A hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I highly recommend that adventurous tourists like me to plan to stay at the Serengeti park for at least two days to allow time for this activity.
Additionally, hot air balloon flights need to be pre-arranged in order to ensure guaranteed availability due to the limited space of only 16 passengers in a balloon. The balloons can accommodate adults and children, with some limitations in exceptional cases.
Generally, children must be at least four years old and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Safari companies recommend that adults be in good physical and mental condition. For example, Adults who are over 265 lbs (120 kg) may be required to purchase an additional spot on the balloon (twice the cost) for safety precautions, though this can be waived depending on flight occupancy at the discretion and prior approval from the pilot.
My hot air balloon experience in Serengeti
When we arrived the night before our flight, a staff from Miracle Balloon came to have a talk with us. He gave us general information about how a hot air balloon works and what to expect. We had to sign authorization forms consenting we will abide by the rules of the flight.
We equally had to give our contact detail and affirm we were healthy to go on the flight.
At 5am the next day in the morning, we had to leave our camp tents and board vans with the Miracle Balloon staff. They took us to a place almost 20 mins away.
Pre-departure routine
It was an open air area with a lot of people. We were all offered hot coffee and tea. I am not a fan of hot drinks, but l happily drank because it was very cold.
Arusha has freezing early morning temperatures. I assumed in September it could be warm, but it was chilly. I recommend taking a jacket or a pullover. Furthermore, I wore a jacket, some thick gloves, socks and I tied my hair to keep my ears warm.
For about 15 minutes, we had the time to chat with others and make friends from around the world.
The pilots were introduced to us, and they made short welcoming speeches and general safety information.
While we chatted, we were issued safety belts and taught how to strap them.
How is the hot air balloon inflated?
Shortly after, l walked to the launch site, where l saw the balloon deflated and spread on the ground.
I noticed almost 20-25 staff are required for the launch and recovery. I heard it was referred to as an “envelope,”.
Firstly, the ground crew opens the envelope by laying it across the ground. A large fan is used to inflate the envelope partially before takeoff. The sound of the fan is deafening. When the envelope is about half-full, the crew attaches the basket and burner. The basket remains fully secured to the ground during inflation. The burner is used to inflate the envelope fully.
Watching the inflation and preparation is an incredible experience, within minutes, l saw the truly massive size of the balloon. Once the balloon is fully inflated, the crew helped all passengers aboard. I was surprised to see the basket of the balloon is sectioned into multiple compartments for both our comfort and safety.
The ground crew steadies the balloon as our pilot “Mr Bill” gave us and other guests a safety overview. When everyone is set, the burner is turned on once again, and we slowly felt the balloon aloft to the ground.
The crew guides the basket until the balloon is safely launched. We quickly learned that no two hot air balloon safaris are the same. The balloons rely on air currents, such as wind direction and speed. The pilot only controls the up and down movement. This is why hot air balloons require a chase team down, following the balloon on the road.
Advantages of riding a hot air balloon
Generally, hot air balloons fly over areas of the Serengeti park that are restricted to safari vehicles! During our flight, even the altitude of our balloon flight is different – sometimes, we rose high above the plains, so we could see for miles while at other times, it seems we were slightly closer to earth, giving us close-up views of the animals.
As we ascended aerially, beautiful features unfold before your eyes – meandering rivers and lush grasslands. From this vantage point, we realized that we could locate wildlife with little guidance – giraffes, elephants, gazelles, hippos and many other grazers and foragers. The Pilot told us, if we were lucky, we may even spot the lordly predators like lions, hyenas, cheetahs and other hunters.
As we sailed above the park, l was slightly scared, except the Pilot’s one shared the same section with me and encouraged to not be scared. I gained a greater perspective and deeper appreciation for the intricacies of the Serengeti ecosystem, as well as the synergistic relationship between flora, fauna and human. We were able to see how animals feed upon vegetation, moving when a new supply is needed.
We watched herds move toward the water to drink and bathe.
How long is the hot air balloon experience?
Generally, the hot air balloon ride lasts about one hour, but it’s an experience that will last for a lifetime and very much worth its high price.
After landing, the ground crew helped us out and made a small table for a customary champagne toast to celebrate not only our experience, but also the incredible beauty what we discovered during our superb dream holiday in Tanzania.
There was juice too for those who didn’t want to drink alcohol or who wanted to mix it.
Within almost 20-30mins, the Pilot told us the history of this tradition. It was an action done by the first French hot air balloon pilots.
Bush breakfast
After of chitchatting and sharing the sky stories, we boarded the vans again to another area for the bush breakfast, as we soon found out. Located still inside the Serengeti national park, there was a simple section designed with tables and chairs like an outdoor dinning room with a large canopy.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with enchanting Swahili songs and loud clapping. The smiles and dancing was delightful to watch.
After we sat, we received the variety of breakfast items to eat like bread, butter, jam, eggs, bacons and host of others.
When we were almost about to finish eating, we got a strange announcement. The cooks had baked a delicious cake. Though in September, all August borns and wedding anniversaries/newly-weds were invited to cut the cakes and celebrate in a special way.
Who would imagine I will eat a birthday cake in the middle of a wildlife park? I never thought about it, but I was happy.
As we cut the cakes, the amazing Miracle Baloon team continues singing other joyful Swahili songs. I was full of smiles.
That gesture remains one of my highlights in 2022.
What was the most surprising thing?
Shortly after we finished eating, the Pilots of the two balloons walked around and issued everyone a certificate.
On a designed cardboard paper, our names were handwritten by the Pilot, and he mentioned the kinds of animals we saw from the sky. To crown the seemingly “graduation”ceremony, we all had a big family photo shot with the beautiful wildlife grass decorating our background.
The smiles and shock were uncontrollable, at least for me.
How to end the tour
My last surprise was to use the unique restroom called “The Loo with a View”. I was unsure what to expect when we were told that name. I recall everyone laughing when the pilot said it and invited us to use it.
It sounded weird for us to be encouraged to use the toilet. However, out of curiosity, I went there before we departed. A big wow and laughter were my only reactions. Though a simple hard plastic tent, the back part had a net which allows you to see the park, presumably to give you enough time to wipe up and run in case a wild animal is coming to attack.
I really liked the stone design for the sink. Somehow, I still wonder how they connected water to make everything modern.
The pictures below will give you the best explanation.
It really was a loo with a difference.
The last way to cement this experience is to shop at the Miracle Baloon tent. It is just a table with a lot o books, mostly children about animals in that live in the Serengeti National park. I gladly bought a book for my baby nieces. There were other souvenirs too.
I recommend using Miracle Balloon for safaris in the sky. This was the best experience I had for my holiday.
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