A Magical Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Maasai Mara

I’m a huge fan of hot air balloon rides. They’re an epic way to see the landscape from above that offers a completely different perspective from what you get to see on the ground.

Below, I’ll tell you about my experience flying in a hot air balloon over the Maasai Mara and how it compares to the other balloon flights I’ve taken around the world. Spoiler alert: I’d argue there’s no better hot air balloon ride on Earth than one over the savannah in East Africa.

HOT AIR BALLOONS AROUND THE WORLD

The balloon flight in the Maasai Mara was our second. We also flew over Cappadocia, arguably the hot air balloon capital of the world with up to 180 balloons flying over the fairy chimneys most mornings. We enjoyed that experience, but much preferred the hot air balloon over the Maasai Mara. Gliding over the vast savannah while keeping our eyes peeled for wildlife below brought this hot air balloon ride to the next level.

In a few months, I’ll be taking my third hot air balloon ride over Luxor in Egypt. I also had a hot air balloon ride planned over the Wadi Rum in Jordan, but sadly we decided to delay that trip due to political tensions in the region.

High on my bucket list is a hot air balloon ride over the Aztec pyramids in Teotihuacán just outside Mexico City. I’ve also seen beautiful photos of the annual Albuquerque hot air balloon festival in New Mexico.

Out of all the photos I’ve seen online, the most impressive have got to be the ones from Bagan, Myanmar, where you cruise over thousands of Buddhist temples and stupas. Unfortunately, tourism has been heavily affected by the country's political situation, so I wouldn’t recommend that trip right now.

HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARIS IN EAST AFRICA

In terms of wildlife viewing, the Maasai Mara and Serengeti are widely regarded as the gold standard hot air balloon rides. Although they're often thought of as separate destinations, the Maasai Mara and Serengeti are really one continuous ecosystem divided by an international border. The Kenyan side is called the Maasai Mara, while the Tanzanian side is known as the Serengeti. Therefore, both parks offer very similar hot air balloon experiences and I don’t think you can go wrong choosing one over the other.

While the Maasai Mara and Serengeti are remarkably similar, a hot air balloon safari in East Africa is quite different from the more traditional balloon rides found elsewhere in the world. My experience differed from the one I had in Cappadocia in a few ways, aside from the obvious fact that in Maasai Mara I spent a good portion of the time searching for wildlife below that doesn’t exist elsewhere. We traveled a much further distance in the balloon in the Maasai Mara, carried by the wind across the open savannah. We were also able to fly much lower to the ground at times in the Maasai Mara, as we were less constrained by obstacles like the fairy chimneys and hundreds of other balloons that we encountered in Cappadocia. That being said, we also glided high at times in the Maasai Mara.

HOW TO BOOK A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

We organized our hot air balloon flight directly through our safari tour operator, EasyTravel Tanzania, as they got a discount from the balloon operator. If you prefer, you can book direct with the balloon operator. We went with Adventures Aloft.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Our day began at an almost criminally early hour: 4am. It was time to grab our bags and head to the hotel lobby, where Adventures Aloft would be picking us up and transporting us to their office. We were offered pastries and coffee while we signed our life away filled out all the necessary paperwork.

We made our way to the fields before dawn and watched a team start to inflate the balloons from the ground. I stayed close to the baskets the whole time. We were standing in the middle of lion territory, after all!

While this was taking place, our pilot called us over for a safety briefing, explaining that due to the winds, the basket would remain tipped on its side for takeoff, so we would crouch down in the basket and hold on to the handles until we ascended. I had done a hot air balloon before in Cappadocia, but we simply hopped in the upright basket. This new development added to the sense of the adventure and excitement I already felt.

Shortly after hopping into the basket, the pilot ignited the burner and the basket started to right itself. There would be silence, followed by the roar of the burner, then more silence. This pattern continued for the whole flight.

We remained crouched down at this point, so even though the basket was upright, I still couldn’t see my surroundings. Finally, the pilot instructed us to stand. I couldn’t believe how high we were already! I couldn’t feel us moving and thought we were still on the ground. The ride was so smooth.

Once I stood, the first thing I noticed was the other balloons around us in the air. The colorful balloons provided a wonderful contrast to the monotone savannah below.

Almost immediately after departure, we had our first wildlife sighting, a group of zebras running through the savannah.

I made it my mission to spot as much wildlife as I could and was on the hunt with my binoculars constantly. Our group saw a hyena, a giraffe, multiple ostriches, buffalo, and so much more.

Once we had viewed the savannah from high above, we lowered to get a prime view of the wildlife below. We were so close to the ground, we could hear the bottom of the basket gliding on the grass.

