There is a moment at sunrise in a hot air balloon above the Serengeti when you understand the scale of what you are looking at. Two million animals moving across a landscape that stretches to every horizon. From the ground, you see the wildlife. From the air, you see the system.
What to Expect
A Serengeti balloon safari begins before dawn. You are collected from your camp in the early morning darkness, driven to the launch site, and watch as the balloon is inflated by the first light of day. The ascent typically takes an hour — the pilot controls altitude precisely, dropping low enough to hear lions roaring and hippos grunt from the rivers below, rising high enough to see the Migration herds as dark moving shapes across the plains.
The landing is followed by a champagne breakfast set up in the bush — a full English or continental spread with tables and chairs in the middle of the Serengeti, with whatever wildlife happens to be nearby. It is one of the great African breakfast experiences.
When to Go
Balloon safaris are available year-round, but the experience varies dramatically by season. During the Great Migration (roughly July through October), you are flying over the herds — the plains are alive with wildebeest and zebra as far as the eye can see. In the green season (November through June), the landscape is lusher and the wildlife more concentrated around water sources, offering different photographic opportunities.
The balloon safari is typically offered as a supplementary experience to your regular game drives — most guests do one balloon flight during a multi-day safari and continue with ground-based wildlife viewing afterward.
Is It Worth It?
The cost of a Serengeti balloon safari is significant — typically between $500 and $700 per person. Whether it is worth it depends on what you value. If you are a photographer seeking a unique perspective, or a traveler for whom the once-in-a-lifetime experience matters more than the budget, the answer is almost certainly yes. If you are more interested in close wildlife encounters and tracking predator behavior, you may prefer to invest that time in additional game drives.
We can help you decide whether a balloon safari fits your itinerary — and which operator offers the best experience for your dates and budget.
Adding a balloon safari to your Serengeti itinerary is one of the ways to make an exceptional safari even more memorable. Let's talk about whether it makes sense for you.
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