A hot air balloon ride over the savannah, where herds of zebras and antelopes roam, is one of the most thrilling experiences for those visiting Tanzania. While classic off-road safaris are always exciting—no matter how many times you’ve visited the same park—the perspective from a balloon is truly unforgettable. Gliding above wild animals, acacias, baobabs, rivers, and hills, at the height of a bird in flight, creates a memory that lasts a lifetime.
This adventure echoes the spirit of Jules Verne, the iconic adventure writer who launched his career with stories of ballooning. His first novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon, chronicled a journey starting in modern-day Tanzania, traveling from Zanzibar’s coast, past Kilimanjaro, and toward Lakes Tanganyika and Victoria. Between Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria, you’ll witness one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders: the Great Migration.
Today, the tourists have a chance to soar above the places most worthy of observation. What is there to see with your own eyes, from a height of 320 or even 1600 ft? How would that be, flying above Africa in a wicker basket? Read on, and find out.
Paying Mother Nature a visit is always worth it. Moreover, when you can get close enough to wild animals without being noticed and still be close enough to see the details of their daily life, you feel happy as a child. A hot air balloon flight over the national parks of Africa offers exactly such an opportunity.
This exotic method visiting, say, the legendary Serengeti has a number of quite outstanding advantages as compared to a jeep ride:Â Â Â Â
The Serengeti, one of the world’s most famous national parks, is aptly named for its vast, seemingly endless plains. From above, you can fully appreciate the expansive landscape, and with perfect timing, you might witness the breathtaking Great Migration, with massive herds of wildebeest and zebra covering the plains. While drifting over this stunning scenery, keep an eye out for hippos in their pools, a variety of plains game, and, if you're lucky, predators on the prowl. Balloon safaris in the Serengeti can depart from Namiri Plains, Dunia, and Sayari, with Migration Camps like Ubuntu in the south and Olakira offering ideal routes. The best time for a balloon safari is during the dry season, from June to November and mid-December to mid-March.
A balloon safari in Ngorongoro Crater offers an extraordinary perspective of one of Tanzania’s most iconic landscapes, available year-round. As you ascend, the vastness of the crater unfolds beneath you, revealing a stunning tapestry of wildlife-rich plains, lush vegetation, and the expansive Ngorongoro Lake. The serene flight lets you glide over herds of grazing wildebeest and zebras, while the ever-changing light casts magical hues over the landscape. On clear days, you might even spot the towering peak of Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon, adding to the breathtaking panorama. This serene journey provides an unparalleled way to experience the grandeur and diversity of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Tarangire National Park's diversity makes it ideal for a hot air balloon safari. The mild breezes provide a slow, almost sluggish balloon safari, allowing time to explore the environment and wildlife below. Grassy plains, baobab trees, and rocky outcroppings tinged with the region's red soil, sliced through by the Tarangire River and the lush green of the Silale Swamp. Watch for huge herds of buffalo and elephants emerging from the swampy waters, their pristine grey and black hides glinting in the sunlight.
A balloon safari in Ruaha National Park operates exclusively during the dry season, from June to October, and provides amazing views of the Ruaha River and the environment, which is dotted with huge baobab trees. The lofty vista, which is larger than the Serengeti National Park, helps you appreciate the scope of this one-of-a-kind site. The calm and consistent breezes this season allow for low-altitude flying just meters over the grunting hippo, as well as soaring to vast heights to appreciate the view over this region.
Once there were times when people made their first attempts to soar over the savannahs of Tanzania, and then the unforeseen situations would occur. In the beginning we reminded you of a novel by Jules Verne, set in 1862, that ended in a crash. More than 100 years later, in 1975, Alan Root flew over Kilimanjaro in a hot-air balloon and edited his adventures into a film for the BBC, Safari by Balloon.
We recommend that you find this film and watch it from beginning to end. The director’s camera captures many interesting scenes that could only happen to true adventurers: here a lioness grabs the end of a rope hanging from a balloon with her mouth; there a basket landing sweeps the crew members off a boat and they fall straight into the river and the boat begins to sink; and here a basket slowly sinks straight into the treetops, entangling the branches with the rigging. Watch this old documentary and get into the atmosphere of the era of pioneering aeronautics in East Africa. It’s full of fun and fascinating moments!
Since then, everything has changed; professional certified pilots are involved in operating the aircraft, the practice of ballooning has been fine-tuned, the balloons have been modernized, and tourism standards require reliable safety guarantees.
All flights are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority: balloons and all equipment are constantly inspected, operating companies are licensed, pilots are also tested for flight fitness.
Tourist flights have been taking place since the late 1980s, and in 30 years all the protocols have been perfected. This way of visiting the national parks of Tanzania is popular with world-famous Hollywood actors and members of European royal families. If you want to know details about flight safety or have questions about restrictions, such as weight and age, please contact our managers and they will tell you everything.
A hot air balloon safari in Tanzania offers an unparalleled way to experience the beauty and wildlife of this remarkable country. It is an adventure that combines the thrill of flight with the serene beauty of the savanna, creating an unforgettable journey into the heart of Africa’s wilderness.
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