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 ballon 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. Ballon 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).
Other launching areas are in 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.
Price per person:
At Serengeti (USD 600 per person + PTM fees)
Ndutu (USD 600 per person + PTM fees)
Tarangire (USD 600 per person + PTM fees)
