Home ยป Serengeti, Ruaha, & Tarangire Balloon Safaris in Tanzania
Serengeti, Ruaha, & Tarangire Balloon Safaris in Tanzania
Searching for authentic hot air balloon tours at the best price? Tanzania balloon safaris are the best in East Africa. Tanzania is not only about game drives and hiking; there is another exciting adventure you can experience on your safari in Tanzania. It's an opportunity to view wildlife from the air in an inflated balloon. Hot air ballooning rides in Tanzania are conducted in Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park and Ruaha National Park. The hot air balloon safari Tanzania offers is one of the best in Africa.
A balloon safari in Serengeti starts early in the morning. The balloon team will pick you up from your camp/lodge and drive you to the launch site. The journey to the launch site is equally rewarding, as you may get to see a couple of nocturnal animals like hyenas along the way. Each flight costs between $400 to $550 depending on the season. See our top Tanzania balloon safari packages below.
Ultimate Guide for Booking Balloon Safaris in Tanzania
A hot air balloon consists of a bag known as an envelope containing heated air, which makes it buoyant because the air inside has a lower density than the air outside.
Hot air balloons can fly beyond the atmosphere. Tanzania balloon safaris give you a vantage point of beautiful sunrises or sunsets and the entire flora and fauna of the park or reserve.
Tanzania Balloon safaris usually depend on the weather.
In any case, if the weather is bad, your trip is likely to be canceled and re-booked for another day, and if not possible, then your money will be refunded.
For safety reasons, you will be briefed before entering the basket to start an amazing safari in the air.
At the end of your balloon ride, there is a champagne toast and a bush breakfast, depending on the package you have paid for.
It will definitely leave you wanting more balloon rides.
Book one of our highly discounted balloon safari packages today for significant discounts.
Hot Air Balloon Serengeti Experiences – The Best
Hot Air Ballooning in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The hot air balloon pilot will not ascend beyond 1000 feet, remaining just above the treetops to maintain a panoramic view and provide an excellent perspective of the wildlife below.
This offers an amazing opportunity for photos as you marvel at the extraordinary scenery of the Maasai Mara – Serengeti Savannah region.
This activity can be scheduled either in the morning or evening, depending on your preferences and schedule.
In the evening, you can witness the sunset in the Savannah, while in the morning, you can experience the sunrise from the east.
The sunlight bathes the Savannah in a bright, brilliant glow, allowing you to spot numerous animals in the conservation area, such as antelopes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, among others.
These activities provide 2 hours of adventure, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of Tanzania fully.
Afterward, you head towards a morning meal table set up under an umbrella tree near the landing site.
You’ll be served a well-prepared English bush breakfast with a tropical Savannah ambiance, accompanied by wildlife views.
The experience concludes around 9:00 am after spotting various game, including elephants, topis, kobs, gazelles, lions, leopards, and plenty of buffaloes.
Following the adventure, you can return to your hotel or camp with your guide-driver.
Please note that this activity can be integrated into Tanzania safari itineraries that include a night in central Serengeti.
Efforts will be made to assist with transfers for visitors staying in different locations, but departure times are typically early in the morning and may vary depending on the specific location.
While this activity can be done year-round, it is recommended during the dry season.
The cost of a hot air balloon ride in Tanzania is $500 per person, and please be aware that children under the age of 7 are not permitted on the balloons.
Tanzania Balloon Safaris – Detailed Guide
Hot Air Balloon Setting Off in the Morning
One of the best ways to have a bird’s eye view in Tanzania is by taking a hot air balloon safari in Tanzania.
This provides excellent views of wildlife other than game drives.
There are several places to do Tanzania balloon safaris from, including:
Tanzania Balloon Safaris in Tarangire National Park
Hot Air Ballooning in Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is one of the best national parks in Tanzania, located in the Manyara region of the country.
It derives its name from the Tarangire River that crosses the park.
Given the fact that Tarangire National Park is one of the unique wildlife viewing places in the country, it also makes it a good place for doing game safaris while in Tanzania.
Some of the wildlife found in Tarangire, which you can view during the Tarangire balloon safari, include elephants, lions, cheetahs, caracals, leopards, honey badgers, Impalas, elands, dik-diks, cape buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, Grant’s gazelles, and waterbucks, to mention a few.
The pickup time for hot air balloon safaris in Tarangire National Park will depend on the location of your accommodation, but the flight starts at 6:00 AM in the morning.
The Tarangire balloon flight starts with a briefing from the pilots before you embark on the journey.
The cost of hot air balloon safaris in Tarangire National Park is $550 per person.
The journey usually takes an hour and will depend on the weather, but you get to enjoy a champagne breakfast after landing.
Tanzania Balloon Safaris in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Hot Air Ballooning in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famous for vast wildlife, with approximately 25,000 large mammals found here.
It is also home to Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological site where the earliest specimens of humans were found.
It’s an important prehistoric site in the world.
The famous Wildebeest migration usually starts from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from December to March, which is also the calving season.
There are several Tanzania balloon safari companies that you can choose from in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
It would be good to carry a camera to capture some beautiful aerial views of the park during the trip.
You might also need some warm clothing because mornings can be cold.
You get to enjoy a game drive after breakfast as you’re heading back to your respective accommodations.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the seven natural wonders found in Africa.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area flights usually take 1 hour but can get interrupted by weather sometimes and also depends on the flight path.
Children under the age of 3 years will not take balloon safaris, and children from 3 to 11 years are required to be accompanied by an adult.
The price of a hot air balloon safari in Ngorongoro will depend on the company you use.
Tanzania Balloon Safaris in Serengeti National Park
Hot Air Ballooning in Serengeti National Park
Taking a Tanzania hot air balloon safari in Serengeti is essential, providing travelers with an unforgettable experience.
