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 novel 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 nearly each type 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 that 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 generally known as “kopjes”.
After your Serengeti balloon safari, spend a while on this busy northern Tanzanian city generally known as Arusha, and also you’ll expertise energetic streets stuffed with life and colour.
Right here’s the whole lot you have to learn about experiencing the Serengeti from a sizzling air balloon!
Associated learn: 10 Issues to do in Tanzania
Right here’s a fast breakdown:
How you can Expertise a Serengeti Balloon Safari
Serengeti Nationwide Park presents a novel and exhilarating expertise with its Balloon Safari.
From the vantage level of a sizzling air balloon, you’ll be able to admire the huge great thing about the Serengeti grasslands and get a complete new perspective on the park’s ample wildlife.
It is a really exceptional journey.
Start your day at daybreak with a one-hour flight (climate allowing), the place you will note wildlife and migration from above and under as you soar over the huge savannah. Upon touchdown, get pleasure from a heat welcome with champagne and an beautiful breakfast within the wilderness. Then, head again to your resort for an thrilling sport drive.
The new air balloons are normally obtainable 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 moderately cell, bodily match sufficient to fly and have a way of journey. Please word that weight restrictions could apply.
The place to Have a Balloon Safari within the Serengeti
Happening a balloon safari in Africa will be fairly costly, however let me let you know, 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 most effective location for this unique airborne wildlife viewing expertise will depend on 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 selection of balloon operator.
The central a part of the Serengeti presents a powerful array of wildlife, together with wildebeest, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and boasts one of many highest concentrations of huge cats within the park.
Kogatende is usually in comparison with Switzerland because of its picturesque panorama, which resembles the rolling hills of that nation.
It’s no surprise it’s referred to as “the Serengeti,” as its terrain intently resembles that iconic African nationwide park, with its huge plains and the breathtaking Mara River operating by way of it. This area additionally occurs to be one in every 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 Might and July, Togoro turns into a wonderful place to watch this exceptional occasion generally known as the Nice Migration.
Annually in East Africa’s Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, a shocking pure spectacle referred to as the “Nice Migration” happens. Tens of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and different hoofed animals migrate by way of these lands. And guess what? Togoro is also known as the “Golden Plains of the Serengeti” because of its picturesque panorama of acacia and sausage bushes.
When you’ve booked your Serengeti balloon safari, one in every of our crew members will offer you necessary 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 Anticipate 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 while you arrive at the start line, the employees 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 get pleasure from a comforting cup of tea or espresso and a scrumptious biscuit. The new air balloon is heated to supply the mandatory 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’re free to enter the basket and “fasten your seatbelt”.
Good to know: For the reason that balloon strikes with the wind moderately than rocking by itself, movement illness will not be a problem.
Often, the recent air balloons have sufficient house and are divided into 4 compartments for a complete of 12 to 16 friends, guaranteeing 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 fowl’s eye view of the animals under, together with the charming dawn forward.
Throughout a balloon safari within the Serengeti, there may be an abundance of wildlife to watch. With just a little luck, you may even see a pleasure of lions, sleek giraffes, an imposing procession of elephants crossing the huge plains, numerous hyenas, vibrant birds and quite a few species of plains sport, together with wildebeest, topi, zebra and different antelopes.
The altitude throughout the flight varies from managed heights of about 300 meters above floor stage 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 shall be charged at full worth.
The chance to view the Serengeti from above is really unforgettable and can depart you with a long-lasting impression.
What to Carry on a Scorching Air Balloon Safari
What gadgets must you embody in your packing listing for a Serengeti balloon safari journey? It’s extremely advisable that you just gown appropriately for the safari expertise. This contains snug footwear and a light-weight windproof jacket or sweater for the cooler mornings.
Don’t neglect to pack a hat and sunscreen to guard your self from the solar’s rays. Whereas carrying a hat will not be superb 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 get pleasure from scrumptious meals amidst the breathtaking surroundings of the huge Serengeti plains.
Additionally, remember to convey binoculars so you’ll be able to rise up shut and private with wildlife and seize wonderful moments together with your smartphone or digicam. The Serengeti presents numerous alternatives for video and pictures from excessive above in a sizzling air balloon! Perhaps you wish to take a small digicam bag with private belongings with you, which you’ll safe to the underside of the basket. However remember, that there isn’t a lot room on board to retailer luggage on the ground throughout the flight, so select properly what you convey.
You would possibly count on the morning to be chilly as you float excessive within the sky, however you’ll be pleasantly shocked to seek out it’s not chilly! The new air balloon glides effortlessly with the wind, eliminating the opportunity of 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 progressively warms. So there’s no must bundle up.
When Must you Ebook your Serengeti Balloon Flight?
When is the most effective time to ebook your sizzling air balloon journey within the Serengeti? It’s extremely advisable that you just safe your spot within the Serengeti skies as quickly as you affirm your go to. Ballooning is extremely in style, and availability is proscribed. We advocate reserving early to make sure a easy expertise.
Proceed the Safari Afterwards
Proceed your morning with one other game-viewing session. You could possibly have lunch in nature and return within the late night to get pleasure from a leisurely African dinner.
The next day, after breakfast, you proceed with a Sport 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 sport drives throughout limitless Serengeti plains, that are residence to a unprecedented focus of wildlife, together with wildebeest herds, zebras, gazelles, lions lounging in acacia bushes…the listing 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 legendary for its huge herds of plains animals resembling wildebeests, gazelles, and zebras. It stays the one place in Africa the place large-scale land-animal migrations nonetheless happen. This park has turn into a global 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 limitless plains; nonetheless, 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 important problem because of having just one perennial river (Mara) spanning borders.
Varied elements threaten the ecosystem of Serengeti Nationwide Park, resembling 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 initiatives additionally contribute to those challenges.
