Maasai Mara Balloon Tour & Safari
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience by booking a Masai Mara Balloon Tour / Safari with us. A Hot Air Balloon Safari is an evocative, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you have the chance to enjoy during any safari you take to Masai Mara. Fly silently over the vast Mara plains, teeming with game, at the break of dawn. The flight lasts just about an hour and concludes with a ”Champgagne Bush Breakfast” in the Masai Mara wilderness.
[alert-note]A hot air balloon safari in Masai Mara is an adventure of a lifetime. This is the perfect way to crown off your Masai Mara Safari. Our balloon safari offers the unique experience over the expansive Mara plains, forests and river teeming with abundance of game.[/alert-note]
Maasai Mara Balloon Tour & Safari in Kenya
We’ve highlighted a few of our favourite Maasai Mara Balloon Tours below. Get in touch with us to help create a personalised journey for you.
[vc_row][vc_column][tours_grid title_underline=”on” description_words_limit=”23″ tour_category_ids_condition=”IN” show=”” number=”9″ price_style=”default” show_categories=”on” btn_more_text=”View more” order=”DESC” orderby=”date” title=”Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris” tour_category=”hot-air-balloon-tour-safari-maasai-mara-kenya” columns=”3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Daily Hot Air Balloon Safari Masai Mara, Kenya
On the date of your hot air balloon flight, the balloon operating company shall collect you from your safari lodge/ tented camp in one of their custom safari jeep at around 5AM for a drive to the hot air balloon launch. Arrive at the launch site by 6AM, here you can watch the balloons being prepared for take-off as you enjoy a cup of Kenyan tea or coffee.
[alert-note]Your balloon pilot, will in the meantime give you a safety briefing as well as explain your expectations during the flight. At the Launch site-there are basic toilet facilities available. Just before sunrise, at approximately 6:30AM,you shall board the balloon basket[/alert-note]
The balloon flight lasts approximately one hour and this also depends on prevailing wind conditions, landing is between 7:30 and 7:45AM. Upon landing, and as part of this unique adventure-you may observe the complete deflation of the balloon. You shall then be transported to a place for your breakfast.
[alert-note]Breakfast is usually set up on the savannah plains of the Masai Mara, traditionally under the shade of a lonely acacia tree.[/alert-note]
Breakfast is an experience to remember-full and Kenyan style, complete with fresh juices, eggs-to-order, served by waiters in traditional costume, and, of course the champagne.
Expert Guide On Balloon Trips In Masai Mara
Hot air balloon rides are exhilarating in any setting. A hot air balloon safari over Masai Mara National Reserve, though, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We highly recommend that adventurous guests plan to stay at the reserve for at least three days to allow time for this activity along with your other safari activities such game drives, bush walks, village visits and more. Additionally, hot air balloon flights need to be pre-arranged by your Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya trip representative to ensure guaranteed availability due to the limited space of only 16 passengers in a balloon. The balloons can accommodate adults and children, with some limitations. Children must be at least four years old and must be accommodation by a parent or guardian.
We recommend that adults be in good physical condition. Adults who are over 265 lbs (120 kg) may be required to purchase an additional spot on the balloon (twice the cost) for safety precautions, though this can be waived depending on flight occupancy at the discretion and prior approval from the pilot. For our guests who have not been on a hot air ballooning excursion in Africa or elsewhere, we offer some general information about how a hot air balloon works and what to expect. Typically, staff of 20-25 people are required for the launch and recovery. When you arrive at the launch site, you may have a chance to see the balloon, also known as an “envelope,” being inflated. The ground crew opens the envelope by laying it across the ground.
A large fan is used to inflate the envelope partially. When the envelope is about half-full, the crew attaches the basket and burner. The basket remains fully secured to the ground during inflation. The burner is used to inflate the envelope fully.
Watching the inflation and preparation is an incredible experience, as you soon see the truly massive size of the balloon. Once the balloon is fully inflated, the crew helps passengers aboard. The basket of your balloon is sectioned into multiple compartments for both your comfort and safety. The ground crew steadies the balloon as your pilot gives you and other guests a safety overview. When everyone is set, the burner is turned on once again, and you feel the balloon aloft the ground. The crew guides the basket until the balloon is safely launched. No two hot air balloon safaris are the same. The balloons rely on air currents, such as wind direction and speed.
The pilot only controls the up and down movement. This is why hot air balloons require a chase team, and why you will have a unique and exclusive tour of Masai Mara National Reserve during each hot air balloon safari! Best of all, hot air balloons fly over areas of the reserve that are restricted to safari vehicles! During your flight, even the altitude of your balloon flight is different – sometimes, you rise high above the plains so you can see for miles while at other times, you remain closer to earth, giving you close-up views of the animals. Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya Safaris can arrange hot air ballooning in Masai Mara for all guests staying either in the reserve or in private conservancies; though, pickup times do vary depending on the distance from the launch site.
Private hot air balloon safaris can also be arranged for multi-generation families and small groups during their bush holiday, and a discounted rate may be available depending on your month of travel.
Authentic Safari Tours in Masai Mara With Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya
Your magnificent frontier trip of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve takes you into the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, one of the world’s greatest pristine wilderness expanses.
Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya organizes morning and afternoon game drives in this high-density fauna outback. Should you choose an accommodation in one of the conservancies, you also have exclusive access to additional areas of the ecosystem via varied activities, including night game drives, as well as guided walking safaris, fishing in some river camps and cultural visits to Maasai villages. Game drive experienced in varied outbacks from riverine woodlands to the great plains is the most widespread tour activity in Masai Mara.
[alert-note]Your Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya guide has an in-depth knowledge of the reserve, including the finest vantage points to see specific animal interactions, large herds, elusive species, nocturnal activities and other noteworthy sights. Game tours are best prescribed in the early mornings and late afternoons within the reserve; however, off-road driving is not allowed. [/alert-note]
The private Mara conservancies that border the main reserve do not have such limitations, so you have more freedom to see wildlife when and where you wish.
[alert-note]Your guide also has an innate ability to track and locate animals that may otherwise go unnoticed.[/alert-note]
A cheetah crouched in the long grass awaiting her prey or scans the vast plains atop a termite hill or even your vehicle while a distant puff of dust reveals the location of a lion kill.
What Will I see on the Mara Balloon Tour?
Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is the ultimate ballooning destination. The landscape is stunning and free, and the abundant wildlife can make for spectacular viewings from above. As this is a wilderness area contiguous with the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania, with free-ranging wildlife that is not fenced in, we of course cannot guarantee what we will fly over and what we will see during a particular flight. However, we typically see a good diversity of animals, and it is likely you will spot elephants, giraffes, various antelope species, and ostriches from the balloon. Many of our guests also see hyenas, lions, and cheetahs, and ballooning is one of the best ways to search for the elusive black rhino, of which there are less than 40 in the Mara.
We have had some truly amazing sightings over the years, including leopards in trees, lions on kills, and active hyena dens. If you visit the Mara between July and October, you will probably see the “Great Migration” of over a million wildebeest, along with large numbers of zebras and gazelles.
Observing this phenomenon from the balloon is the best way to grasp just how huge the migrating herds really are, and is an experience not to be missed. Regardless of whether the “Big Five” are seen from the balloon, most people say that the balloon flight was a highlight of their safari.
Personalized Tours in Masai Mara, Kenya
While game drives in Masai Mara gives you a large-scale perspective of the flora and fauna, walking safaris take you into the smallest habitats and life unnoticed from a vehicle. Insects crawl upon delicate plants; small mammals peer out of their hiding places, avian life are evident in nested trees and the soil itself reveals clues as to the activities of larger creatures. Walking safaris are only allowed in the private conservancies bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Your guide enlightens you as to traditional uses of plants, scat identification, tracking and navigation techniques, wildlife management challenges, ancient folklore and much more. We also recommend bush walks along the riverine forest for guests who desire a birding tour of East Africa’s incredible feathered inhabitants.
[alert-note]The Maasai people are one of East Africa’s most iconic tribes. Largely known as fierce warriors who wear deep red clothing, the Maasai live by intriguing values and traditions. Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya arranges cultural visits to local Maasai villages to take you inside these proud people. You learn about family and gender roles, beliefs and practices, as well as the challenges of maintaining an ancient way of life in the modern world. We highly recommend that you include a hot air balloon ride in your tour activities at Masai Mara. [/alert-note]
Drifting along the air currents above the pristine plains wilderness gives you unrivaled vistas of the landscape and uninterrupted wildlife interactions. The experience is the picture-perfect complement to game drives and walking safaris, giving you a comprehensive bird’s-eye view understanding of the greater Serengeti-Mara ecology. Most of all, though, the sensation of being in a hot air balloon is simply thrilling!
Maasai Mara Balloon Tour & Safari in Pictures
Where To Stay In Masai Mara
Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya recommends a range of accommodations to give every guest a distinct trip to Masai Mara National Reserve based on their travel preferences. To simplify your lodging choice in a highly complex wilderness with over 100 camps and lodges just in Masai Mara, we have developed the Safari Tier System that provides a professional, independent and objective rating of each accommodation in the Mara.
[alert-note]The rating is based on a comprehensive set of criteria, such as strategic location correlated to maximal wildlife access, guiding standards, service, cuisine, room quality, accommodation size, amenities, facilities, easy of logistical travel and much more. Tier 1 is the highest rating, representing premium, luxury accommodations where you enjoy exclusive access to superlative locations and top-notch guides, small camp size, utmost service and sumptuous food, opulent tents or boutique rooms and so much more. [/alert-note]
For guests who desire a fair balance between quality and price, we recommend Tier 2 deluxe accommodations with similar variables but a notch down augmented with a possible slight increase in camp capacity, variable location and access.
[alert-note]Tier 3 value lodging options are perfect for the budget-conscious travelers who prefer general wildlife availability and access to modest larger camps and lodges with high number of guests rather than indulging aesthetics, super-rated guides and secluded locations. Exceptions do apply to few intimate value camps and lodges in Masai Mara but most still fall under their designated tier experience.[/alert-note]
Contact Hot Air Balloon Mara Kenya to arrange for a Customized Safari while in Maasai Mara.
Comments