Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Masai Mara from a bird's eye view. Hot air ballooning in the Masai Mara is an experience like no other. The vast savannah grasslands, the rolling hills, and the wildlife make for a once in a lifetime experience.
We book this through Balloon Safaris Kenya, the first balloon company in Kenya (the founder Alan Root was actually a neighbour of ours at Ololo and a famous wildlife documentary maker/conservationist). They charge $450 per adult and $200 per child (this is a pretty standard price across most balloon companies), and pickups/drop-offs, as well as a champagne breakfast afterwards.
Balloon Safaris Kenya is the first hot air ballooning company in East Africa and has been in operation since 1976. Their team of experienced pilots and crew members are committed to ensuring a safe and memorable experience for all their guests. Depending on which camp you're staying at, you'll be picked up very early in the morning before sunrise and driven to the launch site. Here you will meet your pilot and crew and watch as they inflate the balloon. Once the balloon is inflated, you will climb into the basket, and your pilot will give you a safety briefing.
As the sun starts to rise, the balloon will lift off the ground, and you will slowly start to ascend into the sky. The feeling of floating silently above the Masai Mara is indescribable. The silence is only broken by the occasional sound of the burners heating the air to keep the balloon afloat.
As you ascend higher, you will start to see the vast expanse of the Masai Mara stretching out before you. The Mara River snakes its way through the grasslands, and the wildlife below starts to come into view. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests roam freely below, and you can see them going about their morning routines.
The pilot will control the altitude of the balloon, and you will be able to get a 360-degree view of the Masai Mara. The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, and the experience is one that will stay with you for a lifetime.
After an hour or so of floating above the Masai Mara, the pilot will bring the balloon down for a gentle landing. The crew will be waiting for you with a champagne breakfast, and you can toast to a successful flight.
Hot air ballooning in the Masai Mara is a must-do activity for anyone visiting the Mara, if it fits within your budget. There's a reason it's considered in the top three hot-air ballooning sites in the world, so let us know if you'd like to include this activity into your itinerary!
