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

The best part of this Serengeti experience happens before most safari vehicles have properly warmed up. You rise with the sunrise, drift above the plains, and watch herds and wildlife from a quiet, high viewpoint. I especially like the treetop-level flying for photography and the old-fashioned bush breakfast that follows, complete with linen, silver service, champagne, and a full English meal.

The main catch is the price: $710 per person is a serious addition to a safari budget. Weather can also cancel the flight, especially during the March to May rains, and the early collection time means you will need to sacrifice some sleep.

Key points at a glance

• Pre-dawn lodge pickup: Collection is arranged around 5:00 a.m. from lodges in the Serengeti, with Seronera listed as the meeting area.
• Sunrise flight over the plains: The balloon rises at dawn and travels with the morning wind for about one hour of aerial game viewing.
• Pilot-controlled altitude: You may fly at treetop height or lower, giving you changing views of wildlife and good chances for photographs.
• Bush breakfast after landing: Champagne, linen tablecloths, silver service, and a full English breakfast turn the landing into a proper safari occasion.
• Migration timing matters: June through October is described as the best period, though animal sightings always depend on location and luck.
• Weather controls the schedule: Strong wind and heavy rain can prevent takeoff, particularly during the wet season.

A sunrise start in the Serengeti

Your morning begins before dawn. The pickup information gives 5:00 a.m. as the collection time from your lodge, while the formal start time is listed as 7:00 a.m. Since those times do not perfectly match, I would confirm the exact pickup hour when you book. Balloon flights depend on sunrise, so an early departure is normal.

You travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the Maasai Copjes. These rocky outcrops provide the meeting point with your pilot and the launch area for the balloon. You receive a safety briefing before takeoff and have a chance to watch the balloon being prepared.

That preparation is part of the experience. The balloon is not a machine that simply rolls onto a runway. It must be laid out, filled, and brought upright before you climb aboard. The schedule can feel slow at this point, especially after an early wake-up, but it gives you a clear sense of how the flight begins.

Pickup and drop-off are listed for the Seronera area, and the activity ends back at the meeting point or lodge area. If your accommodation is elsewhere in the Serengeti, confirm transport coverage before paying. The supplied details specifically name Seronera Hotel and camp pickup and drop-off.

One hour above the Serengeti

At dawn, the balloon rises with the first light. There is no fixed route because the balloon moves with the morning wind. That lack of a set path is part of the charm, but it also means the pilot cannot promise a particular animal sighting or viewpoint.

The pilot can control the balloon’s altitude. At times, you may fly near treetop height. At other points, the balloon may travel lower, offering a closer view of the ground below. The changing height gives you different views for photography and helps prevent the flight from becoming one long, unchanging panorama.

From above, the Serengeti’s great plains make sense in a new way. Herds become moving patterns, tracks appear as lines across the ground, and individual animals may be easier to spot in open areas. The experience description specifically notes the possibility of seeing wildebeest and members of the Big Five, but you should treat those sightings as possibilities rather than promises.

The Great Migration can add another layer to the flight if your dates and the herds’ location line up. The trip information does not guarantee a migration sighting, and the animals do not follow a visitor timetable. June through October is given as the ideal dry-season period, but even then, animal movement and wind direction remain outside anyone’s control.

The flight itself lasts about one hour. The full activity takes roughly one hour and 30 minutes, although the pre-flight transfer, balloon setup, landing, breakfast, certificate presentation, and return ride are all part of your morning schedule.

What the balloon changes about wildlife viewing

A vehicle safari places you close to the ground and lets you follow tracks, roads, and animal behavior. A balloon flight does something different. It gives you distance, silence, and a wide view of how animals use the open plains.

I like this contrast. You are not simply taking a game drive from a higher seat. You are drifting over the area, often without a road directly beneath you. The pilot’s ability to vary the height also means the experience is not limited to one distant view.

There is a trade-off. You cannot ask the balloon to stop beside a lion or turn toward a particular herd in the same way you might ask a driver to adjust direction. Wind decides much of the route. The balloon should supplement a conventional safari, not replace it.

The flight is also better suited to watching broad movement than to studying small details. You might see a large group of wildebeest clearly from above, while a smaller animal could be harder to identify. Bring realistic expectations: the special view is the main attraction, and wildlife sightings depend on the morning’s route and conditions.

The bush breakfast after landing

After the balloon lands, the morning continues with a traditional champagne celebration. You then sit down to a full English breakfast served in the bush.

The setup is deliberately formal: linen tablecloths, silver service, and an Out of Africa style meal. That contrast between a refined table and the open Serengeti gives the day much of its character. It is not just a quick snack after an activity. Breakfast is presented as a central part of the outing.

A full English breakfast can be a welcome reward after the early start. The trip details list breakfast as included, along with all fees and taxes, transport, and the balloon activity itself. Champagne is described as part of the landing celebration.

You also receive a flight certificate. It is a small souvenir, but useful if you want something physical from the morning beyond photographs. The breakfast and certificate help mark the end of the flight before you return to your lodge and continue with the day’s planned safari program.

