Day 1: Pick up from camp and driven to launch site

Balloon Safaris in Masai Mara

Ballooning takes place at sunrise, which means a pre-dawn wake up with steaming coffee and a chilly drive to the launch It is still dark and you may be fortunate to see nocturnal animals on the way to the launch site. Meet the pilot as he prepares for the flight, the great balloons slowly fill with hot air, rising up ponderously above their tethered baskets. Take-off is a noisy, bumpy affair, which adds to the thrill and enhances the sudden serenity when you reach cruising altitude. The noise of the heating flame punctuates the quiet along with the soft whistle of air currents and occasional ‘ooohs’ from your fellow adventurers. Wrap up warmly because it gets cold up there!

The land below you is quiet in the peace of dawn as sunrise unfurls in bright colors on the eastern horizon. As the earth warms up, wildlife starts to move – the cool of early morning is the best time of day for game viewing, and a hot air balloon gives you an especially superb view of the plains. The balloon can fly relatively low over big herds (unlike helicopters and light aircraft), making this one of the best ways to see the full splendor of the Great Wildebeest Migration.

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.

No two flights are ever the same and your balloon safari will be unique. While impossible to guarantee particular animals, you are likely to see various species from above.

Your pilot knows the area well and is also a committed conservationist and will point out animals, birds and features of interest.

When you touch down on solid earth again, a glorious champagne breakfast awaits you, prepared and served on the savannah – the perfect end to an extraordinary and serene safari experience.