PARTNERS
Maasai Mara Hot Air Safari
0/5
0% of guests recommend
Duration
1 Hour
Tour Type
Safari
Group Size
16 persons
Location
Kenya
Overview
HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARI
NOTHING IS MORE SPECTACULAR THAN LAUNCHING AT SUNRISE & FLOATING EFFORTLESSLY IN A HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE.
Hot Air balloon Safari flights in Kenya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is the northernmost part of the spectacular Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, home to the “Great Migration” and scores of other wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, hippos, and crocodiles.
RATES
Per Adult - USD$ 455.00
Per Child between 3 to 11 - USD$ 300.00
12 years & above considered & charged as an adult.
THE EXPERIENCE
The custom 4X4 safari vehicles will pick you from your camp or lodge between 0400-0530AM and drive you to the launch site, to arrive by 0600AM. Depending on the weather conditions, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while you watch the balloons being prepared for take-off. Your pilot will give a safety briefing as well as explain what you can expect during the flight. There are basic toilet facilities available at the launch site. NB: one launch site has toilet facilities.
The balloon crew will assist as you clamber into your balloon basket for take-off just before sunrise, at about 6:30AM. As you rise the Maasai Mara plains opens up before your eyes to feast on the golden sunrise, enchanting sceneries, plains-game below as the winds gently blows the basket deeper into the reserve. The pilot is at hand pointing out at the wildlife below with plenty of photographic opportunities unfolding. Soar silently with 360 degrees of spectacular savannah lasting approximately one hour, depending on wind conditions.
After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely game drive back to your camp or lodge to arrive by around 10:30AM already reliving the memories of the morning’s flight.
Arrangements
Hot AirB Safari Duration: about 1hr
Game Drive Duration: about 2 - 3hr
When: All year round
Where: Operations base and launch site is close to Talek River bordering Masai Mara Game Reserve, but during windy times we use a launch site INSIDE the park, approximately 7 Minutes-drive (4km) from Talek Gate, just off the main Talek-Keekorok road.
Weather: Weather permitting
What to Wear: We encourage guests to carry binoculars, cameras and if so desirous, a “selfie stick’ to catch those very fine once-in -a-life-time moments!
Dressing in layers; warm Jacket/fleece is best for the transition from the cool, dark early morning to the relatively late morning sunrays. It is normally cool in the early mornings and as you watch and wait for the balloons to be inflated, the chilly morning breeze can be uncomfortable. Once on board, the heat from burners above makes all around you warm. Trousers, long sleeved shirts/tops and closed shoes come in handy in case we need to walk through some grass after landing.
Requirements
Minimum Age 3 years
Minimum Height 0.0 m
Maximum Height 0.0 m
Fitness Level No Fitness Requirement
Qualifications Not Applicable
Certification None Required
Experience Level No Experience Requirement
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Tel: +27 67 085 0602
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Included
-P/up and drop off from your lodge/camp by our 4x4 vehicles -Balloon ride ( takes approx 1hr ) -Full bush breakfast with champagne/wine -Brief game drive en-route back to the camp/lodge -During breakfast, you can also peruse the photos your pilot has taken during the flight, and decide whether you would like to purchase the photos. The finale is balloon flight certificate signed by your pilot as a memoir.
Itinerary
Pick Up Locations
Pick Up Locations
Travel Styles
Nature & Adventure
FAQs
WHEN IS THE BALLOON RIDE DONE?
The ride is normally done early in the mornings at approximately 0630am in time to enjoy the sunrise glow in the distant horizon. The good thing about the Mara weather is that it is conducive for balloon rides to be operated daily, throughout the year. Operations base and launch site is close to Talek River bordering Masai Mara Game Reserve, but during windy times we use a launch site INSIDE the park, approximately 7 Minutes-drive (4km) from Talek Gate, just off the main Talek-Keekorok road.
IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE/MOBILITY RESTRICTIONS?
As a rule of thumb, we generally don't fly children under the height of the basket or under age of 3 years. There is no upper age limit, provided passengers are reasonably fit and ready to enjoy the adventurous soaring across the majestic plains. For client’s own safety, ballooning is not suitable for pregnant ladies, persons with health conditions; heart matters, brittle bones, neck or back conditions. Any balloon flight requires a certain amount of physical strength to climb in/out of the basket, in case the basket is standing upright OR lying on its side. People with impaired mobility may be accommodated with prior notice to helps us plan for them.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
We encourage guests to carry binoculars, cameras and if so desirous, a “selfie stick’ to catch those very fine once-in -a-life-time moments!
Dressing in layers; warm Jacket/fleece is best for the transition from the cool, dark early morning to the relatively late morning sunrays. It is normally cool in the early mornings and as you watch and wait for the balloons to be inflated, the chilly morning breeze can be uncomfortable. Once on board, the heat from burners above makes all around you warm. Trousers, long sleeved shirts/tops and closed shoes come in handy in case we need to walk through some grass after landing.
HOW LONG DOES THE EXCURSION LAST?
The flight usually lasts approximately one hour, and covers anything between 5 and 20 km from launch to landing. The total distance covered is always dependent on the wind conditions on any given day. The entire excursion from pick up at the camp/lodge to drop off back at the camp or lodge varies from a 4.00am departure to a 6.00am departure, depending on the close proximity/location of said camp/lodge. There is plenty of photographic opportunities on board and also on the ground to & from the balloon excursion including game drive en-route back to your camp/lodge by around 1030am.
HOW DOES THE PILOT CONTROL THE BALLOON?
Hot air rises…..The balloon normally glides with the wind, but at different altitudes the wind often flows in different directions; by expertly navigating this vertical landscape the pilot finds some directional control. In order to gain or lose altitude, the pilot manipulates the temperature of the air inside the balloon envelope using burners fueled by butane gas. When heat is added, the balloon gently rises. In order to descend, the pilot allows the balloon to cool naturally. The cooler the air inside the balloon becomes the more quickly it descends. As the balloon descends and approaches for landing the pilot will adds some bursts of heat from the burners to slow down the rate of descent and ensure landing is safely done with the expertise of a Mara Pilot.
ARE TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS ROUGH?
Take-off is generally quite gentle, although it may be a bit fast in windy conditions. If the wind is above 15 knots at the take-off site, we will not fly due to safety concerns. While most of the landings are smooth, some landings are what we call a “tip over” landing, where the balloon basket drags along the ground for some meters before coming to a stop lying on its side. There may be a few bumpy landings though... all steered safely to a stop.
DO YOU EVER CANCEL A FLIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FLIGHT IS CANCELED?
We rarely cancel flights (~5 times per year), and only do so due to high winds, rain, or extremely poor visibility. If your flight is canceled you will receive a 100% refund. Or, if your safari schedule allows and there is available space in the balloons, we can attempt to fly you the following day.
HOW MANY PEOPLE FIT IN THE BASKET?
The balloons can hold a maximum of 16 people in a basket.
HOW MANY BALLOONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE SITE
Tour Location
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