Is a Serengeti Balloon Safari Worth It?
Is a Serengeti Balloon Safari Worth It?
Hot Air Balloon Safaris in Tanzania are amazing; nothing compares to the excitement of floating leisurely over the breathtaking Tanzanian bush while watching herds of wildebeest walk the expansive grassland and the big five patiently waiting to attack their prey. The ideal way to experience Tanzania’s immense wildness is with a leisurely ride over the famous Serengeti. A hot air balloon trip can be combined with a variety of other excellent safari activities, such as game drives and cultural excursions, if you are eager to visit Tanzania’s Serengeti for a safari vacation. When visiting Tanzania, tourists can take advantage of the professionally run Hot Air Balloon Safaris, which are offered daily.
Top Attractions to see while on a Serengeti Balloon safari
Beautiful Sunrise
The balloon safaris start early in the morning. When your crew is inflating the balloon in the dark, you will be enjoying hot coffee in a starlit sky. That feeling of anticipation is electric when the burners ignite and the balloon is on its upward balloon flight.
When the sun rises on the horizon of the east, the Serengeti takes on a golden and orange colour. It is not beautiful, but life-altering.
Aerial Wildlife Watching
When you are airlifted, the ecosystem landscape is totally different. It is not fair to seek the animal you do look with open eyes at whole migrations shifting through the land like streams of water. In the Great Migration, you will witness thousands of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle in the movement over the plains. Or you may see elephants clearing a trail through the underbrush or the giraffes trotting across clear fields or a pride of lions resting in the sun. You watch the rhythm of existence from a bird’s-eye view, something that cannot be experienced with 4×4.
The Serengeti has a Vastness
The Serengeti area is almost 15,000 square kilometres. Seen on the ground, it is huge. In the air it is endless. The balloon safari makes you realise to the core how wild and wide this place is.
You will fly quietly over kopjes (rocky outcrops), acacia forests and rivers that intersect with the soil. The landscape gradually changes in interesting and small details every few minutes.
Champagne Breakfast, Brunch in Bush
Yep, the after-flight champagne breakfast does exist, and it is Wonderful. Once you land your pilot and ground crew prepare a full breakfast right in the savannah. Imagine a white tablecloth, fresh fruit, custom-made eggs and nothing but bird songs and distant animal calls. It is magic pure and simple.
Local Culture in Serengeti National Park
The Maasai Connection
The Maasai people have stayed in perfect harmony with this scenery over generations and this happens in the Serengeti. Other balloon safari operators join forces with the local Maasai communities as their guides, crew and hosts. That is, your safari contributes to the local communities and the preservation of culture.
In fact, you might get to witness an ancient traditional Maasai blessing just before takeoff of the balloon, which is considered a blessing to the land and the route.
A District Enriched with Tale
Its origin was given the name Serengeti (which is Maasai language), which means the place where the land runs on forever. It does not only sound poetic; it is true. These never-ending plains are the scene of all this, from the beginning of humanity to the giant monarch migration, which is one of the last greatest movements of animals on this planet.
When you fly over this land, it is like flying through history. The balloon turns into the time machine.
Travel Advice
Best Time to Visit
Although the balloon safaris are available throughout the year, there are certain months that you can get captivating sceneries. The nuts and bolts of this are as follows:
Dry Season (June to October): Very good visibility as well as maximum concentration of wildlife. Ballooning is carried out on cool mornings.
Breeding Period: (December to February) During this time, a lot of predatory action can be observed and much baby wildlife is sighted.
Green Season (April to May): Damp surroundings and fewer visitors—though there is a possibility of certain balloon companies stopping operation because of weather conditions.
What Wear
Layer up. In the morning it is cold and heats up quickly.
Do not wear bold colours. Neutral tones fit the surroundings in a better way.
Comfortable shoes. After landing you might have to walk a bit.
Budgeting
Balloon safari is not a cheap deal. The costs are mostly between 500 and 600 dollars per person, depending on the operator and the season. The cost of transportation from your camp or resort to the balloon departure site, the actual balloon trip, and a champagne breakfast upon landing are all included in this price. Depending on the landing location, hot air balloon trips in Serengeti National Park might last anywhere from 50 to 70 minutes. Approximately 15 other passengers often share a single balloon journey.
Most of the tourists who come on Tanzania tours and travel arrangements will spend more to have the balloon flight. Although you are paying thousands on your safari, the balloon ride is a big impact add-on that makes the entire holiday even better.
How to book a balloon Safari in Serengeti
Majority of the tourists organise their balloon safari via their lodge or the Safari company. Some packages include a balloon trip as a bonus. We appreciate your prompt confirmation of availability, as limited spots are available and sunrises occur only once a day.
Reputable traders are Serengeti Balloon Safaris (the first and the most famous), Balloons over Serengeti, The Safari related to miracles experience balloon
Select an authorised corporation with professionally experienced pilots who have good safety records.
Hidden Gems
When you are in the Serengeti region, you must not miss:
Ngorongoro Crater: It is close, less than an hour drive, and this ancient volcano bundled with jaw-dropping scenery and wildlife is a must.
Lake Ndutu: So magical, even more so with fewer people at the calving season (Jan-March), when there is tonnes of action.
Central Serengeti (Seronera): Hotspot of the big cats and classic view of the savannah.
It is simple to combine a balloon safari with the wider tours. Tanzania has lots of possibilities for visiting other parks such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara and also Zanzibar after it to spend some time by the beach.
Conclusion
Tanzania safaris offer a wide variety of fantastic activities. Game drives. Walking tours. Cultural visits. However, there is nothing like flying over the Serengeti. A hot air balloon trip is what you call one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences in travelling.