The park is one of the most famous parks in Africa and the most visited in Tanzania, renowned for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which is the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth.
Every year, millions of wildebeests, thousands of zebras, gazelles, and other antelopes, followed by numerous predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, take a journey to the neighboring Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, while monstrous crocodiles lie in wait in the Grumeti and Mara rivers.
The best way to experience this phenomenon is by taking a hot air balloon safari in the park.
There are four sites in Serengeti where you can take a Tanzania balloon safari from every day at 6:00 AM.
The early morning flight gives you an opportunity to see nocturnal animals returning to their dens and a beautiful sunrise over the horizon.
The cost of a hot air balloon trip in Serengeti is $599, including transportation to and from your hotel, the flight, and a champagne breakfast after landing.
The total number of people in the balloon should be 16 only, and the Tanzania balloon trip lasts 50 to 70 minutes.
Best Time for Balloon Safaris in Tanzania
Want to experience the vastness of the Serengeti plains from a whole different angle, then Hot air ballooning safaris in Serengeti national park are your go too.
You will get into a basket and float away with the aid of a hot air balloon. This is an exciting wilderness experience as you get to have a bird eyeโs view of the Serengeti national park as you float swiftly above the open savannah plains.
The best time for Hot Air ballooning in Serengeti national park is during the dry season (June to October) as the weather during these months is dry and more stable and the skies are clear.
This time also coincides with the peak of the Great Wildebeest migration in Serengeti. This provides travelers with a wilderness experience that is calm and serene for a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over the vast plains of the Serengeti.
Nonetheless, hot air ballooning over the Serengeti national park can be done any time of the year.
It is recommended that you schedule for your hot air balloon experience at the beginning or in the middle of your safari in Serengeti national park to allow room for reschedule in case of situations like unfavorable weather or you feeling a little under the weather.
For when there is a cancellation of the hot air ballon ride because of extreme weather conditions, you will be refunded your activity fee (100%).
Hot air ballooning over Serengeti what to expect;
The ride starts as early as 06:00 hours before the sunrise. Your tour guide will bring you at the launch site earlier and you will witness the flight crew prepare and inflate the hot air balloon.
Carry a warm fleece jacket for the cold morning and or a windbreaker jacket.
There are 3 launch sites in Serengeti national park, that is in the Central region (Seronera and Togoro), the Western region in Grumeti, the Southern region in Ndutu area and the Northern region in Kogatende.
The hot air balloon ride lasts for a full hour weather permitting.
Visitors 7 years and older are permitted to take part in the hot air ballooning rides over Serengeti national park.
Expect scenic landscape views of Serengeti national park.
Private hot air balloon rides are available for charter.
Each hot air balloon can carry 12-16 people at a time. There is enough space for everyone and there are compartments in the basket for safety.
Carry along your camera or smart phone to capture the moments and binoculars for closer views of the wildlife below you and the beautiful panoramic views of the Serengeti.
A bush breakfast on landing with champagne for the celebration of a successful hot air balloon ride.
You be awarded a Serengeti hot air balloon flight certificate.
Enjoy an en-route morning game drive as you head back to your accommodation facility.
Due to the limited capacity of the hot air balloon baskets, it is recommended that one books for the hot air balloon ride in advance especially if planning on visiting the Serengeti during the peak season in June to October.
How long is a balloon safari in Serengeti?
The hot air balloon safari in Serengeti national park under normal circumstances lasts for 1 hour or 1.5 hours.
The balloon ride depends mainly on the weather conditions among other factors like the route the hot air balloon pilot takes.
To take part in this thrilling experience over the Serengeti plains, you should book for the activity in advance preferably during the months of June to October and or January and February.
These are the dry months in Serengeti national park.
Is a Serengeti Balloon Safari worth it?
Yes, it is. Serengeti National Park is the most popular wildlife game park in Tanzania and is best visited during the dry months of June through October when the wildebeest migration is at its peak.
This is also the most recommended time to take hot air balloon rides over Serengeti National Park because the weather is more favorable compared to the wet season when early morning rain could hinder your hot air balloon safari in Tanzania.
Imagine yourself gliding over the Serengeti and witnessing the natural spectacle of the migration, involving millions of wildebeests and thousands of other antelopes, including zebras, gazelles, and elands, among others.
The Serengeti hot air balloon safari costs between 500-600 US dollars per 1-hour ride (subject to favorable weather conditions) per passenger.
The cost of the hot air balloon ride includes a concession fee, bush breakfast, champagne at the end of the ride, the hot air balloon flight certificate, and it also covers the high maintenance costs and servicing of the hot air balloon.
From the pre-launch to flight time and post-launch hot air balloon activities, a dedicated team of about 20 people, including an experienced pilot, ensures your safe takeoff and landing.
Depending on the capacity of the baskets, each trip can have anywhere from 6 to 16 people aged 7 years and over and in good health.
In favorable conditions, your hot air balloon ride will take an hour, and in case of harsh weather conditions that call for a cancellation of a ride, it can be rescheduled to another day, or you will receive a full refund.
Tanzania Balloon Safaris in Ruaha National Park
Hot Air Balloning in Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park offers exceptional wildlife watching opportunities, and it’s also a birders’ paradise with about 571 species of birds recorded.
The Ruaha balloon safaris in Tanzania, just like in other parks, start early in the morning when you’re picked up from your respective lodge and driven through the park to the starting point.
The Tanzania balloon trip starts at 6:00 AM with a briefing from the pilots about the park and safety precautions. The journey takes about an hour and ends with a champagne breakfast.
Other Tanzania Safari Types
There are various Tanzania safari types that you can book to make your holiday unique.
Select from our range of Tanzania safari types and other Tanzania tour categories and hobbies to plan your Tanzania safaris and tours with greater precision.