria.
Before you start planning a sunrise proposal over the city, here’s what’s confirmed, what isn’t yet, and how to make sure you book with the real operator once flights open.
What happened
On 6 October 2026, NASRDA announced that it had unveiled and test-flown what it calls Nigeria’s first hot air balloon in Abuja, as part of activities marking Independence Day. The agency said the project is meant to support tourism and what it calls the “low-altitude aviation economy”, and to earn revenue for government.
The balloon will fly under the brand SkyTrek Balloon. It is a partnership between GeoApps Plus Limited, NASRDA’s commercial arm, and the private firm Homo Economicus Limited, set up under the Federal Government’s public-private partnership framework.
A small history note: “first” is the organisers’ claim. Abuja saw hot air balloon rides during the Nigeria@50 celebrations in 2010, and Lagos hosted a tethered branded balloon experience in May 2026. This is, however, the first project set up to run regular commercial flights.
Can you book a ride yet?
Not yet. As of 12 October 2026, SkyTrek’s website still says “Coming Soon” and offers only a waiting list and an enquiry form. It names Lagos and Abuja as the first cities and also mentions Port Harcourt. No prices, flight dates, times or Abuja take-off location have been published.
Joining the waiting list is free. It asks for your name, age range, phone, email and city, and it takes no payment.
What SkyTrek says it will offer
According to the operator’s website, the planned packages include:
- Family flights and flights for two
- A VIP private flight for couples
- Sunrise and sunset flights
- Celebration packages (birthdays, anniversaries, proposals), corporate events and custom group tours
The experience it describes runs from a pre-flight briefing with the pilot, through take-off and the flight, to a landing celebration with a toast and a flight certificate. SkyTrek says it works “in alliance with” Sunshine Ballooning, a balloon operator from Germany.
Flight length, altitude, basket size, and whether Abuja flights will be tethered or free-flying haven’t been announced yet.
Who can fly
SkyTrek’s published safety and eligibility policy says:
- The minimum age is 8. Passengers aged 8 to 18 need a parent’s consent or must fly with a parent.
- Weight limits apply, and you may be asked your weight when booking.
- Pregnant passengers can’t fly, and some heart, lung, mobility and seizure conditions rule passengers out.
- You need to be able to stand for roughly one to two hours, wear closed-toe shoes, and stay off alcohol before the flight.
- Flights depend on the weather, and high wind, rain or storms can delay or cancel them.
That last point matters in Abuja. Rainy-season storms and harmattan haze both affect flying conditions, so build some flexibility into your plans.
Where will it fly from?
No launch site has been announced. Abuja also has restricted airspace around key government areas, and NASRDA has said the security approvals for the project come with no-fly zones. So don’t expect to float over the Three Arms Zone. We’ll update this guide when the operator confirms a take-off point and route.
Book safely: watch out for fake sellers
A new attraction always brings fake ticket sellers. Until SkyTrek opens bookings on its own website, treat anyone selling “Abuja hot air balloon tickets” with suspicion, whether through Instagram DMs, WhatsApp broadcasts or travel-deal sites. Some travel sites already show “hot air balloon in Nigeria” pages with prices but no named operator. Edited photos of balloons over Abuja landmarks have also gone viral before.
Use the official channels only:
- Website and waiting list: skytrekballoon.ng
- Enquiries: skytrekballoon.ng/enquiry
- Instagram: @skytrekng
The bottom line
Hot air ballooning over Abuja is on the way, but it isn’t open to the public yet. If floating over the city at sunrise sounds like your kind of thing, join the official waiting list now and keep an eye on our events calendar. We’ll update this post as soon as prices, dates and the launch site are confirmed.
Last checked: 12 October 2026. Sources: NASRDA press release (6 October 2026), the SkyTrek Balloon website, and NASRDA and NCAA statements on the project.