What to Expect on a Balloon Safari

Tuesday, 28.Feb 2023

Serengeti national park is a protected area of the Serengeti-Ecosystem and is one of the top attractions in Tanzania, known for its stunning landscapes, and diverse wildlife. The Serengeti is home to a wide variety of animals including the Big five, a well as other species such as cheetah, giraffe, zebra, hyena and topi.

You can experience the magical Serengeti from the sky on a hot air balloon. Drifting above the African savannah plains, while watching herds of animals beneath you, is without a doubt a once in a life-time experience.

The park is also known for its annual wildebeest migration, during which millions of wildebeest and zebra travel across the park in search of food and water. The Serengeti is considered one of the best places in Africa to observe wildlife viewing in its natural habitat, and it’s a popular destination for tourist interested in wildlife and photography. Not only on game drives or walking safaris, but also on a balloon safari to witness the vast open plains from the sky combined with a magical Africa sunrise.

The sizes of the balloon differ and their capacity ranges from 8 to 16 people, driven by the power of wind while the Hot air from the gas cylinders help in control and directing the balloon, it also determines the height at which the balloon level will be. Starting slowly in slow motion as the balloon is attached to the starting Serengeti Safari van on the side till it sets off peacefully the other crew members untie before its late for it take off.

After the flight has taken off you will the be floating in air and the crew guide will be explaining to you all the animals, shrubs and other visible nature during the flight. When an action is captured, the balloon can be held on stand still for you to full observe the action at that same time. 

The flight will last about 3 hours on air, depending on the factors or the weather of the day. After descending to land at its landing point where the balloon car crew will come and pick you up and drive you where you will have your bush breakfast. The hot air balloon comes with a well prepared hot and delicious breakfast at the bush. Later you will drive back to the tourist information center where you will mee your guide who will take you back to the lodge.

SEE THE GREAT SUNRISE OF AFRICA.

A hot air balloon starts early around 5:30 am before the sun rise, later on when you are floating in the air you will be able to witness the sunrise and see the beauty of Africa, this is an epic view that you will never forget. The cool dawn hour is the right time to watch the wildlife, it is the time when animals are active. The ride helps you enjoy picturesque nature and view the wildlife, the predictable weather pattern and favorable wind create perfect hot air balloon rids in Serengeti all year round. Part from wildlife viewing, there are many good reasons to enjoy a hot air balloon safari in the Serengeti.

A hot air balloon safari takes you on a memorable ride over Serengeti National Park to view African wildlife safely. You can see wildebeest, lions, zebras, and hippo. It helps you enjoy an aerial view it allows you to see from a game-viewing safari vehicle.

You can expect the hot air balloon to hover on treetops and give a view of the breathtaking Serengeti savannah plains. On a hot air balloon safari, you can get an aerial view of diverse wildlife in their natural habitat.

One thing do not forget to carry your camera and binoculars with you! It can help you see and capture stunning sight from your hot balloon ride.

The plains od Serengeti are perfect for air balloon flight. It allows you to get a closer look of the wildlife and wilderness. You will get overwhelmed by the number of spectacles on your Serengeti hot air balloon safari.

IS THE SERENGETI HOT AIR BALLOON DANGEROUS?

The answer is No! a Serengeti balloon safari isn’t dangerous. Every precaution is taken to ensure that the pilot and passenger are not only safe, but able to enjoy a thrilling experience.

The balloons are flown by meticulous pilots who run through rigorous pre-flight safety checks. The pilots will also analyze the conditions and wind speed before deciding to take off or not.

Registered balloon safari companies are fully licensed and annually inspected by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. It is also mandatory for passengers to be strapped in with a passenger seat belt.

Soaring above the wildebeest down below can be a nerve-wracking experience for those with a fear of heights. Passenger who have undertaken a hot air balloon ride, however can attest to the fact that in the end, their fear of falling was unfounded.

Why is a Balloon Safari so expensive

Balloon flights are expensive to operate, especially in remote areas such as Serengeti National Park. Balloon naturally need to be in top condition, so they need to be replaced after about 850 flights hours. one also needs to consider the cost of the fuel and the crew comprises six people plus a licensed pilot. A further ten people (per balloon) operate behind the scenes to get the balloon airborne. So this adds up to a considerable amount of people, additionally, there are the recovery vehicles, transfer vehicles and backup operations. Last, a substantial part of the total price is allocated to conservation fees.

What to expect and see on a Hot-air Balloon

You can see many animals on a balloon safari, you can see a pride of lions, giraffes, heads of elephants matching over the plains, hyenas, birds, and many game like wildebeest, topi, zebra, and other antelopes. It is a memorable experience to witness the Serengeti from above.

Pop The Champagne!

After enjoying the Serengeti plains for about an hour from a birds-eye view, the pilot searches for an open space suitable for landing and makes a landing announcement to get ready for the descent, for landing, everyone has to face in the same direction and sit on the bottom of the basket. If you follow those rules, a smooth landing is assured. While you’re still full of excitement about the balloon ride, you will arrive at the breakfast site to enjoy an extensive champagne bush breakfast with fresh fruits, fresh juice, warm and cold dishes like eggs of your choice, sausages, and pancakes. The food is fresh prepared by the chefs, with all dietary requirements in mind. 

There is no better way to end an exciting hot air balloon safari in Serengeti.