About this experience
Some things are worth getting up early for and this is certainly one of them. The wonderful experience of a hot-air balloon ride is enhanced many times over by conducting it over the incredible scenery and wildlife of Serengeti National Park. Serengeti Balloon Safaris has 30 years of experience in this field.
At a glance
- Duration: 5 hr
Planning perspective
How I’d plan this experience
I’d choose this for a Serengeti itinerary where the balloon flight itself is the point, rather than a quick add-on between packed game drives. It is an early, wind-led experience: the route cannot be predicted in advance, and that uncertainty is part of its appeal. Allow the full five hours in your plan, then treat the breakfast and sparkling-wine celebration as a relaxed finish rather than something to rush through.
Who this experience suits
This is a strong fit for travellers who want to see the Serengeti’s scale at dawn and are comfortable exchanging a fixed wildlife-viewing route for a changing aerial perspective. The shared tour is limited to 16 travellers, so I think it suits couples, families with older children and small groups who are happy to share the occasion rather than seeking a private flight.
The physical classification is easy, but that should not be mistaken for universal suitability. I’d rule it out if you have a spinal injury, poor cardiovascular health or are pregnant, as those restrictions matter more than the otherwise gentle format. Children must be at least seven, making this a better choice for families with school-age children than those travelling with younger ones.
Choose the location around your safari, not the balloon alone
I’d choose Central Serengeti if your dates are flexible or you want the simplest seasonal fit, because this option operates throughout the year. North Serengeti and Western Serengeti are more date-dependent, so they make sense only when they align naturally with where your wider safari is based.
There is a meaningful trade-off behind every option: the balloon’s path follows the wind. You may skim close to the grass or climb high enough for a broad horizon, but you cannot choose the exact route or landing place. Go for it if that sense of discovery sounds exciting; keep to a conventional game drive if controlling the day’s route is essential to you.
Build your morning around the early pickup
My advice is to protect the preceding afternoon and evening. Tickets and the next morning’s pickup time are arranged at an office the day before the flight, while pickup is scheduled 120 minutes before departure. That makes this a commitment of more than the advertised five-hour experience once preparation is included.
Pickup is available from camps and lodges within reach of the launch sites, with the stated upper limit of two hours’ drive or 40 km. I’d favour accommodation close to the relevant launch area where possible: an already early start is more enjoyable when it does not become an exceptionally long road transfer.
Accept that weather is the real limitation
The main planning trade-off is that a dawn balloon flight depends on conditions. Bad-weather cancellation is provided for, so I’d place this early in a multi-night stay when possible rather than on the final morning of a tightly connected itinerary. That approach gives you more breathing room if conditions interrupt the plan.
On a normal flight, expect roughly an hour in the balloon, followed by a champagne toast and breakfast under an acacia tree. I think the combination is especially appealing to travellers who enjoy an unhurried ceremonial finish; those who prefer to return immediately to game viewing may find the celebratory breakfast slows the morning more than they want.
Planning analysis informed by the tour itinerary · Updated October 28, 2026
Plan your experience
Set aside 5 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What is included
- Sparkling Wine
- Breakfast
Itinerary and highlights
We fly from June to November in Kogatende. For a lifetime experience such as this, you want to make sure you fly with the best. Since the 1970s, we’ve been crafting exceptional balloon safaris and the memories we create are a combination of our long experience, our attention to detail and our desire to make your flight with us truly extraordinary. 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 sometimes it will be 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. Each flight lasts for approximately 1 hour and we celebrate with a champagne toast before enjoying a sumptuous 'full-english' breakfast under an acacia tree.
We fly from Mid-December to the end of March every year in Ndutu. For a lifetime experience such as this, you want to make sure you fly with the best. Since the 1970s, we’ve been crafting exceptional balloon safaris and the memories we create are a combination of our long experience, our attention to detail and our desire to make your flight with us truly extraordinary. 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. Sometimes the basket will be gently brushing the tips of the grass and sometimes it will be 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. Each flight lasts for approximately 1 hour and we celebrate with a champagne toast before enjoying a sumptuous 'full-english' breakfast under an acacia tree.
We fly all year-round in Seronera, Central Serengeti. For a lifetime experience such as this, you want to make sure you fly with the best. Since the 1970s, we’ve been crafting exceptional balloon safaris and the memories we create are a combination of our long experience, our attention to detail and our desire to make your flight with us truly extraordinary. 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 sometimes it will be 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. Each flight lasts for approximately 1 hour and we celebrate with a champagne toast before enjoying a sumptuous 'full-english' breakfast under an acacia tree.
We fly from June to October in Kiwarira, Western Serengeti. For a lifetime experience such as this, you want to make sure you fly with the best. Since the 1970s, we’ve been crafting exceptional balloon safaris and the memories we create are a combination of our long experience, our attention to detail and our desire to make your flight with us truly extraordinary. 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. Sometimes the basket will be gently brushing the tips of the grass and sometimes it will be 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. Each flight lasts for approximately 1 hour and we celebrate with a champagne toast before enjoying a sumptuous 'full-english' breakfast under an acacia tree.
Meeting and pickup information
- We collect from all camps and lodges that are within reasonable reach (up to 2hrs drive or 40km) of our launch sites within Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We MUST know your camp/lodge location in order to confirm your booking.
Languages and tickets
- Portuguese — Guide
- English — Guide
- French — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Serengeti Balloon Safaris
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Are children under the age of 7 years allowed? No
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
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Traveller reviews and photos
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