Serengeti Balloon Safari in Tanzania

You’ve been dreaming of your Tanzanian safari for thus lengthy, and the day when it begins has lastly arrived. How about exploring this unimaginable nation from a novel perspective on a Serengeti balloon safari?

Uncover why so many safari guests fall in love with the Serengeti. Preserve an eye fixed out for giant cats, even greater elephants, and nearly each sort of safari wildlife you’ll be able to think about. You may additionally see giraffe, impala, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, a whole lot of species of birds, and that will all simply be earlier than breakfast.

You’ll always remember watching these animals work together from above, whether or not you see a hunt, an unlimited herd or a mom defending her cub or calf. Plus, there’s the Serengeti’s unforgettable surroundings: observe Africa’s iconic acacia bushes, the park’s golden grasslands and nice piles of boulders referred to as “kopjes”.

After your Serengeti balloon safari, spend a while on this busy northern Tanzanian city referred to as Arusha, and also you’ll expertise energetic streets stuffed with life and colour.

Right here’s every part you have to find out about experiencing the Serengeti from a sizzling air balloon!

Associated learn: 10 Things to do in Tanzania

Right here’s a fast breakdown:

Methods to Expertise a Serengeti Balloon Safari

Serengeti National Park gives a novel and exhilarating expertise with its Balloon Safari.

From the vantage level of a sizzling air balloon, you’ll be able to admire the huge fantastic thing about the Serengeti grasslands and get a complete new perspective on the park’s plentiful wildlife.

It is a actually exceptional journey.

Start your day at daybreak with a one-hour flight (climate allowing), the place you will note wildlife and migration from above and under as you soar over the huge savannah. Upon touchdown, take pleasure in a heat welcome with champagne and an beautiful breakfast within the wilderness. Then, head again to your resort for an thrilling recreation drive.

The recent air balloons are often accessible within the Ndutu space between December 20 and March 31, whereas they function within the North Serengeti from July 1 to October 31.

You’ll usually take off at round 6:30am and return to camp by 9:30am to proceed your safari expertise. This exercise is appropriate for people aged seven years or older who’re moderately cellular, bodily match sufficient to fly and have a way of journey. Please notice that weight restrictions might apply.

The place to Have a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti

Happening a balloon safari in Africa could be fairly costly, however let me let you know, it’s completely price each penny spent on this unimaginable journey within the sky!

There are a number of designated spots within the Serengeti the place you’ll be able to take your balloon safari. The most effective location for this unique airborne wildlife viewing expertise is determined by elements such because the abundance of animals in a specific space of the Serengeti Nationwide Park, the proximity of your lodge or resort, and your selection of balloon operator.

The central a part of the Serengeti gives a formidable array of wildlife, together with wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and boasts one of many highest concentrations of huge cats within the park.

Kogatende is commonly in comparison with Switzerland on account of its picturesque panorama, which resembles the rolling hills of that nation.

It’s no surprise it’s known as “the Serengeti,” as its terrain intently resembles that iconic African nationwide park, with its huge plains and the breathtaking Mara River working by way of it. This area additionally occurs to be certainly one of one of many few locations the place you’ll be able to witness firsthand the awe-inspiring phenomenon of the Nice Migration from July to November.

Nonetheless, in the event you plan your go to between Could and July, Togoro turns into a wonderful place to watch this exceptional occasion referred to as the Nice Migration.

Every year in East Africa’s Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, a surprising pure spectacle known as the “Nice Migration” happens. Thousands and thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and different hoofed animals migrate by way of these lands. And guess what? Togoro is sometimes called the “Golden Plains of the Serengeti” on account of its picturesque panorama of acacia and sausage bushes.

When you’ve booked your Serengeti balloon safari, certainly one of our staff members will offer you necessary particulars about your early morning pick-up, what to put on, and what to anticipate throughout this extraordinary journey. This informative briefing often takes place at your lodge the night earlier than your Serengeti Balloon Safari.

What to Anticipate from a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti

You’ll have to rise up early, as typically it’s a 30-60-minute drive to get to the place to begin. However if you arrive at the place to begin, the employees will warmly greet you.

Though it’s nonetheless darkish exterior, the sky is popping a surprising shade of purple. Whereas the staff prepares the balloon for flight, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a comforting cup of tea or espresso and a scrumptious biscuit. The recent air balloon is heated to supply the required raise for flight, whereas ropes maintain the basket in place.

Simply earlier than takeoff, there’s a temporary security briefing and harness demonstration. The crew will instruct you on positioning your self within the basket and what to anticipate in the course of the journey. As soon as every part is about up and able to go, you’re free to enter the basket and “fasten your seatbelt”.

Good to know: Because the balloon strikes with the wind somewhat than rocking by itself, movement illness shouldn’t be a problem.

Normally, the recent air balloons have sufficient area and are divided into 4 compartments for a complete of 12 to 16 visitors, guaranteeing elevated security and loads of room for everybody, in addition to breathtaking views!

