The whole balloon to yourselves
A private flight carries only your party, so every view, every photograph and every quiet moment above the herds is yours alone.
The Short Answer
What a luxury balloon safari is.
A luxury hot air balloon safari lifts off at sunrise over the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti for about an hour above the plains, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush, or a private balloon with its own breakfast and premium French champagne. As a guide for 2026 to 2028, a shared balloon in the Maasai Mara costs from USD 500 per adult, or USD 550 from July to October, and about USD 600 in the Serengeti.
Flights over the Migration sell out from July to October. See where to fly, what it costs and how the morning unfolds.
By Abner Ongeri, founder, Karen, Nairobi. Updated September 2026, with guides for 2026 to 2028.
The Private Balloon
A balloon safari, entirely your own.
Most guests share a basket with strangers. For a honeymoon, a proposal or simply the flight of a lifetime, we can reserve the balloon for you alone.
A private breakfast, set apart
Not a long shared table. A breakfast laid for you in a secluded spot on the plains, with premium French champagne on landing.
Private transfers
Collected from your camp in your own vehicle, and returned the same way, on your schedule.
For the moments that matter
Proposals, honeymoons, anniversaries and milestone birthdays, with the details arranged quietly in advance.
Over the Great Migration
From July to October we time your flight for the Maasai Mara or the northern Serengeti, where the herds are that week.
Insured and escorted
Our Mara operator carries passenger insurance up to USD 150,000 per guest and includes helicopter evacuation.
Where to Fly
Balloon safaris in the Mara and Serengeti.
One ecosystem across two countries. The best launch depends on the month and where the herds are.
The Maasai Mara, Kenya
All year, with the herds from July to October
Balloons launch at dawn from sites across the Maasai Mara and drift with the wind over the plains, the Mara River and its forests. From July to October you may fly over the Great Migration itself. We book the launch site nearest your camp, so the early start is as short as possible.
Central Serengeti, Tanzania
All year, from Seronera
The Seronera valley holds water and wildlife all year, with big cats almost guaranteed. The most reliable Serengeti launch, and the busiest.
Southern Serengeti and Ndutu, Tanzania
Late December to mid March
Above the short grass plains during the calving season, when hundreds of thousands of wildebeest gather to give birth. One of the great sights on earth from the air.
Western Corridor, Tanzania
June to October
Over the Grumeti River as the herds move north, including the crossings at the start of the dry season.
Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
July to October
Above the Mara River crossings on the Tanzanian side, in the quietest corner of the Serengeti. Flights here usually carry a premium.
What It Costs
How much a balloon safari costs.
Guides for 2026 to 2028. In the Mara the price includes the county landing fee, the flight, champagne and breakfast.
Balloon flightWhenGuide price
Maasai Mara, shared balloonJan to Jun, Nov to DecUSD 500 per adult
Maasai Mara, shared balloonJul to OctUSD 550 per adult
Maasai Mara, childrenAll yearUSD 400 per child
Serengeti, shared balloonAll yearAbout USD 600 per person
Northern SerengetiJul to OctA premium on the Serengeti rate
Private balloon, Mara or SerengetiBy arrangementQuoted for your party
We add the balloon to your proposal with the exact price for your date and launch site. In the Serengeti, park fees apply if you enter the park only for the flight.
The Morning
From the dark to breakfast.
A balloon morning runs about four to five hours, and it is back at camp by mid morning.
- A pre dawn pickupAround five in the morning, with coffee, from your camp to the launch site in the dark.
- Watching the inflationThe crew fills the balloon by burner light as the sky begins to change colour.
- Lift off at sunriseAbout an hour in the air, low over the plains and higher for the views, drifting with the wind.
- A champagne landingYour pilot sets down on the plains, and the crew meets you with champagne.
- Breakfast in the bushA full breakfast under the trees, then a game drive back to camp by mid morning.
Compared
The Maasai Mara or the Serengeti?
Both are superb. The right one is usually wherever your safari already is that month.
| Maasai Mara | Serengeti | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, shared | From USD 500 per adult | About USD 600 per person |
| Best months | July to October for the herds, excellent all year | By area: Ndutu December to March, the north July to October |
| Launch sites | Across the reserve and conservancies | Central all year, plus seasonal sites in the south, west and north |
| Crowds | Several balloons on busy mornings | Fewer balloons outside Seronera |
| Pairs well with | A conservancy camp and the river crossings | The Ngorongoro Crater and the northern circuit |
Planning around the herds? Read the Great Migration month by month.
Best Time
The best time for a balloon safari.
Balloons fly all year. The season decides what you see beneath you.
July to October
The Great Migration in the Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti. The most dramatic flights, and the ones to book furthest ahead.