What $710 buys you

At $710 per person, this is not a casual add-on. You are paying for a specialist activity, early transport, pilot service, a roughly one-hour flight, breakfast, the celebration after landing, and return transport. Fees and taxes are included, which makes the headline price easier to assess.

The value depends on how important this type of experience is to you. If you want a different way to see the Serengeti and have room in your budget, the combination of sunrise, aerial wildlife viewing, and bush breakfast may justify the cost. The morning can become one of the defining parts of a longer Tanzania safari.

If you are comparing this with another game drive, the balloon flight offers less flexibility and usually less time in the field. You cannot follow one animal for an hour or change course whenever an interesting sighting appears. A regular vehicle safari may offer better value for close wildlife viewing.

Group size is another point to check. The activity allows a maximum of 49 participants. That is a sizeable possible group, although the actual balloon arrangement is not explained in the supplied details. If personal space or a smaller shared flight matters to you, ask how the group is organized before booking.

Group discounts are offered, which may help families or parties booking together. The mobile ticket makes access practical, but it does not change the need to confirm pickup arrangements, especially because the listed collection time and formal start time differ.

Choosing the right season

The dry season from June through October is identified as the best time for the balloon safari. These months may also offer a stronger chance of seeing migration activity, depending on where the herds are at the time of your flight.

That does not mean the dry season guarantees clear weather or particular animals. The balloon still depends on wind, and wildlife sightings remain a matter of timing and chance. The experience description specifically points to favorable conditions rather than certainty.

Flights may still operate during March, April, and May. However, rain and wind have a direct effect on safety and scheduling. Heavy rain or strong winds can prevent takeoff. If you plan your whole morning around the flight during the rainy months, keep some flexibility in your wider safari schedule.

A cancellation caused by weather is not the same as a poor experience. A balloon cannot fly safely in unsuitable conditions, and the schedule must give priority to that fact. Still, it is worth asking your safari operator how a weather cancellation affects your plans, since the supplied cancellation terms cover your booking decision but do not explain a weather replacement arrangement.

Practical points before you book

The activity includes an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup and drop-off, breakfast, and all fees and taxes. It does not include international or local flights, visas, accommodation before or after the safari, travel insurance, medical insurance, or tips for the guide.

You should arrange suitable insurance for a trip involving Tanzania and check visa requirements for your nationality separately. Tipping is not included, so leave room in your budget if you plan to thank the guide or staff.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is listed near public transportation, though the core arrangement is lodge pickup in the Serengeti. Confirmation is received at booking.

The provider is identified as Tanzania Serengeti Safaris, while the activity information names Burigi Chato Safaris Co. Ltd. When you book, check the confirmation for the exact operating company, pickup contact, lodge coverage, and start time. That small check can prevent confusion before a very early morning.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience’s local start time. If you cancel within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes made inside that window are not accepted. Because weather may affect a flight, read the operator’s instructions carefully and ask how weather cancellations are handled before committing.

Who should book this balloon safari

I would recommend this experience to you if you already have a conventional Serengeti safari planned and want one memorable morning that changes your viewpoint. It suits photographers, couples, families with an interest in wildlife, and anyone who values a carefully staged bush breakfast as much as the flight.

It is also a strong choice for a special occasion. The sunrise, champagne, certificate, and formal breakfast give the morning a celebratory feel without requiring a full extra day.

I would be more cautious if your budget is tight or if you mainly want close-up animal viewing. At $710, the flight needs to offer a type of experience your vehicle safari cannot provide. It also may not suit you if you dislike early starts, are uncomfortable with a balloon flight, or need a guaranteed schedule.

The maximum group size of 49 is worth considering too. The supplied information does not promise a small or private flight. Ask about the expected group size and balloon capacity if that matters to you.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want the Serengeti from above, value a calm sunrise flight, and can accept that wind controls the route. The pilot’s changing altitude, possible views of wildebeest and Big Five animals, and formal bush breakfast make this more than a short ride in the air.

Skip it if you need guaranteed wildlife sightings, want the lowest-cost safari activity, or would rather spend the morning following animals by vehicle. For the right budget and the right expectations, this is a memorable addition to a Serengeti itinerary. Just confirm the pickup time, transport area, group arrangements, and weather policy before you pay.

FAQ

Where does the balloon safari start?

The activity starts in the Seronera area of Tanzania. Pickup is offered from lodges in the Serengeti, with the Maasai Copjes listed as the meeting and launch area.

What time does the experience begin?

The collection information gives 5:00 a.m. for lodge pickup, while the formal start time is listed as 7:00 a.m. Confirm the exact pickup time when booking.

How long is the balloon flight?

The aerial game-viewing portion lasts about one hour. The overall experience is listed as approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

What is included in the price?

The price includes breakfast, all fees and taxes, an air-conditioned vehicle, and pickup and drop-off. Champagne after landing and a flight certificate are also described as part of the experience.

Is the balloon safari available during the rainy season?

Flights may be available in March, April, and May, but heavy rain or strong winds can prevent takeoff. June through October is described as the ideal period.

What animals might I see from the balloon?

You may see wildebeest and members of the Big Five from above. A Great Migration sighting is possible at the right time of year, but animal sightings are not guaranteed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.