Is the balloon safari cost included in the package price

Yes, the hot air balloon safari fee is fully included in this package. You will not pay any additional charges for the balloon flight or the champagne bush breakfast on landing.

What is the minimum age for the balloon safari

Passengers must be at least 8 years old and able to stand unaided for the landing. The basket is divided into compartments with safety straps for all passengers.

What time does the balloon launch

Balloon launches take place before dawn, typically around 6:00 AM, to coincide with sunrise over the Mara plains. Your guide will transfer you to the launch site in the early morning darkness.

What is the best time of year for a Mara balloon safari

Balloon safaris operate year-round in the Maasai Mara. The most spectacular period is July to October when the Great Wildebeest Migration fills the plains with hundreds of thousands of animals visible from above.

Can I still see wildlife if I miss the balloon flight due to weather

Balloon flights rarely cancel in the Mara, but in the rare event of a cancellation due to severe weather, your guide will organise additional game drives to maximise your wildlife experience.

3 Day Mara Balloon Safari Sunrise Over the Savannah Kenya

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

A Mara balloon safari is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences on the African continent, and this 3-day adventure makes it the centrepiece of an unforgettable Kenyan safari. From Nairobi you drive into the heart of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where golden grasslands stretch to the horizon and the Big Five roam in remarkable concentrations. You settle into your safari camp as afternoon game drives reveal lion prides, elephant herds, and cheetah scanning the open plains, building anticipation for the spectacular morning to come. The Mara balloon safari itself launches before dawn, lifting you silently above the savannah as the first golden light of sunrise floods the landscape below. From your balloon basket you watch wildebeest and zebra herds move across the plains, spot crocodiles in the silver ribbon of the Mara River, and take in a panoramic perspective of the Mara ecosystem that no land-based game drive can match. After approximately one hour aloft, you land for a champagne bush breakfast in the savannah — a classic and celebratory end to the flight. The balloon fee is fully included in this package, ensuring you can focus entirely on the experience without any hidden extras.

Trip Highlights

Sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara savannah
Champagne bush breakfast served on landing in the wilderness
Big Five game drives through Kenya's premier wildlife reserve
Expert safari guide with deep local knowledge of the Mara
Comfortable safari lodge accommodation with savannah views
Panoramic aerial views of wildebeest and zebra herds from above
Lion, leopard, and cheetah sightings on open grasslands
Birdwatching with over 450 recorded Mara species

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Maasai Mara

Your Mara balloon safari begins with an early morning departure from Nairobi in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle, heading southwest through the Rift Valley escarpment. The scenic 7-hour drive passes Maasai homesteads, acacia-dotted plains, and the dramatic descent into the Mara ecosystem. You arrive at your safari lodge in time for a welcome lunch and briefing from your guide. The afternoon game drive sets the mood for the adventure ahead as you explore the open Mara plains in the golden afternoon light. Your guide navigates through prime wildlife corridors where buffalo herds graze in the shadows of croton thickets, elephants cross seasonal riverbeds, and the distinctive silhouettes of giraffe move against the horizon. As the Mara sunset transforms the sky into shades of amber and rose, you return to the lodge for dinner and an early night in preparation for your pre-dawn balloon launch.

Day 02 :

Balloon Safari and Full Day Game Drive

Rise before dawn for your Mara balloon safari, the highlight of this entire journey. Your guide drives you to the launch site where the balloon's burners illuminate the pre-dawn darkness as the envelope fills with warm air. Your pilot conducts a full safety briefing before you step into the basket and lift silently into the cool morning sky. Over approximately one hour you drift above the endless Mara grasslands as the sun rises dramatically to the east, painting the savannah in extraordinary golden hues. From above you gain a unique perspective on the scale and beauty of the ecosystem, spotting elephant herds, hippo wallows, and the winding Mara River. Upon landing, your crew serves a celebratory champagne breakfast in the bush. Returning to the lodge, you rest briefly before heading out for an afternoon game drive that rounds out your Big Five experience with extended time in the southern sectors of the reserve.

Day 03 :

Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge as the Mara awakens around you with birdsong and the distant rumble of buffalo. After breakfast you check out and board your safari vehicle for the return drive to Nairobi, retracing the scenic Rift Valley route through Maasai farmlands and highland tea estates. You arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon, carrying extraordinary memories of the Mara from both ground level and the air.