Extraordinary Hot air Bolloon ride in Serengeti | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO L.T.D

The best part of this Serengeti experience comes before most safari vehicles leave camp. As the sun rises, a hot-air balloon lifts you above the plains, giving you a broad view of moving herds, wildlife, and the morning light. I like the quiet pace and the chance to see the Serengeti from treetop height or higher. I also like that the flight ends with champagne and a full English breakfast served in the bush.

The main consideration is the price: $710 per person is a serious addition to a safari budget. Weather can also cancel the flight, especially during the rainy months, and the very early pickup makes this a long morning.

Key points at a glance

• Sunrise over the Serengeti: The balloon takes off at dawn, when the light is soft and animals are active.
• Wildlife from above: You may spot wildebeest herds, lions, giraffes, elephants, and other animals across the plains.
• A changing flight height: The pilot can fly at treetop level or higher, creating different views and photo chances.
• Bush breakfast included: Champagne follows the landing, then a full English breakfast is served with linen and silverware.
• Transfers are provided: Pickup and return transport are included for lodges around Seronera.
• Weather matters: Flights depend on wind and rain, with the dry season from June through October offering the best odds.

A 5 a.m. start in the Serengeti

Your morning begins around 5 a.m., when a BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD guide collects you from your lodge or camp in the Serengeti. The listed meeting point is Seronera, and pickup and drop-off are offered for Seronera hotels and camps.

This early start is not just a scheduling nuisance. A balloon safari depends on dawn conditions, and the first light is part of the experience. You will leave before sunrise, while the plains are still dark, and head toward the Maasai Copjes. These rocky outcrops serve as the meeting area for the pilot, briefing, and balloon preparation.

The published meeting time is also shown as 7 a.m., while the pickup instructions call for collection at 5 a.m. Those times may reflect different parts of the morning, but you should confirm the exact pickup time and location when booking. In the Serengeti, a small timing error can mean a long wait or a rushed departure.

Transport is by an air-conditioned vehicle. That is useful in the cool early hours and practical after the flight, when you will likely be ready to return to your lodge for the rest of the day’s safari program.

Watching the balloon rise at Maasai Copjes

At the launch area, you meet the pilot and receive a briefing before takeoff. You also get to watch the balloon being prepared and inflated. This is one of the most memorable parts for many people because you see the enormous craft change from a spread-out envelope into a working aircraft.

The briefing should cover basic safety and what to expect during takeoff and landing. Follow the pilot’s instructions closely, especially when the basket is being positioned and when the balloon comes down. The information provided does not specify the basket layout or seating arrangement, so ask about those details if you have mobility concerns or want a particular view.

Takeoff is generally gentle. The basket rises as the sun comes up, and the balloon begins moving with the morning wind. Unlike a safari vehicle, it does not follow a fixed route. That freedom is part of the appeal, but it also means the exact wildlife sightings cannot be promised.

One hour above the Serengeti plains

The flight lasts about one hour, with the full activity taking around one hour and 30 minutes before the return journey. From the air, the Serengeti looks open and immense. Roads, vehicles, trees, rocky outcrops, and animal paths form a wider picture than you can get from ground level.

The pilot can control the balloon’s altitude. At times, you may fly around treetop height, giving you a closer view of the vegetation and animals below. At other moments, the balloon can rise higher for a broad view across the plains. This change in height gives the flight more variety than simply floating at one fixed level.

You may see large herds of wildebeest, along with some of the animals associated with the Serengeti’s Big Five. Lions, elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife are all possible, but sightings depend on location, season, visibility, and luck. A balloon offers a wide field of view, yet animals below can be small from higher up.

The Great Migration is another possible highlight at the right time of year. A balloon can give you an impressive sense of herd movement, but no operator can guarantee that the migration will pass beneath your flight path. If migration viewing is your main reason for booking, treat the balloon as a second safari perspective rather than a replacement for a ground drive.

The dry season, from June through October, is described as the best period for this activity. March, April, and May can still offer flights, but the weather becomes more important. Strong wind or heavy rain can prevent takeoff. That is a key point when comparing this outing with a standard vehicle safari, which may have more flexibility in poor weather.

Wildlife viewing from a different angle

A vehicle safari places you close to the animals and lets a guide follow tracks, roads, and recent sightings. A balloon does something different. It gives you distance, silence, and a view of how animals use the open plains.

From above, you may notice herds gathered in shapes that are hard to understand from ground level. You may also get a clear view of the Serengeti’s scale, with animals appearing as small moving points below. The change in viewpoint is the real value here.

Several details from the experience point to strong wildlife variety. Sightings associated with the outing include lions, giraffes, elephants, and wildebeest. That does not mean every flight will see all four, but it does show the kind of animal viewing the experience is designed to provide.

Photography can be rewarding, especially during the low-altitude portions of the flight. Bring a camera that handles changing light well, and keep it secure during takeoff and landing. The provided information does not specify whether binoculars are supplied, so bring your own if close wildlife viewing matters to you.

The balloon’s quiet movement may also change how you watch the animals. You are not approaching them along a road, and the route is shaped by the wind. That can create a calm, less mechanical view of the plains, but it also removes the close positioning and detailed tracking that a skilled vehicle guide can offer.

Champagne, linen, and a full English breakfast

After landing, the morning continues with a traditional balloon-safari celebration. Champagne is served, followed by a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush.

