You’ve been dreaming of your Tanzanian safari for thus lengthy, and the day when it begins has lastly arrived. How about exploring this unimaginable nation from a singular perspective on a Serengeti balloon safari?
Uncover why so many safari guests fall in love with the Serengeti. Preserve a watch out for giant cats, even greater elephants, and virtually each type of safari wildlife you’ll be able to think about. You may also see giraffe, impala, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, a whole lot of species of birds, and that will all simply be earlier than breakfast.
You’ll always remember watching these animals work together from above, whether or not you see a hunt, an enormous herd or a mom defending her cub or calf. Plus, there’s the Serengeti’s unforgettable surroundings: observe Africa’s iconic acacia timber, the park’s golden grasslands and nice piles of boulders referred to as “kopjes”.
After your Serengeti balloon safari, spend a while on this busy northern Tanzanian city referred to as Arusha, and also you’ll expertise energetic streets full of life and shade.
Right here’s all the pieces you might want to find out about experiencing the Serengeti from a sizzling air balloon!
Associated learn: 10 Issues to do in Tanzania
Right here’s a fast breakdown:
Learn how to Expertise a Serengeti Balloon Safari
Serengeti Nationwide Park gives a singular and exhilarating expertise with its Balloon Safari.
From the vantage level of a sizzling air balloon, you’ll be able to admire the huge fantastic thing about the Serengeti grasslands and get an entire new perspective on the park’s considerable wildlife.
It is a really exceptional journey.
Start your day at daybreak with a one-hour flight (climate allowing), the place you will notice wildlife and migration from above and under as you soar over the huge savannah. Upon touchdown, get pleasure from a heat welcome with champagne and an beautiful breakfast within the wilderness. Then, head again to your lodge for an thrilling recreation drive.
The new air balloons are often obtainable within the Ndutu space between December 20 and March 31, whereas they function within the North Serengeti from July 1 to October 31.
You’ll usually take off at round 6:30am and return to camp by 9:30am to proceed your safari expertise. This exercise is appropriate for people aged seven years or older who’re moderately cellular, bodily match sufficient to fly and have a way of journey. Please be aware that weight restrictions might apply.
The place to Have a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti
Occurring a balloon safari in Africa could be fairly costly, however let me let you know, it’s completely value each penny spent on this unimaginable journey within the sky!
There are a number of designated spots within the Serengeti the place you’ll be able to take your balloon safari. The most effective location for this unique airborne wildlife viewing expertise relies on elements such because the abundance of animals in a selected space of the Serengeti Nationwide Park, the proximity of your lodge or lodge, and your alternative of balloon operator.
The central a part of the Serengeti gives a powerful array of wildlife, together with wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and boasts one of many highest concentrations of massive cats within the park.
Kogatende is usually in comparison with Switzerland on account of its picturesque panorama, which resembles the rolling hills of that nation.
It’s no surprise it’s referred to as “the Serengeti,” as its terrain intently resembles that iconic African nationwide park, with its huge plains and the breathtaking Mara River operating by it. This area additionally occurs to be considered one of one of many few locations the place you’ll be able to witness firsthand the awe-inspiring phenomenon of the Nice Migration from July to November.
Nonetheless, should you plan your go to between Could and July, Togoro turns into a superb place to watch this exceptional occasion referred to as the Nice Migration.
Annually in East Africa’s Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, a surprising pure spectacle referred to as the “Nice Migration” happens. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and different hoofed animals migrate by these lands. And guess what? Togoro is also known as the “Golden Plains of the Serengeti” on account of its picturesque panorama of acacia and sausage timber.
When you’ve booked your Serengeti balloon safari, considered one of our group members will give you essential particulars about your early morning pick-up, what to put on, and what to anticipate throughout this extraordinary journey. This informative briefing often takes place at your lodge the night earlier than your Serengeti Balloon Safari.
What to Count on from a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti
You’ll have to rise up early, as generally it’s a 30-60-minute drive to get to the place to begin. However once you arrive at the place to begin, the workers will warmly greet you.
Though it’s nonetheless darkish outdoors, the sky is popping a surprising shade of purple. Whereas the group prepares the balloon for flight, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a comforting cup of tea or espresso and a scrumptious biscuit. The new air balloon is heated to offer the required elevate for flight, whereas ropes maintain the basket in place.
Simply earlier than takeoff, there’s a temporary security briefing and harness demonstration. The crew will instruct you on positioning your self within the basket and what to anticipate throughout the journey. As soon as all the pieces is about up and able to go, you might be free to enter the basket and “fasten your seatbelt”.
Good to know: Because the balloon strikes with the wind somewhat than rocking by itself, movement illness is just not a difficulty.
Normally, the recent air balloons have sufficient house and are divided into 4 compartments for a complete of 12 to 16 visitors, guaranteeing elevated security and loads of room for everybody, in addition to breathtaking views!
