Hot Air Balloon Safari in Maasai Mara: Wildlife from the Sky
Float above the Mara River at dawn and watch hippos and crocodiles from a thousand feet up.
A hot air balloon safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve where you drift over the plains, rivers and wildlife at sunrise, suspended in a basket beneath a rainbow canopy. Pickup happens at 4:30am from your accommodation; the flight lasts roughly an hour, drifting with the air currents; you land wherever the wind takes you and finish with a champagne breakfast cooked in the bush before transfer back to camp.
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The experience
The day starts before dawn. A 4:30am pickup brings you to the launch site, where the pilot briefs you as the balloon is fired up. Flames light the darkness as the crew inflates the craft, and the first pink light breaks across the sky as you rise. Suspended in the basket beneath the canopy, you float in near-total silence. The absolute stillness is what strikes most first-time balloonists. The Mara River passes below, and on clear mornings you'll spot hippos and crocodiles in the water. The flight drifts wherever the air currents carry you, lasting roughly an hour, with ample time for photography and video.
When you land, the crew has already prepared a champagne breakfast in the bush: a tradition balloon flights follow worldwide. You eat and toast your return to earth in the landscape itself. Then a transfer takes you back to your accommodation, ending the experience by mid-morning.
What’s included
- Balloon safari fee.
- pickup and hotel drop-off.
- pilot briefing before flight.
- champagne breakfast in the bush after landing.
- all equipment and safety gear.
Options for this experience
2 optionsBefore you book
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
Operated by kenya safari bookings
Is this one for you?The 4:30am start means you catch the sunrise from the air and see the Mara at its most active, but it requires an early wake-up. If you're staying in or near the Maasai Mara and want wildlife viewing from a completely different vantage point than a ground safari, the stillness and perspective from the basket make this worth the predawn timing.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).
What time does the balloon safari start?
Pickup from your hotel is at 4:30am, so you arrive at the launch site well before sunrise. The balloon rises as the first light breaks across the sky.
How long is the actual flight?
The flight lasts roughly an hour, drifting with the air currents over the Mara River and plains. The total experience, including briefing and breakfast, takes about four hours from pickup to return.
What animals can you see from the balloon?
Hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River are the most commonly spotted from above. The vantage point lets you see wildlife across the plains and forest from an entirely different angle than ground-level viewing.
Is breakfast really included?
Yes. After landing, the crew serves a champagne breakfast cooked in the bush wherever the balloon comes down. It's part of the traditional balloon flight finish.
Does the price include getting to and from my hotel?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off to your accommodation are included in the balloon safari fee.
Hot Air Balloon Safari in Maasai Mara: Wildlife from the Sky
4h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 593 per person
4.004 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider