Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari

Summary

Tanzania Serengeti balloon safaris operate daily from Seronera. The sunrise balloon safari is followed by a champagne toast and a bush breakfast.

Duration: 5 hours (5.00AM – 10.00AM)

Location: Central Serengeti / Seronera Valley

Arrangements: You are picked up from your lodge/camp in Serengeti and driven to the balloon launch site.

Current cost: US $600.00 per person, subject to change without notice.

The flight takes off at around 6:00am for about an hour and returns to Seronera by road at approximately 9:15am after a hearty champagne breakfast. This just about fits in with safari schedules.

Logistics: Easily incorporated into any itinerary which includes at least one night in the Central Serengeti at either the Serengeti Serena Lodge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Mbuzi Mawe Tented Lodge, Mbalageti Tented Lodge or any of the Private Luxury Camps in the Central Serengeti

Seasons: Balloon safaris can be incorporated into your itinerary during any month of travel. Late April through late June and late October through late December are especially good times to schedule a ballooning expedition. The wildebeest and zebra migration may be thundering through the Central Serengeti during these times.

Itinerary:

Launching at dawn, rising as the sun rises, you gently float over the plains of the magnificent Serengeti.

Your Balloon Safari adventure starts early morning when you depart your lodge or camp. It is still dark and you may be fortunate to see nocturnal animals on the way to the launch site.

When you arrive, you will meet your pilot and witness your balloon being inflated and prepared for launch. After a thorough safety briefing and demonstration of boarding and landing position you board your balloon and lift off! Rising as the sun rises your balloon floats in whatever direction the winds of the day are heading over this wonderful area. It is an adventure – even for us. Whereas we know where we have started, we genuinely do not know where we will land as we float in the direction of and speed of the wind.

Your pilot will use varying altitudes and layers of air to navigate the balloon over this amazing area. Each day is different, some of the flight may be low, offering a different perspective and at other times your balloon may climb to 1000’ or more. Nobody can predict, no two flights are ever the same and your balloon safari will be unique.

After landing, you celebrate in the traditional way with a champagne toast (well, an excellent sparkling wine) before heading off to a special ‘Out of Africa’ breakfast.

Breakfast is prepared in the bush and served under a convenient acacia tree. Linen, bone china, Sheffield cutlery and freshly prepared fare in the company of your fellow passengers makes a memorable finale to your adventure.

After breakfast, you are taken to the rendezvous point to meet with your driver guide and continue your day’s activities.