The meal is presented in an out of Africa style, with a linen tablecloth and silver service. This is more than a quick snack after an early flight. You have started the day before dawn, and a proper meal gives the experience a satisfying finish before the return drive.

The breakfast is included in the price, along with all fees and taxes. That matters when judging the $710 cost, since you are paying for more than flight time. The package includes the transfer, aerial wildlife viewing, landing celebration, breakfast, and return to your lodge.

Still, the cost remains high. If you are comparing it with a full-day game drive, the balloon may offer fewer total hours of activity. Its value comes from the special setting and viewpoint, not from covering the largest number of safari hours.

Returning to your lodge in time for the day

After breakfast, you receive a certificate and drive back to your lodge. The plan is then to continue with your scheduled program for the day.

This makes the balloon safari easier to fit into a longer Serengeti itinerary. You do not necessarily lose the entire day, although the early start and transfer time will make it a substantial morning. Ask your safari planner how the balloon activity fits with any planned game drive, lodge meal, or park transfer.

The return transfer is included, which removes one of the biggest practical problems with a sunrise activity. You do not need to arrange a separate vehicle from the landing area. The exact landing point can depend on wind, so the included return service is especially important.

Is $710 a good value?

At $710 per person, this is a premium safari add-on. It makes the most sense for someone who has already committed to the cost of visiting the Serengeti and wants one memorable morning that cannot be duplicated from a vehicle.

I would consider it good value for a special trip, a honeymoon, a milestone celebration, or a first safari where you want one major highlight. The included breakfast, champagne, fees, and transfers soften the price, but they do not make it inexpensive.

I would be more cautious if your budget is tight or if you still need to pay for several core parts of your trip. International and local flights, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, medical insurance, and guide tips are not included. The balloon should come after those essentials, not before them.

The price also buys an experience with some uncertainty. You cannot control the route, guarantee wildlife, or eliminate the risk of a weather cancellation. For some people, that open-ended quality is part of the magic. Others will prefer to spend the same money on extra ground-safari time.

Who will enjoy this most?

This activity suits you if you value unusual viewpoints, sunrise photography, and a polished finish after a daybreak adventure. It is also a strong choice if you have already done ground safaris and want to see the Serengeti in a new way.

It may suit families and mixed-age groups because most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The maximum group size is listed as 49 people, so you should not assume a tiny private flight. The actual balloon experience may feel personal once airborne, but the overall operation can involve a sizeable group.

You should think carefully about the physical demands of a balloon landing and the early departure. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not give detailed accessibility information for the basket, launch site, or landing area. Ask direct questions before paying if stairs, balance, or standing for takeoff and landing could be difficult.

The experience is also best for people who can accept weather uncertainty. During heavy rain or strong winds, the balloon cannot take off. In the rainy months, even a confirmed booking may depend on conditions that morning.

Booking, cancellation, and useful checks

Confirmation is provided when you book. Pickup and return are included, and the activity ends back at the meeting point or lodge transfer arrangement.

The cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. The supplied terms do not explain the exact refund process if the operator cancels because of weather, so ask about that point before booking.

The experience is associated with BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD, while the provider information also gives the name Tanzania Serengeti Safaris. Confirm the operating company, pickup point, and emergency contact details so there is no confusion at Seronera.

Ask these practical questions before you finalize:

• Is your lodge within the included Seronera pickup area?
• Is your actual pickup time 5 a.m. or another time tied to the 7 a.m. activity start?
• What happens if wind or rain prevents takeoff?
• Is the flight shared, and how many people will be in the balloon?
• How will the balloon company coordinate with your scheduled safari afterward?

Should you book the Serengeti balloon safari?

I would book it if the price fits your budget and you want one standout morning rather than another standard game drive. The combination of sunrise, changing flight height, possible wildlife sightings, champagne, and a full bush breakfast gives the outing a clear sense of occasion.

I would skip it if you need maximum wildlife time for every dollar, dislike early starts, or would be frustrated by a weather cancellation. The balloon cannot promise the Great Migration or the Big Five, and the route depends on the wind.

For the right person, this is a memorable way to see the Serengeti: quiet, wide-ranging, and finished with breakfast in the bush. Confirm the timing and weather policy, then book it as a special addition to your safari rather than as your main wildlife activity.

FAQ

How long does the balloon safari last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes, including the flight and the post-flight breakfast activities. The aerial flight itself lasts about one hour, depending on conditions.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup is scheduled around 5 a.m. from your lodge or camp in the Serengeti. The meeting information also lists a 7 a.m. start time, so confirm the exact pickup time when booking.

Where does the activity start?

The listed starting point is Seronera, Tanzania. Pickup is offered from Seronera hotels and camps, with return to the meeting point or lodge transfer arrangement.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. A full English breakfast is served in the bush after landing. Champagne is also provided as part of the traditional post-flight celebration.

Can I see the Great Migration from the balloon?

You might see the Great Migration at the right time of year and with favorable conditions, but sightings are not guaranteed. The dry season from June through October is described as the ideal period for the flight.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The balloon cannot take off during heavy rain or strong winds. Flights during March, April, and May remain dependent on weather conditions.

What does the $710 price include?

The price includes breakfast, all fees and taxes, an air-conditioned vehicle, and pickup and drop-off. Flights, visas, accommodation, travel insurance, medical insurance, and guide tips are not included.