My absolute favorite part of the flight was gliding over the Mara River.

The river itself was gorgeous, but watching one hippo throw its jaws wide open while the rest of the pod drifted through the water below was pure magic.

Before I knew it, the pilot was giving us our instructions to crouch down and prepare for landing. Somehow, an entire hour had passed and our flight was already over. I could have spent an entire day up in the air looking out over the savannah.

The landing was pretty short and smooth. There was a vehicle waiting for us on the ground with a small team that helped collapse the balloon.

We were then driven to our breakfast in the savannah. I couldn’t imagine a more idyllic setting for a morning cup of coffee.

We enjoyed a full buffet for breakfast and reunited with our safari guide, who immediately took us straight to the roads to continue our epic day in Maasai Mara National Reserve. What a way to start an adventure.

IS IT WORTH IT?

It is absolutely worth it! Alex and I loved every second of this experience. If your budget only allows for one splurge on your African safari trip, make it the hot air balloon ride.

FAQs

How long are you in the air?

Our flight lasted 60 minutes.

How much does it cost?

Our balloon operator, Adventures Aloft, advertises $499 per person for the balloon ride in Kenya and $599 in Tanzania. However, I highly recommend booking through your safari tour operator, if you are going on a guided safari, as these operators often receive discounts from the balloon companies. We paid $450 per person for our balloon flight in Kenya by booking through EasyTravel Tanzania.

What should I bring?

It’s important to pack light, as there is limited space inside the hot air balloon baskets. I’d bring a very small bag with a pair of binoculars, camera gear, camera straps to attach to your arm, a hat, sunglasses, layers (it’s cold before sunrise in the morning), insect repellent, sunscreen, and water.

What camera gear should I bring?

We brought our Sony A6400 camera with a Tamron lens that has a zoom range of 18-300mm. We also brought an Insta 360 camera and a selfie stick to take a selfie from the hot air balloon basket.

I highly, highly recommend having a strap for all camera gear and ensuring you have it strapped to your neck or arm for the entire duration of the flight. If your phone or camera goes overboard, there’s no recovering it.

Does the balloon company provide photos?

We had the option to pay extra for a video, but they used a lot of stock footage and it was rather expensive so we chose not to pay for it. We captured many amazing photos on our own.

Is it safe?

Hot air balloon flights over the Maasai Mara and Serengeti are considered very safe. Balloon operators are licensed and the pilots we talked to were very experienced. Before takeoff, we received a safety briefing on the proper takeoff and landing positions, so we knew what to do and what to expect. If weather conditions are deemed unsafe, they won’t try to fly. They will simply reschedule and wait for safer conditions.

What happens if there is bad weather? Are cancellations common?

If there is bad weather, including heavy rain or high winds, your flight will be rescheduled. If you are leaving the park the next day, you can opt for a refund or, depending on the operator, reschedule your flight for another park. Adventures Aloft had operations in Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire. Cancellations are relatively uncommon during the dry season, but are more common during the wet season. During any season, they can still happen, and you won’t want to miss this experience, so I highly recommend scheduling your flight for the beginning of your Africa trip so that you can easily reschedule if your first flight is cancelled.

Can you do this if you’re afraid of heights?

For those with a debilitating fear of heights, I wouldn’t recommend this experience.

Is there a weight limit for passengers?

Adventures Aloft has a weight limit of 265 lbs (120kg). If a passenger exceeds that limit, there is an additional 50% charge. Be sure to check your operator’s policy before booking if you choose a different operator.

Can I bring children?

I think children would love the experience! Our operator, Adventures Aloft, had a minimum height requirement of 4 feet and a minimum age requirement of 5 years old, but be sure to check your operator’s policy before booking.

What is the bathroom situation?

There are bathrooms at the office before the hot air balloon ride and Porta-potty type toilets in tents in the savannah after the flight. The toilet tents after the flight are gender-separated (women on the right, men on the left), but offered limited privacy. They are really a tent with only three sides, so if another person wants to use the toilet, they can easily accidentally walk over while you’re using it. They are thankfully far away from the breakfast tables though. You can see the toilet tents in the far left corner of this photo.

When is the best time of year to go?

You can do a hot air balloon safari year-round, although there will be fewer flight cancellations during the dry seasons from January to February and June to October. A hot air balloon safari is a very popular choice during Great Migration season from June to September, as many want to see the herds of wildebeests from above. We didn’t see any wildebeest, but the flight was so amazing and we didn’t care. We would see plenty of wildebeest in the days to come.

Where should I stay overnight?

We stayed at Mara Maisha Camp and it was beautiful. Our tour operator, EasyTravel Tanzania, arranged this stay for us.