Flying high up in the skies above the Masai Mara is the ultimate safari experience. The landscape below is a never-ending exciting mixture of riverine forests, sprawling savannahs, towering escarpments, and rugged rivers. Against a backdrop of stunning sunrises, hot-air balloon flights in the Masai Mara give you a unique vantage point of the abundant wildlife living below. There’s really nothing quite like it, the view is unparalleled and the experience is unforgettable

Hot air ballooning & the Great Migration

If you decide to visit the Masai Mara between the months of July and October, you will have a chance to catch the ‘Great Migration’ while flying above the African plains. There’s nothing quite like this phenomenon of migrating herds of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. Flying above the herds in a hot air balloon is one of the best ways to grasp the enormity of what’s taking place. Other exciting sights to behold include watching predators such as lions hunting their prey, spotting leopards perched up high in trees and seeing active hyena dens. Every hot air balloon flight brings with it the opportunity to see new and exciting sights below. Your pilot will make sure to fly lower at times to allow for the best possible pictures to be taken.

Masai Mara hot-air balloon flight price

Hot-air balloon flights are quite pricey, especially in remote areas such as the Masai Mara. Hot air balloon ride prices start at US$ 450 per person. One of the reasons for this is the fact that balloons can only be used for a limited number of hours before they need replacing. After approximately 850 flight hours, balloons are retired and a new balloon must be purchased to guarantee the safety of those who board a balloon. What also makes hot air balloon flights expensive is the cost of fuel and crew to operate the hot air balloon. Crews are made up of six crew members and a licensed balloon pilot. An additional ten people behind the scenes (per balloon) are responsible for getting each hot air balloon airborne. In total, this adds up to quite a group of people whose livelihoods depend on the proceeds from hot air balloon flights. In addition to this, each hot air balloon flight requires recovery vehicles, transfer vehicles and back-up operations. To top this off, a large portion of the hot air balloon flight fees are made up of conservation fees.

Included in the price for a balloon safari are:

• Approximately one hour of hot air balloon flight
• Transfer from your safari camp or lodge
• Champagne-style bush breakfast
• Transfer back to camp after breakfast
• Conservancy or national reserve landing fees