As soon as all passengers are settled inside, the skilled pilot is prepared for takeoff!
He’ll gently heat up the balloon till it rises gracefully into the air, the place you’ll quickly witness an unimaginable dawn that completely illuminates the Serengeti plains.
It’s really an exhilarating but serene expertise! As you float over the huge Serengeti landscapes on this hovering vessel, there isn’t a turbulence or loud engine noise to disturb this environment; simply you (and a dozen different visitors) having fun with this chicken’s eye view of the animals under, together with the charming dawn forward.
Throughout a balloon safari within the Serengeti, there may be an abundance of wildlife to watch. With a little bit luck, you might even see a pleasure of lions, sleek giraffes, an impressive procession of elephants crossing the huge plains, various hyenas, vibrant birds and quite a few species of plains recreation, together with wildebeest, topi, zebra and different antelopes.
The altitude throughout the flight varies from managed heights of about 300 meters above floor stage to skimming the treetops for panoramic views of the Serengeti terrain. On common, flights final roughly one hour, however relying on climate circumstances and discovering appropriate touchdown websites, flights could also be barely longer or shorter than 60 minutes. It’s value noting that any flights over 40 minutes will probably be charged at full worth.
The chance to view the Serengeti from above is really unforgettable and can go away you with an enduring impression.
What to Deliver on a Scorching Air Balloon Safari
What gadgets must you embody in your packing checklist for a Serengeti balloon safari journey? It’s extremely beneficial that you just costume appropriately for the safari expertise. This consists of snug footwear and a light-weight windproof jacket or sweater for the cooler mornings.
Don’t neglect to pack a hat and sunscreen to guard your self from the solar’s rays. Whereas carrying a hat is probably not perfect throughout the balloon journey itself, it’ll turn out to be useful throughout the scrumptious bush breakfasts.
Talking of which, bush breakfasts are an absolute should on an African safari. They provide an unimaginable alternative to get pleasure from scrumptious meals amidst the breathtaking surroundings of the huge Serengeti plains.
Additionally, make sure to deliver binoculars so you’ll be able to rise up shut and private with wildlife and seize superb moments together with your smartphone or digicam. The Serengeti gives numerous alternatives for video and pictures from excessive above in a sizzling air balloon! Perhaps you need to take a small digicam bag with private belongings with you, which you’ll be able to safe to the underside of the basket. However take into account, that there isn’t a lot room on board to retailer baggage on the ground throughout the flight, so select correctly what you deliver.
You may count on the morning to be chilly as you float excessive within the sky, however you’ll be pleasantly shocked to seek out it’s not chilly! The new air balloon glides effortlessly with the wind, eliminating the opportunity of a cold breeze. As well as, the balloon itself is “heated,” which ensures a comforting heat that envelops you.
As you rise above the magnificent Serengeti plains, the encompassing air additionally progressively warms. So there’s no must bundle up.
When Must you E book your Serengeti Balloon Flight?
When is the very best time to ebook your sizzling air balloon journey within the Serengeti? It’s extremely beneficial that you just safe your spot within the Serengeti skies as quickly as you affirm your go to. Ballooning is extremely fashionable, and availability is proscribed. We suggest reserving early to make sure a clean expertise.
Proceed the Safari Afterwards
Proceed your morning with one other game-viewing session. You can have lunch in nature and return within the late night to get pleasure from a leisurely African dinner.
The next day, after breakfast, you proceed with a Recreation drive in Ndutu plains – well-known worldwide because it hosts one of many largest mammal migrations. Witnessing over 400,000 calves being born throughout peak season is awe-inspiring!
You should have pleasant morning and afternoon recreation drives throughout infinite Serengeti plains, that are dwelling to a unprecedented focus of wildlife, together with wildebeest herds, zebras, gazelles, lions lounging in acacia timber…the checklist goes on! The Serengeti plains boast all members of Africa’s Large 5 and tens of millions of zebras, birds, and different predators.
Serengeti Nationwide Park is legendary for its huge herds of plains animals equivalent to wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. It stays the one place in Africa the place large-scale land-animal migrations nonetheless happen. This park has turn out to be a world vacationer attraction and was acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage website in 1981. As for the dearth of timber within the Serengeti, it’s largely infinite plains; nonetheless, there are some “sausage timber” that elephants and giraffes feed on.
Word that the park faces a number of administration issues, together with poaching, tourism impression, wildfires, and insufficient useful resource monitoring capability. Water shortage is one other important problem on account of having just one perennial river (Mara) spanning borders.
Numerous elements threaten the ecosystem of Serengeti Nationwide Park, equivalent to industrialization, human inhabitants progress, farming, and poaching – endangering each wildlife species and native communities residing close to the park boundaries. Human-wildlife conflicts, inhabitants improve, poverty, and unsustainable improvement initiatives additionally contribute to those challenges.
