Flying High
Meet The World’s First Black Female Balloon Pilot, Captain Joyce Beckwith By Ayah A.
K
enya’s 33-year-old Captain Joyce Beckwith is affectionately known as Captain Smiles, and it’s easy to see why. She beams as she navigates the vast blue skies over the world-famous Masaai Mara National Reserve, her infectious smile spreading to her passengers and those afforded the opportunity to see her in action. Watching her work, it is obvious that she takes great pleasure in what she does. Born and raised in Kenya to a family in the transport business, she is the first licensed Black female balloon pilot, and her passion for sharing the gift of flight shines through. Captain Smiles earned her license in 2018 at the acclaimed Airborne Heat Balloon Flying School in New Mexico. She began commercial flying in 2019. She first flew in a hot air balloon as a passenger in 2008 and fell in love with flying. “As I took hundreds of flights over Maasai Mara, I was always inspired by the art of flying balloons, the approach and respect for nature, and the engineering of the aircraft itself,” she told Travel Noire. “There was just something about the smiles and excitement of the passengers during a balloon safari.” “I was also inspired by The Beckwiths. My husband and his family are balloonists and they opened the door for me into a world of hot air balloons.” “Elly Kirkman, was another inspiration of mine. She’s an Australian balloon pilot who slapped my behind every year encouraging me that I should get my balloon license. Today, we laugh about it because in response, I finally slapped her with my license at hand.” In addition to flying hot air balloons, Captain Smiles is an experienced safari and travel consultant. When she is not flying, she dabbles in organizing bespoke safari experiences for solo, family, and group travelers around the world.
Although she works at a popular tourist destination and assists others with their travel experiences, Captain Smiles sometimes enjoys being a tourist and traveling, as well. “My family is scattered throughout the world. We are everywhere, so sometimes my travel is planned based upon which family member I am visiting.” All of her favorite destinations, however, are on the African content. “I would pick traveling within Kenya first, then Namibia. While on long holidays (a six-week break from flying) we take a few weeks to travel by road. It’s so much nicer because we are basically locked in the bush most of the time anyway.” “The pandemic grounded my travel to New Zealand last year, but I got to enjoy more of my own country. I recently drove from Nairobi to Amboseli National Park to spend Christmas there, and during the drive I took my time to stop and see beautiful sights and explore a bit. I also took my first balloon safari out of Maasai
22 | ABA Publications | Africa TRAVEL | May 2021
