3-Day Serengeti Fly-in & Balloon Safari from Zanzibar
A private 3-day fly-in safari from Zanzibar: a small plane takes you to the central Serengeti for two nights in a tented camp, game drives in your own 4x4, and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Seronera valley with a bush breakfast after landing.
From the Beach to the Plains, and Above Them
The central Serengeti around Seronera has water and grazing all year, so lions, leopards and cheetahs live here in every season, along with giraffes, elephants, buffalo and large herds of antelope. Flying in from Zanzibar saves the long drive from Arusha and puts you on the plains within a few hours of leaving the beach.
Your guide and private vehicle meet you at the airstrip and stay with you until you fly back. On the second morning you float over the plains in a hot-air balloon for about an hour, then continue on game drives for the rest of the day. It suits travellers on a Zanzibar holiday who want one short, special taste of the Serengeti.
Want to see the Ngorongoro Crater too? See our 3-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Fly-in from Zanzibar →
Highlights
- Return light-aircraft flights between Zanzibar and the central Serengeti
- A sunrise hot-air balloon flight with a bush breakfast
- Game drives in a private 4x4 with a pop-up roof and your own guide
- Two nights in a tented camp in the central Serengeti, full board
- Hotel and airport transfers on Zanzibar
What to bring
- A soft bag: light aircraft allow about 15 kg per person
- A warm layer for the early balloon flight and morning drives
- Neutral-coloured clothes, a hat, sun cream and insect repellent
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom
- Your passport
Read our park guides: Serengeti National Park, Serengeti hot air balloon safari
Route Map
- By air
- Day of the trip
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
We collect you from your Zanzibar hotel early in the morning for the scheduled light-aircraft flight to the Seronera airstrip. The flight takes about two hours and often stops once on the way. Your guide meets you with your private 4x4, and you game-drive through the Seronera valley to camp for lunch, then go out again in the afternoon until sunset.
Light aircraft usually allow about 15 kg of luggage per person, in a soft bag. Flights can be delayed by the weather or by air traffic; if that happens, we adjust the day.
Overnight: Tented camp in the central Serengeti
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
The balloon company collects you before dawn. You lift off as the sun rises and drift over the plains for about an hour, then land for a bush breakfast. Your guide meets you there, and you spend the rest of the day on game drives, with lunch at camp or a picnic in the park. Balloon flights depend on the weather; the balloon company decides on the morning.
Overnight: Tented camp in the central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
An early game drive, when cats are most active, then breakfast and a last drive to the airstrip for the flight back to Zanzibar. We meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Price Per Person — Private Safari, Balloon Included
| Group Size | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $4,185 |
| 2 People | $3,705 |
| 3 People | $3,545 |
| 4 People | $3,465 |
| 5 People | $3,420 |
| 6 People | $3,385 |
Price per person in US dollars, by the number of people travelling together, sharing rooms. Groups of more than 6: price on request.
Flight fares, camp rates and the balloon price are estimates until we confirm your dates; we confirm the exact price when you book.
Trip Notes
- Start & end: your hotel on Zanzibar
- Private safari: your group only, on the dates you choose
- Camp named when we confirm availability
- Minimum age 7 for the balloon flight
- Prices may change if park fees, flight fares or balloon prices change
Includes
- Return light-aircraft flights Zanzibar–Seronera
- Transfers between your Zanzibar hotel and the airport
- Serengeti park entry and concession fees
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight with bush breakfast
- Game drives with a private 4x4 and driver-guide
- 2 nights in a tented camp, full board
- Drinking water
Excludes
- International flights and visa fees
- Zanzibar accommodation
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania's compulsory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors (44 US dollars per person, from 1 October 2026)
- Zanzibar's compulsory inbound travel insurance (44 US dollars per person)
- Tips for your guide, camp staff and balloon crew
- Drinks other than drinking water
- Any government increase in park fees or taxes after booking
Questions Travellers Ask
How long is the flight from Zanzibar to the Serengeti?
About two hours on a scheduled light aircraft, often with one short stop on the way. Flight times are set by the airline and are confirmed when we book.
What happens if the balloon cannot fly?
Balloon flights depend on the weather and the balloon company decides on the morning. If the flight is cancelled, its own refund rules apply, and you spend the morning on a game drive instead.
Can children join?
Children of 7 and over can take the balloon flight. Younger children can join the safari; tell us their ages and we adjust the price and plan.
How much luggage can I bring?
Light aircraft usually allow about 15 kg per person in a soft bag. Leave the rest at your Zanzibar hotel.
Can I do it without the balloon?
Yes. Tell us and we quote the trip without the balloon flight, which lowers the price by about 599 US dollars per person.
