A New Perspective

Sky Safari: Ballooning Over Africa

Drift silently over the waking plains in a hot air balloon, watching the sunrise illuminate millions of animals below. This is the only way to truly understand the scale of the Serengeti.

Plan this experience

Where: Serengeti, Tarangire
Best time: Flights operate most of the year
Length: Early morning, about 1 hour in the air plus breakfast
Ideal for: Couples

Overview

The experience

Drift silently over the waking plains in a hot air balloon, watching the sunrise illuminate millions of animals below. This is the only way to truly understand the scale of the Serengeti. As the sun Crests the horizon, the entire landscape turns to gold, and the shadows of giraffe and elephant stretch across the grass. The silence is absolute, punctuated only by the occasional roar of the burner as you glide over the tree tops.

What to expect

Pre-dawn pickup
About an hour drifting over the plains
Champagne breakfast in the bush
Flight certificate

At a glance

Where: Serengeti, Tarangire
Best time: Flights operate most of the year; July–October books out early.
Length: Early morning, about 1 hour in the air plus breakfast
Ideal for: Couples, celebrations and photographers

How it works

What it looks like on the ground

Day 05:00
The Inflation Ritual
Transfer to the launch site in the cold, pre-dawn air. Watch as the massive envelopes are filled with hot air, glowing like lanterns in the dark.
Day 06:30
The Golden Hour Flight
Launch as the first light breaks. Drift for an hour over river crossings, kopjes, and vast herds of herbivores waking for the new day.
Day 08:00
The Bush Breakfast
Touch down to a full English breakfast served in the shade of a lone acacia tree, complete with white linen, sparkling wine, and the sounds of the wild.