Is Hot Air Balloon Worth It in Serengeti
Is Hot Air Balloon Worth It in Serengeti?
What first strikes you is the quietness. The burner bellows intermittently, pumping hot air into the balloon, but then there is nothing but the gentle murmur of breeze and the immense Serengeti stretching to infinity below. It’s unlike a safari Land Rover, with the churning engine and puffs of dust proclaiming your arrival. You drift here on the wind currents, unseen by the herds below. It’s the supreme viewpoint, but is it worthwhile?
Firstly,
A Serengeti hot air balloon safari isn’t inexpensive. Costs between $500 and $600 per person, depending upon the time of year and outfitter. That’s a high premium on an already costly safari, but the experience is unique to Africa. At sunrise, when most predators are still on the move and the golden light puts the plains in surreal colors, the sight is unrivaled. This is not another point of view—it’s a revolution in how you feel the Serengeti.
Next,
One of the largest attractions of a balloon safari is to see the entire scope of the ecosystem. From the sky, the terrain is revealed like a living map: the migration paths inscribed in the ground, groups of acacia trees sprinkled across the horizon, and the twisting rivers that support life in this harsh but beautiful landscape. Even those who have spent days in the park, are amazed at how much different it appears from the air. If you’re visiting during the Great Migration, the sight of thousands of wildebeest stretching in unbroken lines across the plains is mesmerizing.
Moreover,
Wildlife viewing from a balloon is unpredictable but rewarding. Giraffes appear almost motionless as they move elegantly across the grasslands. Hippos wallow in the mud, invisible from the ground but fully exposed from above. The lions also ignore the balloons, too far away to pose a threat, but unmistakably present—you can even catch sight of a new kill at dawn. Elephant herds glide across the landscape like silhouettes, their scale and quantity even more awe-inspiring from above. The experience is not about focusing on specific animals, as if in a jeep, but about immersing yourself in the scale of the Serengeti wilderness in general.
The experience is topped off with a smooth landing—often more of a controlled thump—before the guests are then served a bush champagne breakfast. The tradition stretches back to early ballooning times and provides another layer of excitement to the morning. Eating out in the open, with the Serengeti stretching as far as the eye can see in all directions, is an ideal way to look back at the flight.
conclusion
So, is it worth it? If you want an up-close, in-the-moment wildlife experience, a jeep safari will deliver. But if you desire to witness the scale of Serengeti, to understand its vastness in a manner that no land-based tour can provide, then yes—a hot air balloon safari is worth every penny. It’s a one-off experience, and in a location as remarkable as the Serengeti, that’s precisely what you’re looking for.
