Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari

Serengeti Balloon Safari

Balloon safaris are a romantic and evocative way of experiencing the wilderness of East Africa, as you gracefully and silently fly over the plains teeming with herds of wild life in the early morning. Typically, a balloon safari begins between 6 am and lasts for around 1-2 hours, during which you will likely see the magnificent wildlife below over several square kilometres of the game park. Balloon safaris are held regularly only in the Serengeti and take off from designated sites (in the Seronera area) where the disturbance to animals is kept to a minimum. Your safari vehicle drops you off at the take off site and picks you up from your landing site. The safari is followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush, a fitting end to your memorable flight in the wild.

Maximum in a balloon: 16 adults

BALLOONS: are top of the range Cameron & Ultra Magic A315 & A415. Colours: acacia green & Savannah gold to blend with those of the Serengeti. Burners: state of the art ‘whisper & stealth”.

The balloon ride
5:00 am, Serengeti Balloon Safaris will collect you from your central Serengeti lodge or camp, and transfer you by Landrover to our launch site near Maasai Kopjes. Here you will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon.

At dawn we take off, rising as the sun rises and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take us. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below.

At other times he will ascend to 1000 ft. (300m) or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. From time to time the pilot increases more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below.

The flight is for about one hour depending on conditions, on landing you celebrate in the traditional manner with champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine), before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in 'Out of Africa' style with bone china, linen table cloths, King's silver etc.

After breakfast you receive your Serengeti Balloon certificate and we drive you back to Seronera Lodge game viewing enroute. 9:30 am arrive at Seronera ready to continue your day's activities.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

This adventure will fit in with all safari itineraries that include a night in central Serengeti (Serena Lodge, Seronera Lodge or Sopa Lodge or any of the central Serengeti camp sites, also from our camp Mapito).

There is a new launching area at Western Serengeti, Kirawira, which makes balloon Safaris comfortable from Serena and Kirawira, Mbalageti, Grumeti River Lodge and other western lodges!

RESTRICTIONS: children under the age of 7 are not allowed on the balloons.

Serengeti balloon safaris and wildlife migration, Serengeti hot air balloon safaris

General: This tour is worth considering. 
The hot air balloon safari allows you to see the plain from higher above.  The Safari starts at the south west of the Serengeti National Park, through the Serengeti plain and above the large herds of migrating wildebeest, zebra and residing gazelle and antelopes .

It mainly takes place early in the morning (06:30 am) before the sunrise. Balloons which are used in the Serengeti have the capacity of carrying up to 16 people per flight. Only two balloons fly each day; gives opportunity to take photos and having panoramic view of mighty Serengeti Plain
One day balloon flight:

flying over Sopa and Seronera valleys towards Makoma in a level height viewing such animals as cheetah lions, wildebeest, zebra, and even eland, giraffe, gazelle, hyena, zebra and hippo.
INCLUDES: Transport from the lodge or camp to the launching site; Balloon flight (approx one hour), Champagne, full English breakfast in the bush, return road transfer to Seronera.

THE ITINERARY: has been designed to fit in with all standard safari itineraries visiting the Serengeti. The return at 9:30 am allow clients to continue with other planned activities for the rest of the day.
BALLOONS: are top of the range Cameron & Ultra Magic A315 & A415. Colors: acacia green & Savannah gold to blend with those of the Serengeti. Burners: state of the art ‘whisper & stealth”.
 

REGISTERED: as a commercial airline with Department of Civil Aviation. Pilots: experienced, licensed commercial balloon pilots.

Serengeti
Serengeti Climate
Serengeti Map
Serengeti Seasonal Migration
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti Rock Paintings