As soon as all passengers are settled inside, the skilled pilot is prepared for takeoff!

He’ll gently heat up the balloon till it rises gracefully into the air, the place you’ll quickly witness an unimaginable dawn that completely illuminates the Serengeti plains.

It’s actually an exhilarating but serene expertise! As you float over the huge Serengeti landscapes on this hovering vessel, there isn’t a turbulence or loud engine noise to disturb this environment; simply you (and a dozen different visitors) having fun with this chook’s eye view of the animals under, together with the fascinating dawn forward.

Throughout a balloon safari within the Serengeti, there’s an abundance of wildlife to watch. With a bit of luck, you may even see a satisfaction of lions, sleek giraffes, an imposing procession of elephants crossing the huge plains, various hyenas, vibrant birds and quite a few species of plains recreation, together with wildebeest, topi, zebra and different antelopes.

The altitude in the course of the flight varies from managed heights of about 300 meters above floor stage to skimming the treetops for panoramic views of the Serengeti terrain. On common, flights final roughly one hour, however relying on climate situations and discovering appropriate touchdown websites, flights could also be barely longer or shorter than 60 minutes. It’s price noting that any flights over 40 minutes shall be charged at full worth.

The chance to view the Serengeti from above is actually unforgettable and can depart you with an enduring impression.

What to Carry on a Scorching Air Balloon Safari

What objects do you have to embody in your packing checklist for a Serengeti balloon safari journey? It’s extremely beneficial that you simply costume appropriately for the safari expertise. This contains comfy footwear and a light-weight windproof jacket or sweater for the cooler mornings.

Don’t neglect to pack a hat and sunscreen to guard your self from the solar’s rays. Whereas carrying a hat will not be splendid in the course of the balloon journey itself, it’ll come in useful in the course of the scrumptious bush breakfasts.

Talking of which, bush breakfasts are an absolute should on an African safari. They provide an unimaginable alternative to take pleasure in scrumptious meals amidst the breathtaking surroundings of the huge Serengeti plains.

Additionally, you’ll want to carry binoculars so you’ll be able to rise up shut and private with wildlife and seize wonderful moments together with your smartphone or digicam. The Serengeti gives numerous alternatives for video and images from excessive above in a sizzling air balloon! Perhaps you wish to take a small digicam bag with private belongings with you, which you’ll safe to the underside of the basket. However consider, that there isn’t a lot room on board to retailer luggage on the ground in the course of the flight, so select correctly what you carry.

You may count on the morning to be chilly as you float excessive within the sky, however you’ll be pleasantly stunned to seek out it’s not chilly! The recent air balloon glides effortlessly with the wind, eliminating the potential for a cold breeze. As well as, the balloon itself is “heated,” which ensures a comforting heat that envelops you.

As you rise above the magnificent Serengeti plains, the encompassing air additionally steadily warms. So there’s no must bundle up.

When Do you have to Ebook your Serengeti Balloon Flight?

When is one of the best time to e book your sizzling air balloon journey within the Serengeti? It’s extremely beneficial that you simply safe your spot within the Serengeti skies as quickly as you affirm your go to. Ballooning is extremely in style, and availability is restricted. We suggest reserving early to make sure a clean expertise.

Proceed the Safari Afterwards

Proceed your morning with one other game-viewing session. You can have lunch in nature and return within the late night to take pleasure in a leisurely African dinner.

The next day, after breakfast, you proceed with a Sport drive in Ndutu plains – well-known worldwide because it hosts one of many largest mammal migrations. Witnessing over 400,000 calves being born throughout peak season is awe-inspiring!

You should have pleasant morning and afternoon recreation drives throughout limitless Serengeti plains, that are house to a rare focus of wildlife, together with wildebeest herds, zebras, gazelles, lions lounging in acacia bushes…the checklist goes on! The Serengeti plains boast all members of Africa’s Big Five and hundreds of thousands of zebras, birds, and different predators.

Serengeti Nationwide Park is legendary for its huge herds of plains animals reminiscent of wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. It stays the one place in Africa the place large-scale land-animal migrations nonetheless happen. This park has change into a world vacationer attraction and was acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage website in 1981. As for the dearth of bushes within the Serengeti, it’s principally limitless plains; nevertheless, there are some “sausage bushes” that elephants and giraffes feed on.

Notice that the park faces a number of administration issues, together with poaching, tourism affect, wildfires, and insufficient useful resource monitoring capability. Water shortage is one other vital problem on account of having just one perennial river (Mara) spanning borders.

Numerous elements threaten the ecosystem of Serengeti Nationwide Park, reminiscent of industrialization, human inhabitants development, farming, and poaching – endangering each wildlife species and native communities residing close to the park boundaries. Human-wildlife conflicts, inhabitants enhance, poverty, and unsustainable improvement tasks additionally contribute to those challenges.