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Balloon flight over the Mara

Balloon flight over the Mara

Overview: Balloon flight over the Mara

The Maasai Mara balloon flight experience starts well before dawn. Depending on the location of your safari camp, a driver and vehicle will collect you as early as 4am and drive you through the bush to the balloon launch site. This pitch-dark start is itself an adventure, as the headlights pick out nocturnal wildlife en route. At the site, you’ll watch as the enormous, multi-coloured fabric envelope of the balloon is slowly filled by gigantic, portable fans. You’ll receive a safety briefing by the pilot and be given advice about the kind of flight you can expect (every one is unique) and what you might see from the basket.

At about 06:30, as the balloon towers overhead, but with the basket still safely tethered to the ground, you climb aboard. The basket is divided into compartments, each equipped with harnesses and hand holds. The balloon may be standing upright at this point, in which case you enter by climbing some steps. Or it may be lying on its side, in which case your entry is a bit more of a scamble: you need to be reasonably mobile – but not a gymnast. As soon as all the passengers are on board (and usually after some pictures have been taken by others on the ground), the pilot starts the burner, the lines are released, and you lift off. The sun will be just about to break above the horizon, sending beams of golden light across the landscape.

If the atmosphere is cool, the balloon rises very quickly and you’re at treetop height in seconds, drifting in a generally south-westerly direction with the prevailing wind.

From now on, where you go and what you see depends on a combination of the pilot's skill, the speed and direction of the wind and that permanent safari companion, luck. You may fly at treetop height along the forested banks of the Mara River, peering into vultures’ nests, watching monkeys and baboons as they wake in their roosts, or peering through the trees to see elephants or even potentially a leopard. Or you may fly low across the grasslands, with the pilot using a puff of the burner every so often to lift the balloon above a lone tree or a termite mound. Periodically, the pilot will turn the balloon so that those at the back of the basket are facing forwards.

Wildlife tends to move away at the approach of the balloon’s shadow and the sound of its burner, but you will still see some remarkable sights, from jostling, muddied hippos, to prides of lions and even the occasional rhino, as witnessed by one lucky Expert Africa consultant on her flight.

After an hour or so in the air, the pilot lands the basket in a convenient spot close to where the ground crew have prepared a site for the bush breakfast.

A full breakfast is served and you toast the flight with sparkling wine. Everyone gets a certificate and the chance to take photos, before loading into safari vehicles to go back to their camps or continue with a morning game drive.

Height and age restrictions: The basket height is 1.2m (4ft). Children need to be at least 1.2m in height and can then fly at the pilot’s discretion, depending on their age and maturity.

Availability: Balloon flights are available every morning, subject to suitable weather conditions. If the flight is cancelled because of poor weather, you will be re-booked on a later flight or your money refunded.

Please note: Expert Africa only books excursions as a part of a full, Expert Africa itinerary.
Start location
Pre-dawn from your safari camp in the Maasai Mara
End location
Back at your safari camp
Meals included
Full bush breakfast with sparkling wine
Duration
3 hours in total - morning only
Maximum group size
Usually 16

Ballooning over the Maasai Mara: Picture Gallery

What to look forward to.


1 of 13
There are often several balloons in the air.
2 of 13
The experience starts with the pre-launch inflation…
3 of 13
…which is a spectacle in itself.
4 of 13
Once the balloon is aloft, it drifts south…
5 of 13
…sometimes flying close to the Mara River…
6 of 13
…and sometimes above the plains.
7 of 13
At other times, you'll fly close the ground…
8 of 13
…and sometimes close enough for wildlife photography.
9 of 13
Landings vary, and tipping sideways is quite normal.
10 of 13
As is being helped out by the pilot and fellow passengers.
11 of 13
This is the moment for selfies…
12 of 13
…and a big bush breakfast…
13 of 13
…accompanied by sparkling wine.

There are often several balloons in the air.

The experience starts with the pre-launch inflation…

…which is a spectacle in itself.

Once the balloon is aloft, it drifts south…

…sometimes flying close to the Mara River…

…and sometimes above the plains.

At other times, you'll fly close the ground…

…and sometimes close enough for wildlife photography.

Landings vary, and tipping sideways is quite normal.

As is being helped out by the pilot and fellow passengers.

This is the moment for selfies…

…and a big bush breakfast…

…accompanied by sparkling wine.

Balloon flight over the Mara reviews

36 independent first-hand comments from our travellers.


96%
29 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
25
Good
2
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Sarah & CarlfromCA., USA

23 Sep 2024

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"A highlight of not only the Mara, but of the whole trip...a lifetime highlight. …" Read Sarah & Carl’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Ms D. / Ms. CfromCanada

27 Jun 2024

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"The flight itself was excellent, and the balloon pilot was friendly. …" Read Ms D. / Ms. C’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Average

G & L fromWashington DC

15 Jul 2024

"An Unbelieavable Experience"

"An unbelievable experience - perhaps the highlight of our trip …" Read G & L ’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Overall rating: Excellent

CB from IowafromUSA

4 Feb 2024

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"This was so much fun, and beautiful overview of the Mara River area. …" Read CB from Iowa’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Rachel fromStirling

5 Feb 2024

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"The balloon flight was good, excellent views of the mara and champagne breakfast …" Read Rachel ’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Tom & LisafromPlymouth

21 Jan 2024

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"Very well organized from start to finish, including an excellent breakfast …" Read Tom & Lisa’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

G & KfromLA

24 Aug 2023

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"Gorgeous, thrilling, incredible - all the superlatives!...Very exciting …" Read G & K’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr SfromSoutham

14 Jul 2023

"Balloon flight over the Mara review"

"an excellent trip well organisd and delivered …" Read Mr S’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

See all Balloon flight over the Mara reviews

Ideas for holidays which can include Balloon flight over the Mara

Add this experience to these trip ideas or contact us to start planning your own tailor-made safari to Kenya.


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Gabar Goshawk Fly-in Safari

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US$9,730 - US$14,130 per person

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Wahlberg's Eagle Fly-in Safari

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A great value safari in Laikipia and the Maasai Mara that provides an immersive, authentic bush camp experience with activities for families of all ages.

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US$10,600 - US$13,500 per person

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Peregrine Falcon Fly-In Safari

6 days • 2 locations
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Discover two of Kenya’s quieter wildlife havens with visits to Meru National Park and Mara North Conservancy. Top-quality sister camps provide considerable comfort and a range of activities by which to explore the game-rich surroundings.

US$6,910 - US$8,980 per person

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African Finfoot Fly-in Safari

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After a unique start in Nairobi National Park, classic, luxurious camps combine for a high-end and exclusive safari in fantastic wildlife destinations.

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Different wildlife, contrasting camps and a whole host of activities, this is a safari for those wanting to get out and about and not just sit in a vehicle.

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Kenya fact file

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