Serengeti & Tarangire
Float in silence above the awakening plains, then land to a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Serengeti & Tarangire · Wild & Nature Safaris
The Experience
A balloon safari begins in the dark. You rise before dawn, drive to the launch site and watch the burner light the envelope as the first grey touches the sky. Then the ground falls away and the plains unfold beneath you — herds of wildebeest and zebra scattered like seeds, elephants trailing between the acacias, the whole landscape painted gold by the rising sun.
The flight is quiet and unhurried, steered by the wind rather than a schedule, and it ends as gently as it began: a landing on the open grass, followed by a bush breakfast laid out in the middle of the wilderness. A balloon flight is an add-on to any safari — and the single finest way to understand the sheer scale of the land you have been game driving through.
Highlights
The moments that define Hot Air Balloon Safari — the encounters, landscapes and feelings that make this experience unforgettable.
The basket sways, the burner roars and the ground slips away as the first light spills over the horizon.
Migration columns, elephant families and giraffe scattered across the grass — a perspective no game drive can offer.
Between burner blasts the silence is complete, broken only by birdsong rising from the plains below.
On landing, a full bush breakfast awaits on linen and silver, set out in the middle of nowhere.
The low golden light of early morning is the most flattering of the day — every frame glows.
When to Go
Balloons fly year round — these are the seasons that make the views exceptional.
June – October
Clear mornings and herds gathered on the open plains make for the classic flight — book early, as space is limited.
November – May
Dramatic skies, fresh green grass and a quieter atmosphere beneath the basket.
Recommended Journeys
Hand-crafted itineraries where Hot Air Balloon Safari takes centre stage — each one shaped around the wildlife, landscapes and rhythm of the season.
A four-day private Tanzania safari linking baobab-dotted Tarangire, the legendary Serengeti plains and the wildlife-filled floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Private safari · enquire for pricing
View Itinerary
Five days on Tanzania’s northern circuit, with a full day in the Serengeti — migration country, big-cat country and some of the finest game viewing in Africa.
Private safari · enquire for pricing
View Itinerary
An extended six-day private safari through four of Tanzania’s greatest wildernesses — Tarangire, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.
Private safari · enquire for pricing
View ItineraryGood to Know
The questions travellers ask us most often about Hot Air Balloon Safari.
— Wild & Nature Safaris
The flight itself is a gentle hour or so in the air, followed by the bush breakfast — plan for the best part of a morning.
Flights suit most travellers in good health, but they are not recommended for very young children or during pregnancy — we will advise honestly.
Any morning of your safari works; the dry months offer the clearest views of the herds, while the green season brings softer light and dramatic clouds.