“Best value safari we found anywhere, and it never felt budget. Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar - flawless from start to finish.”
A Serengeti hot air balloon safari is the one splurge almost every traveller ranks first afterwards. You lift off in the half-dark, drift in total silence over waking herds, and watch the sun spill across a plain that runs unbroken to the horizon. No engine, no road. Just wind, and wildlife below.
You leave camp in the dark for the launch site, where the balloon glows like a lantern as it fills. Take-off is at first light.
Pilots fly a mix of altitudes. High sweeps show the Serengeti's sheer scale and, in season, migration columns stretching for kilometres. Then low-level drifting, sometimes metres above the grass, close enough to hear hippos grunt in the Grumeti.
Flights last about an hour, steered by the morning breeze. Every basket faces outward, so there is no bad seat. For photographers, the golden light and the balloon's shadow on the plains are the shots of the trip.
The landing is half the tradition. Wherever the wind sets you down, a full bush breakfast is laid out under an acacia, with champagne in the old ballooning custom. Your driver-guide then collects you and rolls straight into the morning game drive, while predators are still active.
Over the southern plains in calving season the ground moves with wildebeest and their minutes-old calves. Along the western corridor in the dry months the herds queue at the Grumeti.
The operation is world-class: commercial pilots licensed to international standards, weather calls made with military caution, and partitioned baskets so every couple gets a corner. Your flight certificate is signed over breakfast.
Book early. Baskets are limited and sunrise slots sell out weeks ahead in migration season.
Dress in warm layers, since it is cold aloft before the sun climbs, and bring a hat for the burner's heat. The landing can be a gentle bump and the crew briefs you on the brace position.
Children need to be 7+ and tall enough to see over the basket. Weather safety is absolute: on the rare morning a flight is cancelled, fees are refunded in full. Park context at TANAPA.
The balloon adds one unforgettable morning to any Serengeti safari. See our Serengeti National Park guide for where it fits.
What to bring:
Honest advice, even when it costs us. If a cheaper combination suits you better, we will say so. Community partnerships keep your money working where you travel.
We hold allocations with the licensed Serengeti operators and confirm your slot as soon as your safari dates are fixed. Send your request with the days you will be in the park.
Talk to our local safari experts for a tailor-made itinerary that fits your dates and budget.
