Is the balloon safari included or an extra cost

The hot air balloon safari is fully included in the package price. There are no additional balloon fees to pay on arrival.

How much time do I actually spend in the Maasai Mara

You have approximately two and a half days of active game driving in the reserve, plus the dawn balloon flight, giving you maximum exposure to the Mara's extraordinary wildlife.

What are my chances of seeing all Big Five on this safari

The Maasai Mara has one of the highest Big Five densities in Africa. Lion, elephant, buffalo, and leopard are regularly spotted. Rhino sightings require a visit to specific areas within the reserve and are less common but possible.

Can the balloon fly in rainy weather

Balloon flights operate in most weather conditions. However, in cases of thunderstorms or very high winds, the pilot may postpone or cancel the flight for passenger safety. Cancellations are rare in the Mara.

What should I wear for the balloon flight

Wear comfortable layered clothing as it is cool at altitude in the early morning. Flat closed-toe shoes are recommended. Loose scarves and hats are discouraged as they can catch the balloon burner flame.

4 Day Balloon Big Five Safari Mara Skies and Game Drives Kenya

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

A balloon Big Five safari in the Maasai Mara is the pinnacle of Kenya wildlife travel, combining the thrill of a sunrise hot air balloon flight with three full days of expert-guided Big Five game drives in Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserve. This 4-day adventure gives you more time in the Mara than a shorter itinerary allows, covering diverse ecosystems from the open Mara Triangle grasslands to the fig tree forests along the Talek River, all while greatly increasing your chances of witnessing the full cast of Mara wildlife. With two and a half days of on-the-ground game driving combined with the unmatched aerial perspective of a dawn balloon flight, this package delivers the most complete Maasai Mara experience available on a four-day timetable. Your accommodation at a well-appointed safari lodge places you inside the reserve’s buffer zone, meaning wildlife sightings begin the moment you step outside. Resident lion prides, leopard, elephant herds, and massive buffalo congregations are regularly encountered in the lodge environs. The balloon flight on Day 3 forms the emotional centrepiece of the safari, lifting you above the Mara at first light to witness the landscape transforming from darkness to golden sunrise while herds of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe move silently below. The champagne bush breakfast that follows the landing is a joyful celebration of one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. Every component of this balloon Big Five safari — transport, accommodation, game drives, balloon flight, park fees, and all meals — is included in a single package price.

Trip Highlights

Sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara with champagne breakfast
Three days of Big Five game drives in Kenya's premier wildlife reserve
Dedicated time in the Mara Triangle and Talek River sectors
Expert guide navigating prime lion, leopard, and cheetah territories
Three nights at a comfortable safari lodge inside the reserve buffer zone
Wildebeest and zebra herds visible from the balloon and on game drives
Aerial views of the Mara River and its resident hippo pools
Diverse birdwatching across open grasslands and riverine forest habitats

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Maasai Mara

Your balloon Big Five safari departs Nairobi in the early morning, heading southwest through the Great Rift Valley on a seven-hour drive to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The journey passes through rolling Maasai landscapes, the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment viewpoints, and the market town of Narok before reaching the golden plains of the Mara. You arrive at your safari lodge for a welcome lunch with sweeping savannah views, followed by an afternoon game drive into the open grasslands. Your professional guide leads you through areas known for large predator concentrations, locating a pride of lions resting in the afternoon heat or a cheetah poised to sprint across the plains. Elephant herds browse along the woodland edges as the sky turns orange and pink for one of the Mara’s legendary sunsets.

8 hours

Lunch + Dinner

Day 02 :

Full Day Maasai Mara Game Drive

A full day in the Maasai Mara begins with an early morning game drive as mist rises from the grasslands and nocturnal predators return to their resting places. Your guide navigates toward the Mara River where hippo pods surface and massive Nile crocodiles bask on sandbanks, their prehistoric forms unmistakable in the early light. The morning drive covers the open plains where cheetah use termite mounds as observation points and leopard can sometimes be spotted descending from acacia trees after a night’s hunting. After a midday break and lunch at the lodge, the afternoon drive ventures into different sectors, targeting buffalo herds, the resident black-and-white colobus monkeys in the riverine forest, and the remarkable variety of eagles, vultures, and storks soaring on the Mara thermals.

12 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 03 :

Balloon Safari and Afternoon Game Drive

Before dawn your guide drives you to the balloon launch site where you meet your pilot for a safety briefing as the envelope inflates in the warm glow of the burners. As first light touches the horizon you lift silently into the sky above the Mara, drifting over wildebeest herds, winding rivers, and the vast open plains that make this reserve so iconic. The flight lasts approximately one hour, concluding with a champagne bush breakfast celebration in a clearing far from the camp. Your crew serves fresh fruits, eggs, pastries, and sparkling wine as you relive the highlights of the flight with fellow passengers. Returning to the lodge, you enjoy a mid-morning rest before heading out for a final afternoon game drive to round out your Big Five checklist.

12 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 04 :

Maasai Mara to Nairobi

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast at the lodge, watching the Mara morning unfold from the dining terrace with its panoramic views. After breakfast you check out and board the safari vehicle for the scenic return drive to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. The drive offers time to reflect on three extraordinary days in Africa’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuary and one of Kenya’s most unforgettable aerial experiences.

7 hours

Breakfast