- Where
- Masai Mara, Serengeti
- Flight
- About 1 hour at sunrise
- Includes
- Bush breakfast and game drive back
- Book
- With your safari, early in peak season
The balloon lifts off as the sun comes up, and for about an hour you drift over the plains watching the herds, the rivers and the shadows of the acacias below. On landing there is a bush breakfast, usually with champagne, before a game drive back to camp.
It is the one thing most guests say they would do again. Flights depend on the weather and fill early in migration season, so we book them with your safari.
What the morning is like
Pick-up is before dawn, usually around 5am, for the drive to the launch site. You watch the balloons inflate in the half-light, climb into the basket and lift off as the sun comes up. The pilot rises and drops with the wind: sometimes high enough to see the curve of the plains, sometimes low enough to hear the hippos.
Landing is often a gentle bump and slide. A table is set in the open with a full cooked breakfast, and you receive a flight certificate. Your own guide meets you there and drives you back to camp through the park.
Timing it with the migration
In the Masai Mara, July to September is the time to fly over the herds and the river. In the Serengeti, flights run in the central and northern areas, so the herds you see depend on the season. We plan your balloon morning for whichever park and day gives you the best chance.
What we arrange
- Flights booked with licensed balloon operators in the Mara and Serengeti
- Pre-dawn pick-up from your lodge
- Bush breakfast on landing and a game drive back
- Flights timed for the migration when your dates allow
- Private baskets for couples and special occasions on request
Balloon morning
- 5:00
Wake-up call and coffee, then the drive to the launch site in the dark.
- 6:00
Watch the balloons inflate and climb into the basket.
- 6:30
Lift off at sunrise and drift over the plains for about an hour.
- 7:45
Land, toast with champagne and sit down to a bush breakfast.
- 9:30
Game drive back to camp with your own guide.
Routes to build on
Our existing itineraries, ready to adapt. Tell us which appeals and we'll tailor it to you.
4 Day Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Safari
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7 Day Ultimate Kenya & Tanzania Safari
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10 Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari
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Good to know
Is there an age or weight limit?
Operators set their own rules, usually a minimum age of around seven and a requirement that passengers can climb into the basket. Tell us about your group and we will check.
What if the flight is cancelled?
Flights are cancelled only for weather and are normally refunded or moved to the next morning if your plans allow.
Is it safe?
Balloon operators in the Mara and Serengeti are licensed by the civil aviation authorities and fly experienced pilots. Flights only go ahead in suitable winds.
What should I wear?
Warm layers: it is cold before dawn and warms quickly. Closed shoes and a hat. Space in the basket is limited, so bring a small camera bag only.
Tell us when you can travel. We'll do the rest.
Send your dates and a rough idea of what you want to see. We come back with a day-by-day route and a quote, usually within one working day.