Maasai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari with Champagne Breakfast

You see the savannah from above while it wakes up, with herds moving in near silence below.

A hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara combines a sunrise flight with a champagne bush breakfast, all completed in a morning. You rise at 4:30 AM for pickup, watch the balloon inflate, then float 60–70 minutes over the savannah as wildlife moves below in the golden light. After landing, a traditional champagne toast and full breakfast await you in the wild, with a scenic game drive returning you to camp by 10:00 AM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon safari and breakfast

• Pickup from lodge early morning
• Transfer to balloon launch site
• Watch balloon inflation and safety briefing
• Hot air balloon flight at sunrise
• Champagne toast upon landing
• Enjoy bush breakfast in the wild
• Scenic game drive back to camp

The experience

The flight itself is the core of this experience. You launch around 6:00 AM when the Mara is quietest, drifting over herds of wildebeest, elephants, or lions without the noise and dust of a ground vehicle. The 60–70 minutes aloft give you unobstructed views and the kind of light that makes photography work: golden and low, with the savannah still cool. A safety briefing happens on the ground before you lift off, and the crew handles all the technical work. Your job is to watch and photograph.

The landing is where the luxury part begins. A traditional champagne toast greets you as soon as your feet touch the ground, followed by a full bush breakfast set up with linen-draped tables in the heart of the wild. The meal is gourmet, not camp food: a real contrast to the raw landscape around you. By 9:30–10:00 AM, a scenic game drive brings you back to your lodge, leaving the rest of your day open for other safari activities or rest.

Pickup from your lodge is included, as is all transport to and from the launch site. Park fees, landing fees, bottled water, and the champagne are all covered. Infants sit on an adult's lap during the flight. The early start and the physical demands of climbing into and out of the balloon basket mean you need at least moderate fitness, but the experience itself requires no special skills.

What’s included

• Pickup from your lodge.
• hot air balloon flight.
• park fees and landing fees.
• champagne toast after landing.
• full bush breakfast.
• bottled water.
• scenic game drive back to camp.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sabilom Kenya Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?The 4:30 AM start is what makes the sunrise flight and quiet savannah possible. You're airborne when most ground vehicles are still parked. If an early morning works for your schedule, the bird's-eye view and the unmatched light are worth the wake-up call.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3).

What time does the hot air balloon safari start?

Pickup happens around 4:30–5:00 AM from your lodge, with the balloon lifting off at sunrise around 6:00 AM. The entire experience, including the bush breakfast and return drive, wraps up by 9:30–10:00 AM.

How long is the actual flight time over the Maasai Mara?

The balloon flight lasts 60–70 minutes, giving you a full hour to drift over the savannah and watch wildlife below as the sun rises.

What happens after the balloon lands?

After landing, you receive a traditional champagne toast, then sit down to a full gourmet bush breakfast served on linen-draped tables set up in the wild. A scenic game drive then returns you to your lodge.

Is the champagne breakfast included in the price?

Yes, the champagne toast, full bush breakfast, bottled water, park fees, and landing fees are all included. Gratuities are not included.

Do I need any special fitness or experience to do this?

You need at least moderate physical fitness to climb into and out of the balloon basket, but no prior experience is required. Infants can join if they sit on an adult's lap during the flight.