BALLOON SAFARIS IN MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

BALLOON SAFARIS IN MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE.

When I started planning and began telling people about my safari to Kenya’s best reserve Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve. “Of course you’ll include a hot air balloon ride,” they always said.

That makes you aware of how fantastic hot air balloon safari experience is in order to maximize wildlife viewing. You will appreciate that 4×4 safari game drives are great but are limited. With a hot air balloon ride, you’re flying closely above areas that are difficult to reach by vehicle. For instance, above river Mara and bush thickets. Hence, more chances to spot wildlife and get aerial views of the beautiful natural plains.

Masai Mara national Reserve is located in southwest of Kenya along the border with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The two parks actually join together to form the larger Serengeti ecosystem. The diversity of the Serengeti ecosystem also extends in Masai Mara and therefore best appreciated there.

The reserve covers about 1,510 km²an area that includes rolling savannah grasslands with river Mara meandering through creating riverine forests and thickets. These provide habitat to over 95 mammals and over 500 bird species, Masai Mara Reserve is one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in Africa. The reserve is most famous for wildebeest migration and big cats. This migration features about 1.5 million wildebeests which move in search of green pastures across the Serengeti – Mara ecosystem along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and antelopes such as Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impalas and elands.

Coming to Masai Mara from Serengeti National Park, the great migration arrives between June and September. So, this is the best time to visit Masai Mara particularly the month of August to witness one of the miraculous sights of Mara – the herds crossing the crocodile infested Mara River. The animals must cross the river, yet, never mind of the crocodiles, they maneuver through the waters, a few die but many survive.

What to expect on your Masai Mara hot air balloon safari?

First of all, you need to get advice from your operator on where to stay in Mara for a hot air balloon safari.

Normally starting before sunrise, it’s very important to know what will be the distance from your lodge to the balloon launch site. This will help you to prepare for early morning wake up calls so you’re not surprised if you have to get out of bed at 5 o’clock in the morning.

There are five zones of Mara both the conservancy and the main reserve. These are east west, north and south Mara and each has accommodation.

So, you will transfer from your lodge to the launch site on time. Bring your binoculars and camera. While taking a hot cup of African tea/coffee, you witness how the balloon is inflated.

A briefing is conducted as you get to know the procedures. For instance, a hot air balloon can accommodate 16 people including your guide and professional pilots who navigate it with the help of winds.

Take-off occurs before sunrise and the balloon ride will take about 1 hour in the air before landing. Depending on the wind speed and direction, your pilot will ensure you fly at different heights from a height of tree tops to 1000 feet above the ground.

Pilots do their best to fly low so that you can have sightings of wildlife. From above, the 360 degrees’ views of the Mara plains is the most stunning. Though, the day may be cloudy, the play of morning sunrise, will be satisfying.

Suddenly you get to spot mammals such as Masai giraffes, elephants, lions even smaller mammals like hyenas, the ones you thought couldn’t be seen. The pilot takes the balloon over vantage points such as above Mara river and bush thickets.

Upon landing at a pre-selected area, guests are treated like kings and queens with a champagne and breakfast in the plains. You will also be congratulated and awarded a Masai Mara hot air balloon certificate of completion.

The balloon ride will be over, but the game viewing continues for the rest of the day. Your guide will be ready to take you on a game drive it will be still mid-morning as you transfer back to your lodge.

Hot air balloon safari providers in Masai Mara National Reserve.

Governor’s Camps

Africa Mecca Safaris

Hot Air Safari Balloon Safari ltd.

Porini Camps

Click here to share this page

OTHER PAGES

UGANDA BIRDING SAFARIS - Uganda Birding Safaris. Winston Churchill described Uganda as ‘the Pearl of Africa’ and this came about after seeing the beauty of this country. The country is filled with beautiful sceneries, savannah and rain forest vegetation, water bodies, over 50 unique and welcoming cultures, wildlife in form of birds and animals among others. Uganda is a prominent tourist destination in Africa, primarily because of its diverse wildlife and natural beauty. Not only does it boat wild animals i ....

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION IN TANZANIA - WILDEBEEST MIGRATION IN TANZANIA. The wildebeest migration is one of the seven wonders in Africa where millions of wildebeests with thousands of gazelles and zebras migrate from Tanzania in Serengeti national park northwards to Kenya in Masai Mara national reserve as they search for fresh pastures and freshwater. Tanzania offers a lot to discover and enjoy while on your safari to this beautiful country. Due to the prevailing peace and security, tourism has been at its peak spearheaded by a goo ....

UGANDA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING SAFARIS - UGANDA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING SAFARIS. Uganda has a lot to discover while on your safari to Africa, ranging from wildlife to culture. Among the wildlife species of Uganda, we have the primates that are habituated and ready to be trekked by visitors. Uganda is one of the land locked countries situated in East Africa with a long history of peace and security for the last 3 decades. Chimpanzees are human’s closest cousins, with which we share about 98% of blood DNA and this means that chimps ....

WILDLIFE SAFARIS IN TANZANIA - WILDLIFE SAFARIS IN TANZANIA. Are you planning for a wildlife safari in Africa? Tanzania will offer you the best of wildlife extravaganza as you visit her national parks and game reserves. Tanzania is situated in East Africa, filled with diverse wildlife that can be viewed on an adventure wildlife safari. These animals include mammals, butterflies, bird species and tree species among others. It borders Uganda and Kenya to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and D.R. Congo to the west, Zambia, Malawi an ....

