You’ve been dreaming of your Tanzanian safari for thus lengthy, and the day when it begins has lastly arrived. How about exploring this unimaginable nation from a singular perspective on a Serengeti balloon safari?
Uncover why so many safari guests fall in love with the Serengeti. Maintain a watch out for large cats, even larger elephants, and virtually each sort of safari wildlife you’ll be able to think about. You may additionally see giraffe, impala, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, a whole bunch of species of birds, and which will all simply be earlier than breakfast.
You’ll always remember watching these animals work together from above, whether or not you see a hunt, an unlimited herd or a mom defending her cub or calf. Plus, there’s the Serengeti’s unforgettable surroundings: observe Africa’s iconic acacia bushes, the park’s golden grasslands and nice piles of boulders referred to as “kopjes”.
After your Serengeti balloon safari, spend a while on this busy northern Tanzanian city referred to as Arusha, and also you’ll expertise energetic streets full of life and shade.
Right here’s the whole lot it is advisable to learn about experiencing the Serengeti from a scorching air balloon!
Associated learn: 10 Issues to do in Tanzania
Right here’s a fast breakdown:
Easy methods to Expertise a Serengeti Balloon Safari
Serengeti Nationwide Park provides a singular and exhilarating expertise with its Balloon Safari.
From the vantage level of a scorching air balloon, you’ll be able to admire the huge fantastic thing about the Serengeti grasslands and get a complete new perspective on the park’s considerable wildlife.
This can be a really exceptional journey.
Start your day at daybreak with a one-hour flight (climate allowing), the place you will notice wildlife and migration from above and beneath as you soar over the huge savannah. Upon touchdown, take pleasure in a heat welcome with champagne and an beautiful breakfast within the wilderness. Then, head again to your resort for an thrilling recreation drive.
The recent air balloons are normally out there within the Ndutu space between December 20 and March 31, whereas they function within the North Serengeti from July 1 to October 31.
You’ll usually take off at round 6:30am and return to camp by 9:30am to proceed your safari expertise. This exercise is appropriate for people aged seven years or older who’re fairly cellular, bodily match sufficient to fly and have a way of journey. Please be aware that weight restrictions could apply.
The place to Have a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti
Occurring a balloon safari in Africa will be fairly costly, however let me inform you, it’s completely price each penny spent on this unimaginable journey within the sky!
There are a number of designated spots within the Serengeti the place you’ll be able to take your balloon safari. The perfect location for this unique airborne wildlife viewing expertise is dependent upon elements such because the abundance of animals in a specific space of the Serengeti Nationwide Park, the proximity of your lodge or resort, and your alternative of balloon operator.
The central a part of the Serengeti provides a formidable array of wildlife, together with wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and boasts one of many highest concentrations of huge cats within the park.
Kogatende is commonly in comparison with Switzerland on account of its picturesque panorama, which resembles the rolling hills of that nation.
It’s no surprise it’s known as “the Serengeti,” as its terrain carefully resembles that iconic African nationwide park, with its huge plains and the breathtaking Mara River operating via it. This area additionally occurs to be considered one of one of many few locations the place you’ll be able to witness firsthand the awe-inspiring phenomenon of the Nice Migration from July to November.
Nevertheless, when you plan your go to between Could and July, Togoro turns into a wonderful place to look at this exceptional occasion referred to as the Nice Migration.
Annually in East Africa’s Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, a shocking pure spectacle known as the “Nice Migration” happens. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and different hoofed animals migrate via these lands. And guess what? Togoro is also known as the “Golden Plains of the Serengeti” on account of its picturesque panorama of acacia and sausage bushes.
When you’ve booked your Serengeti balloon safari, considered one of our crew members will offer you vital particulars about your early morning pick-up, what to put on, and what to anticipate throughout this extraordinary journey. This informative briefing normally takes place at your lodge the night earlier than your Serengeti Balloon Safari.
What to Count on from a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti
You’ll have to rise up early, as generally it’s a 30-60-minute drive to get to the start line. However whenever you arrive at the start line, the workers will warmly greet you.
Though it’s nonetheless darkish outdoors, the sky is popping a shocking shade of purple. Whereas the crew prepares the balloon for flight, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a comforting cup of tea or espresso and a scrumptious biscuit. The recent air balloon is heated to offer the required carry for flight, whereas ropes maintain the basket in place.
Simply earlier than takeoff, there’s a transient security briefing and harness demonstration. The crew will instruct you on positioning your self within the basket and what to anticipate throughout the experience. As soon as the whole lot is about up and able to go, you might be free to enter the basket and “fasten your seatbelt”.
Good to know: Because the balloon strikes with the wind somewhat than rocking by itself, movement illness will not be a difficulty.
Normally, the recent air balloons have sufficient house and are divided into 4 compartments for a complete of 12 to 16 friends, making certain elevated security and loads of room for everybody, in addition to breathtaking views!
