Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari
A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the central Serengeti, about an hour in the air, followed by a bush breakfast on the plains. We add it to any of our safaris that include a night in the central Serengeti.
A Quiet Hour Above the Serengeti
You are collected from your camp in the dark and driven to the launch site, where the crew fills the balloons as the sky turns pink. Then you rise slowly over the Seronera River valley, drifting with the wind at different heights: low enough to see giraffes and buffalo moving below, high enough to see the plains stretch to the horizon.
After landing, a breakfast is laid out in the bush, and your own guide meets you to continue the day's game drive. The flights are run by licensed balloon companies; we book your seat, plan your safari around the right night and make sure your guide is there when you land. It is one of the most memorable things to do in the Serengeti, and also one of the most expensive, so we always quote it separately.
Highlights
- About an hour drifting over the central Serengeti at sunrise
- Pick-up from your camp before dawn
- Bush breakfast after landing
- Your own guide meets you and continues the game drive
- Booked together with your safari, so the timing fits
What to bring
- A warm jacket: mornings are cold before the sun rises
- A camera with a strap, and no loose items
- Closed shoes
- Your passport details when you book
Read our guides: Serengeti National Park, Great Migration month by month
Route Map
- By road
- Day of the trip
Lines show the order of travel, not the exact roads.
The balloon company's vehicle collects you from your camp in the central Serengeti around 5 am and drives you to the launch site. Exact times depend on your camp and the time of sunrise.
The crew fills the balloons with cold air and then heat. You climb into the basket, the pilot gives a safety briefing, and you lift off as the sun comes up.
The balloon drifts with the wind, so no two flights follow the same line. The pilot changes height to follow the river or rise above the plains. Animals you may see include giraffes, elephants, buffalo, hippos and, in some months, the wildebeest herds; no sighting can be promised.
After landing you are driven a short way to a breakfast set up in the bush. Your Lion Crest guide meets you there or nearby, and you continue your game drive.
Meals: Bush breakfast
Price Per Person — Shared Balloon
| Traveller | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| Adult, flights in 2026 | about $599 |
| Adult, flights from 1 January 2027 | about $660 |
| Child 7–16 years | about $545 |
These are the balloon companies' published shared-balloon rates in US dollars; we pass them on as quoted. Prices can change; we confirm the exact amount when we book your seat.
Only available as an add-on to a safari with a night in the central Serengeti. Not suitable for pregnant travellers or people with serious back or heart problems; ask us if unsure.
Trip Notes
- Where: central Serengeti (Seronera area)
- When: sunrise, all year, weather permitting
- About an hour in the air, about 4–5 hours in total
- Minimum age: 7 years
- Book early in the busy months; seats are limited
Includes
- Shared hot-air balloon flight of about one hour
- Pick-up from your camp in the central Serengeti
- Bush breakfast after landing
- Meeting your Lion Crest guide after the flight
Excludes
- The safari itself (book one of our Serengeti safaris)
- Tips for the balloon crew
- Travel insurance
- Any price increase by the balloon company before booking
Questions Travellers Ask
How much does a Serengeti balloon flight cost?
About 599 US dollars per adult for shared-balloon flights in 2026 and about 660 from 1 January 2027, according to the balloon companies' published rates. Children aged 7 to 16 pay about 545. We confirm the exact amount when we book.
Can I add it to any safari?
To any safari with a night in the central Serengeti, close to the launch sites. Most of our Serengeti safaris qualify; we arrange the right night for you.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The balloon company decides on the morning. If a flight is cancelled for weather or safety, its own refund or rebooking rules apply.
Is it safe?
The flights are run by licensed operators with experienced pilots, and each flight starts with a safety briefing. Landings can be bumpy, which is why it is not suitable for people with serious back problems or for pregnant travellers.
Will I see the Great Migration from the balloon?
Only if the herds are in the central Serengeti on your date, usually for a few weeks around May–June and November–December. The central Serengeti has resident wildlife all year.
