Balloon Safari

The balloon ride is a lot of fun, and most participants do enjoy it very much, but we always like to set guest’s expectations up fairly before they book the balloon ride to avoid potential disappointment later.

Fact #1:
The balloons are all operated by two companies in the Serengeti (Serengeti Balloon Safaris and Adventures Aloft Balloon Safaris) and both are licensed to operate balloons over the Serengeti. We will simply be arranging the activity through either company on your behalf. It is not a private activity, but rather an activity you will be sharing with other guests from other places.

Fact #2:
There may be up to 16 people in 1 basket. The balloon company may vary the size of the basket used depending on how many people have booked that day, but it is not uncommon for the largest basket to be used.

Fact #3:
Although the entire activity takes the better half of a morning, you will only be in the air for about 1 hour. By the time you travel to the launch site, watch them inflate the balloon, get your safety briefing, do the 1 hour ride, land, have their hot breakfast, etc., the entire activity takes up most of your morning, so it will take the place of one morning game drive.

Fact #4:
The balloon pilot has limited control of the direction of the balloon. He can make it go up and down, but he has very little control over the direction side to side. Because of this, the only animals you will see are the ones that are directly in the flight path of the balloon. So even if you see a herd of animals in the distance, unless they are directly beneath your flight path, you will be unable to fly over them.

Fact #5:
The balloon ride is mainly all about getting a unique perspective of the scenery, though there is a chance to see wildlife (most of it will come down to luck). In the Central Serengeti, the ballooning is superb year-round and there is a good chance to fly over hippos in the Seronera River and to see some of the resident animals (giraffes, buffalo, gazelles, etc.) that inhabit the Seronera River Valley. In the dry season and green season, ballooning is also conducted in the North Serengeti and South Serengeti, respectively, and provides a small opportunity to see the famous wildebeest and zebra migration from the air (an unbelievable site!).

Fact #6:
Balloon rides are potentially dangerous activities anywhere in the world and there was one fatal balloon crash that occurred in the Serengeti in 2010, which resulted in two casualties and many more injuries. You may wish to read about the safety procedures that the Serengeti Balloon Safari Company specifically has implemented on the following link: balloonsafaris.com/safety. Please note that balloon companies require all passengers to sign a liability waiver before launching.

Fact #7: You can bring a camera with you on the ride, but due to space limitations and potential hazards to sensitive equipment during landing, you’ll probably want to leave your large lenses on the ground.