December to March
The calving season in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu, with hot, clear mornings in the Mara too.
April and May
The long rains. Some mornings are cancelled, but the plains are green and the skies extraordinary.
June and November
Shoulder months with good flying weather and fewer balloons in the air.
Good to Know
Before you fly.
The practical details every guest should know, plainly.
Age
Operators set their own minimum age, usually around seven. Tell us your children's ages and we will check with the operator.
Getting in and out
You climb into the basket before lift off and land sitting or crouching, braced, in the basket. It suits most guests, but tell us about any back or mobility concerns.
What to wear
Layers and a warm jacket for the cold start, closed shoes, and a hat. The burners are warm overhead once you are flying.
Weather
Pilots fly only in safe winds. If the flight cannot go ahead, we move it to another morning where your itinerary allows.
Photography
A mid range zoom is ideal. You are above the animals rather than close to them, so this is about landscape, light and scale.
Insurance
Our Mara operator carries passenger insurance up to USD 150,000 per guest and includes helicopter evacuation.
Journeys
Journeys with a balloon flight.
A balloon can be added to any safari in the Mara or the Serengeti. These two include one already.
Balloon Included
8 Day Great Migration Safari
- DestinationsMaasai Mara · Northern Serengeti
- Duration8 Days · 7 Nights
- HighlightsBoth banks of the Mara River in a single week, with a private vehicle throughout and a balloon flight at dawn.
Starting fromUSD 16,750 per person
Balloon Included
The Ultimate East Africa Luxury Safari
- DestinationsRwanda · Kenya · Tanzania
- Duration12 Days · 11 Nights
- Departures12 Sep 2027, limited seats
- HighlightsGorillas in the Virungas, the Maasai Mara, and a finale in the western Serengeti crowned by a sunrise balloon flight.
Starting fromUSD 46,200 per person
Questions We Hear
Balloon safaris, answered.
Straight answers from our team in Nairobi. For your own plans, a designer replies within 24 hours.
+254 711 471 757 Call or WhatsApp, Nairobi Speak to an ExpertHow much is a hot air balloon safari in the Maasai Mara?
As a guide for 2026 to 2028, a shared balloon flight in the Maasai Mara costs from USD 500 per adult, USD 550 from July to October, and USD 400 per child, including the county landing fee, the flight and a champagne breakfast.
How much is a balloon safari in the Serengeti?
About USD 600 per person for a shared flight in 2026, including transfers from your camp, the flight and a bush breakfast. Flights in the northern Serengeti usually carry a premium, and park fees apply if you enter the park only for the balloon.
Is a balloon safari worth it?
For most guests, yes. It is not a way to see animals up close, but an hour above the plains at sunrise, silent apart from the burner, shows the scale of the Mara or the Serengeti in a way no game drive can. Guests often call it the highlight of the trip.
What is the best time for a balloon safari?
July to October in the Maasai Mara and northern Serengeti, when the Great Migration is below you, and late December to mid March in the southern Serengeti for the calving. Flights run all year, weather permitting.
How long does a balloon safari last?
About an hour in the air, within a morning of around four to five hours from the pre dawn pickup to the return to camp after breakfast.
Is there a minimum age for a balloon safari?
Operators set their own minimum, usually around seven years old. Tell us the ages of your children and we will confirm with the operator before booking.
Is a balloon safari safe?
Yes. Pilots are licensed by the civil aviation authorities, fly only in safe winds, and our Mara operator carries passenger insurance up to USD 150,000 per guest with helicopter evacuation included.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The pilot decides on the morning, and safety comes first. If the flight cannot go ahead, we move it to another morning where your itinerary allows.
Can we book a private balloon?
Yes, in both the Mara and the Serengeti, with private transfers, a private breakfast in a secluded spot and premium champagne. It is ideal for honeymoons, proposals and anniversaries, and we quote it for your party.
What is a luxury or private balloon safari?
A private balloon carries only your party, with private transfers from your camp, a breakfast laid for you in a secluded spot and premium French champagne on landing. It is the way we recommend for honeymoons, proposals and anniversaries, and we quote it for your group.
How far ahead should we book a balloon?
As soon as your camps are confirmed for July to October and the festive season, when flights sell out. At other times, a few weeks ahead is usually enough.
What should I wear on a balloon safari?
Warm layers and a jacket for the cold start, closed shoes and a hat. It warms up quickly once the sun is up and the burners are running overhead.
Begin
Reserve your sunrise.
July to October mornings over the Migration sell out first, and private balloons are limited. Tell us your dates and camps, and a designer in Nairobi will hold your flight at the launch site closest to you, with the exact price, within 24 hours.
See also helicopter safaris, the Great Migration and Kenya.