A hot air balloon lifts off before sunrise and drifts silently over the plains, following the wind rather than a road. From up there you get a different sense of scale: herds moving across open ground, rivers cutting through the grass, and the Serengeti stretching out further than it looks from a truck. Every flight ends with a bush breakfast on landing, usually with a glass of something sparkling.
Your MorningA vehicle collects you from camp around 5:30am, well before sunrise, with a hot drink for the drive to the launch site.
Ground crews lay out and inflate the balloon with fans and burners while you watch, which takes about 15–20 minutes.
You lift off just as the sun clears the horizon, when the light and the temperature are both at their best.
The pilot varies altitude through the flight, low enough to see wildlife clearly, then higher for the wider view.
Landings are gentle but can happen anywhere depending on the wind, which is part of what makes ballooning what it is.
The ground crew sets up a full breakfast on the spot where you land, usually with champagne or sparkling juice.
Balloon operators move their launch site with the wildlife and the weather. If a balloon flight is something you want on your safari, tell us early so we can route your itinerary through wherever is currently operating.
Roughly $550–600+ per person depending on season, including hotel transfers, the flight, and the bush breakfast afterward.
Balloons carry a fixed number of passengers per basket (typically 12–16), so we recommend booking a few weeks ahead where possible.
Flights depend on wind and visibility. Operators occasionally cancel for safety, in which case you're refunded or rebooked.
Most operators set a minimum age of around 7 and a maximum weight per passenger, and ask about mobility for getting in and out of the basket.
Let us know which nights of your safari you'd like to fly, and we'll check availability at whichever launch site is operating at the time.
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