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The Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the world, a World Heritage Site, and a vital area of biodiversity. Its diverse landscape includes plains, gallery forest, and hilly woodland, making it home to a wide range of bird and animal life. The park is part of the wider Serengeti ecosystem, which also includes the Masai Mara, Grumeti, and Maswa Game Reserves, and is contiguous with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo Game Controlled Area.
Tourists from all over the world come to the Serengeti National Park to witness the Great Migration, where wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras travel across the Serengeti and the Masai Mara in search of greener pastures. The best way to experience this is from a high vantage point, such as a hot air balloon. From up above, you can enjoy undisturbed views of the park and its inhabitants, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants.
A typical day on safari can be as varied as the surrounding topography, with surprises around every corner. The best time to visit is during the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra, which takes place following the East African rains in early November. Guests can explore the wilderness on foot or by air, with expert guides leading traditional walking safaris. You can also witness the Frankfurt Zoological Society's anti-poaching efforts and explore Gol Kopjes-huge granite formations that are home to the continent’s largest concentration of cheetahs.
When one opts for the hot air balloon safari option, you get to fly throughout the park during the day and you'll spend the nights fly-camping in cocoon tents out in the bush, gazing up at the starry night sky from your bed. The unforgettable trip concludes with a final balloon flight from Kiwara to the shores of Lake Victoria before guests are taken back to their campsites.this will vary according to the package that one chooses but at the end of the day its the best spending of one's money.
For the 2024-2025 season, hot air balloon safaris in Serengeti, Tanzania, range from US$559 to US$599 per person, depending on where you fly from. Child rates are available for children between 7 and 16 years of age, but children below the age of 7 years are not allowed. The price includes a transfer from your lodge or camp to the departure balloon site, the balloon flight itself, and a champagne breakfast after landing.
The flight lasts between 50 and 70 minutes, and passengers weighing over 120 kilos (265 pounds) may need to reserve two seats. The balloons are immense, with baskets compartmentalized for comfort and security, accommodating 16 people for each one-hour voyage. Due to limited seating availability, it's advised to pre-book this popular activity for your safari holiday to East Africa. Although it's not a cheap excursion, it will undoubtedly make your northern Tanzania vacation one of the most memorable of your whole life.
