Baloon Safaris

Hot air ballooning over the vast Serengeti plains is the ultimate game viewing experience with smart African Travel.

For the adventure of a lifetime we can offer you the unique experience of a Balloon Safari over the Serengeti plains. Smart African Travel can organize a balloon ride for you at an extra cost, if you are staying at lodge or camp located in central Serengeti.It is advisable to atleast have two nights stay at the Park.

If you choose ballooning, plan to depart early in the morning to the launch site for the hot air balloons – you must depart early to enjoy the calm morning sky. Your balloon pilot will guide the balloon low over the Serengeti plains, providing you with the chance to see the different wildlife at their early morning activities: hippos returning to the water after wandering for food in the dark, elephants coming out for their morning feeding, lions returning from the hunt.

If there is a special activity going on, the pilot will bring the balloon down close to the treetops for a better view. Skimming over the treetops, you will have a chance to see the game in action and up close.
The flight lasts about an hour with ample opportunity for photography. After landing, there is a traditional champagne toast, followed by breakfast cooked on the balloon burners in the middle of the Serengeti plains.
To guarantee availability booking in advance is recommended

At 5:00 am, Serengeti Balloon Safaris will collect you from your central Serengeti lodge , and transfer you by Landrover to their 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 afterwards continue with your game drive.