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION IN KENYA - WILDEBEEST MIGRATION IN KENYA. Did you know that wildebeest migration is among the seven wonders of Africa? Kenya is located in East Africa, teeming with undulating savannah, neighbouring Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, Ethiopia to the North and Somalia to the north-east. This country is politically stable and on good terms with the neighbours which is one of the factors that has boosted its tourism. Kenya has a variety of attractions both artificial and natural attractions which l ....

GORILLA TREKKING SAFARIS IN UGANDA - GORILLA TREKKING SAFARIS IN UGANDA. Have you ever thought of a gorilla trekking safari in Africa? Think no more, Uganda is the best country to trek mountain gorillas. Uganda is located in East Africa, well known as the Pearl of Africa. Uganda neighbours Kenya to the east, Tanzania in the south, South Sudan in the north, DRC in the west and Rwanda in the south-west. Uganda became famous as a result of numerous attractions that cannot be spotted elsewhere in Africa and the world at large includi ....

KWITA IZINA GORILLA NAMING CEREMONY IN RWANDA - KWITA IZINA GORILLA NAMING CEREMONY IN RWANDA. Kwita Izina is a Rwandan word which means “giving a name”. This is a traditional function done after the birth of a new baby. It is as well done to new born gorillas in a similar way and this happens in Volcanoes national park, the only conservation area where you can find these endangered species in Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the three countries in Africa and the world at large where you can trek mountain gorillas. Rwanda is located in ....

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN TANZANIA - Chimpanzee trekking safaris in Tanzania. Did you know that you can trek chimpanzees in Tanzania? Most people know Tanzania for only game drives, balloon safaris and also vibrant culture expeditions. It is surprising to find out that a small area in Tanzania has rain forests at the shores of Lake Tanganyika where chimpanzees call home. These chimps were habituated in the 1960s by Japanese researchers. Tanzania is well known for having diverse wildlife due to a variety of conservation areas bot ....

THE MASAI CULTURE - THE MASAI CULTURE. The Masai also called Maasai people are a Nilotic ethnic group of people inhabiting areas of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. Their rich history for centuries can be traced in the great lakes of Africa, living close to famous national parks such as the Serengeti, Masai Mara national reserve, Amboseli among others and this has made them be known internationally. The Maasai are a Nilotic people indigenous to the African Great Lakes region, but with roots that can be trace ....

RWANDA BIRDING SAFARIS - RWANDA BIRDING SAFARIS. Rwanda is a landlocked country situated in East Africa neighbouring Uganda - the pearl of Africa, Tanzania, DR Congo and Burundi. This country has had a dark political history characterised by genocide and civil conflicts, but for the past 25 years, Rwanda has been an iconic of peace in the region and this has immensely boosted tourism as well as other sectors. The country is known and mostly described as the land of a thousand hills and this is true, owing to the roman ....

BALLOON SAFARIS IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK - BALLOON SAFARIS IN SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK. Serengeti national park is one of the most visited national parks in East Africa and this is due to a large concentration of wild animals. It is situated in the northern side of Tanzania and famous for the annual migration of wildebeests and this is among the seven wonders of Africa. Hot air ballooning safari is one of the most memorable experience you need not miss out on while on your safari to Tanzania as you take through the open plains of Sereng ....

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KYAMBURA GORGE - CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KYAMBURA GORGE. Have you ever heard about chimpanzee trekking in Uganda not in Kibale National park? Kyambura gorge is the place, as pronounced by the locals as ‘Chambura’ gorge; it is situated in the eastern part of Queen Elizabeth national park within the western escarpment of the great Albertine rift. The gorge is home to several wildlife ranging from primates to butterflies and as well known for chimpanzee trekking as the main activity here. Research prove ....

BALLOON SAFARIS IN UGANDA - Balloon safaris in Uganda. Did you know that ballooning safaris can be possibly done in Uganda? Uganda blessed as she is, has a lot you can encounter while during a hot air balloon safari. Her beauty begins with scenery that cannot be viewed elsewhere, wildlife which roams in 10 national parks and 12 national reserves which are the main conservation areas and unique cultures. There are various activities that you can encounter while on your Uganda safari which are both soft and hard adventure ....

RWANDA HIKING SAFARIS - RWANDA HIKING SAFARIS. Hiking is mainly done and known for most tourists as an adventure to explore the scenic view at the summit / peak but it is also good for fitness purposes. Hiking safaris in Rwanda are possible because of the many hills and mountains that can be explored while on your visit. Rwanda commonly referred to as the land of a thousand hills located in East Africa neighbouring countries like Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, DR Congo to the west and Burundi to the south ....

LION TRACKING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NP - LION TRACKING IN QUEEN ELIZABETH N/PARK. In Uganda, experiential lion tracking can only be done in Queen Elizabeth national park in the western part of the country. In Queen Elizabeth NP is where you can find these rare climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Tracking lions can be done in two shifts a day - morning and evening. Queen Elizabeth is the second largest national park in the country having diverse wildlife in form of flora and fauna. This has led to emergence of different tourist acti ....

BWINDI GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE - BWINDI GORILLA HABITUATION EXPERIENCE. Gorilla habituation is one of the major activities done in Bwindi impenetrable national park where visitors get close to the mountain gorillas for up to 4 hours. This activity was introduced in this park in 2014. Bwindi Impenetrable has half of the remaining mountain gorillas with over 50 gorilla families but only 19 are habituated and open for visitors. Bwindi impenetrable national park is situated in southwestern Uganda close to Congo’s Virunga na ....