Early morning. Mist covers the African savannah like a thick blanket. Between the haze of grey, you can discern spots of dewy green grass that starts coming to life as the sun’s soft rays break the mist. Â
As the pilot blazes fire into the rainbow-striped expanse of the balloon above you, you take off into the skies. From up here, the horizon is limitless as you silently glide over the landscapes, your breath taken away by the scenic beauty beneath you.
Hot air balloon safaris offer authentic and soul-enriching opportunities for tourists to witness Africa’s timeless drama playing out as they are treated to sightings of giraffes strolling among galloping antelope and wildebeest ramming their heads in a battle of wills.
Some things are worth getting up early for, and this is undoubtedly one of them. Rising before the birds and heading out in the silence of the pre-dawn towards the launch site is all part of the anticipation. Perhaps you might have the opportunity of spotting one of the Serengeti’s more elusive inhabitants as the game vehicle’s headlights shed some light on this nocturnal game drive.
Your pilot will take you through the vital safety briefing ahead of your flight. As the sky begins to lighten and the crew inflates the balloon – an envelope of savannah gold and acacia green billowing into the cool morning, lit by the flames of the burners, comes alive. You climb into the basket and prepare to lift into the dawn.
Each flight is a different journey dictated by the direction of the wind, where the sights and sounds rise from the ground to meet you. We know where we’ve started, but we don’t know where we will return to earth. This is part of the adventure. Sometimes the basket will be gently brushing the tips of the grass and then climbing, climbing through the layers of air until you’re high enough to see the curve of the horizon, painted gold and pink by the early sun. Our pilots not only have years of experience in harnessing the African wind but are also interpreters of the wildlife in the ebb and flow of the landscape below. Around an hour or so after you lift into the sky, the basket will return to the plains of the Serengeti. But it’s not over yet.
“The Winds have welcomed you with softness. The Sun has blessed you with its warm hands….” The balloonist’s tradition is to toast the flight with bubbly. Just a short walk or drive from your landing spot, you will find yourself raising a glass to your time in the skies. We then seek to take care of earthly concerns and whisk you off by safari car to our special Serengeti breakfast spot.
There is truly nothing to compare with breakfast served under the sweeping canopy of acacia in the middle of the Serengeti plains. Tropical fruit, freshly baked breakfast rolls, and eggs cooked in the bush, all made more delicious by the location and served on linen, bone china, and Sheffield cutlery in an ‘Out of Africa’ style. Shoulder to shoulder with your fellow passengers, this is a time to soak in the exceptional flight you’ve just been a part of and absorb the moment.
We’ll always tailor-make your Safari for you. Here are some of our favorites Safari feature Hot Air Balloon to inspire you.
PLAN A CUSTOM SAFARI
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