As soon as all passengers are settled inside, the skilled pilot is prepared for takeoff!
He’ll gently heat up the balloon till it rises gracefully into the air, the place you’ll quickly witness an unimaginable dawn that completely illuminates the Serengeti plains.
It’s really an exhilarating but serene expertise! As you float over the huge Serengeti landscapes on this hovering vessel, there isn’t any turbulence or loud engine noise to disturb this ambiance; simply you (and a dozen different friends) having fun with this hen’s eye view of the animals beneath, together with the charming dawn forward.
Throughout a balloon safari within the Serengeti, there may be an abundance of wildlife to look at. With a bit luck, you might even see a pleasure of lions, swish giraffes, an imposing procession of elephants crossing the huge plains, numerous hyenas, vibrant birds and quite a few species of plains recreation, together with wildebeest, topi, zebra and different antelopes.
The altitude throughout the flight varies from managed heights of about 300 meters above floor degree to skimming the treetops for panoramic views of the Serengeti terrain. On common, flights final roughly one hour, however relying on climate situations and discovering appropriate touchdown websites, flights could also be barely longer or shorter than 60 minutes. It’s price noting that any flights over 40 minutes will probably be charged at full value.
The chance to view the Serengeti from above is really unforgettable and can depart you with a long-lasting impression.
What to Convey on a Sizzling Air Balloon Safari
What gadgets must you embody in your packing checklist for a Serengeti balloon safari journey? It’s extremely really useful that you just costume appropriately for the safari expertise. This consists of comfy footwear and a light-weight windproof jacket or sweater for the cooler mornings.
Don’t overlook to pack a hat and sunscreen to guard your self from the solar’s rays. Whereas sporting a hat is probably not excellent throughout the balloon experience itself, it’s going to come in useful throughout the scrumptious bush breakfasts.
Talking of which, bush breakfasts are an absolute should on an African safari. They provide an unimaginable alternative to take pleasure in scrumptious meals amidst the breathtaking surroundings of the huge Serengeti plains.
Additionally, be sure you convey binoculars so you’ll be able to rise up shut and private with wildlife and seize wonderful moments along with your smartphone or digicam. The Serengeti provides numerous alternatives for video and images from excessive above in a scorching air balloon! Possibly you wish to take a small digicam bag with private belongings with you, which you’ll be able to safe to the underside of the basket. However remember, that there isn’t a lot room on board to retailer baggage on the ground throughout the flight, so select properly what you convey.
You may anticipate the morning to be chilly as you float excessive within the sky, however you’ll be pleasantly stunned to seek out it’s not chilly! The recent air balloon glides effortlessly with the wind, eliminating the potential for a cold breeze. As well as, the balloon itself is “heated,” which ensures a comforting heat that envelops you.
As you rise above the magnificent Serengeti plains, the encircling air additionally step by step warms. So there’s no must bundle up.
When Must you Ebook your Serengeti Balloon Flight?
When is the very best time to guide your scorching air balloon journey within the Serengeti? It’s extremely really useful that you just safe your spot within the Serengeti skies as quickly as you affirm your go to. Ballooning is extremely well-liked, and availability is proscribed. We suggest reserving early to make sure a clean expertise.
Proceed the Safari Afterwards
Proceed your morning with one other game-viewing session. You might have lunch in nature and return within the late night to take pleasure in a leisurely African dinner.
The next day, after breakfast, you proceed with a Recreation drive in Ndutu plains – well-known worldwide because it hosts one of many largest mammal migrations. Witnessing over 400,000 calves being born throughout peak season is awe-inspiring!
You’ll have pleasant morning and afternoon recreation drives throughout countless Serengeti plains, that are house to a rare focus of wildlife, together with wildebeest herds, zebras, gazelles, lions lounging in acacia bushes…the checklist goes on! The Serengeti plains boast all members of Africa’s Massive 5 and thousands and thousands of zebras, birds, and different predators.
Serengeti Nationwide Park is known for its huge herds of plains animals corresponding to wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. It stays the one place in Africa the place large-scale land-animal migrations nonetheless happen. This park has grow to be a world vacationer attraction and was acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage website in 1981. As for the dearth of bushes within the Serengeti, it’s principally countless plains; nevertheless, there are some “sausage bushes” that elephants and giraffes feed on.
Observe that the park faces a number of administration issues, together with poaching, tourism affect, wildfires, and insufficient useful resource monitoring capability. Water shortage is one other vital problem on account of having just one perennial river (Mara) spanning borders.
Numerous elements threaten the ecosystem of Serengeti Nationwide Park, corresponding to industrialization, human inhabitants progress, farming, and poaching – endangering each wildlife species and native communities residing close to the park boundaries. Human-wildlife conflicts, inhabitants improve, poverty, and unsustainable improvement tasks additionally contribute to those challenges.
