Summary
It was 5:30 in the morning. We met our hot air balloon Masai Mara driver and were already late. As we stopped to pick up our captain, he replied “Where’ve you been, we’re going to miss sunrise?
Uh Oh. We did notice that the clerk who organized our flight crossed out the time to meet in the lobby and made it a later departure, but we didn’t think much of it.
We thought, “I guess the sun rises at a different time at this time of year.” Our driver rushed to the departure point, and there was a flurry of activity once we got out of the truck.
We have always dreamed of flying over the African savanna and there is no better place to do it.
Hot Air Balloon Masai Mara
We loved our captain, Kim. He was exactly my type of guy. He tells it like it is, knows his job well, is skilled and talented, and has a fantastic sense of humour.
He was determined to make it in time for sunrise and worked hard to make it happen. He was directing the group of 10 men preparing our balloon, running around doing much of the work himself, repositioning the fan, spreading out the balloon’s parachute-like material, and blowing hot flames into the balloon.
The Hot Air Balloon Experience
It was incredible to watch, and within a few minutes, he yelled at us to lay down in the tipped-over basket and be prepared to hold on tight.
Once the balloon was nearly filled, the flight engineers jumped in frantically to join us for a flight over the Masai Mara.
Flying over the Masai Mara isn’t as popular at this time of year as it is during the great migration, but it is still a spectacular experience. Since others didn’t join us today, the local staff who work for the company became our traveling companions.
We felt happy to know that they get to experience what they prepare for each day.
Did we make it up in time for Sunrise?
Definitely. Captain Kim made it happen come hell or high water.
Hot Air Balloon Masai Mara Costs
A flight over the Masai Mara is expensive. It starts at $450, but if you are going on a safari to Africa, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The landscape of the Masai Mara is breathtaking, offering vast open spaces filled with incredible wildlife.
No Migration but Still Amazing
The millions of wildebeests and buffalo weren’t running below as they would during the great migration, but we did see a bird’s eye view of hyenas hunting, elephants roaming, gazelles and springboks grazing, and vultures soaring.
Flying over the trees and observing a vulture’s nest was eye-opening. I did not realize just how much space a vulture occupies in a tree—their nests take up the entire roof of the branches.
We flew all the way to the Tanzanian border, which is marked by a range of small mountains. We knew that we’d be landing soon as they approached. We were in the air for over an hour, and as we started to lose altitude, we braced ourselves for a landing.
We have heard of many people having bumpy and scary landings, so we assumed we would experience the same. Instead, we landed smoothly on the ground without barely a bump.
Kenya has Optimal Flying Conditions
Captain Kim is an expert at flying. He explained that the winds in Canada are extreme, and flying in Africa is much easier after dealing with the windy conditions of Western Ontario.
Most pilots frequently cancel flights (as we experienced in Spain), but not him. He finds the mild winds of Kenya to be nearly always easy to manage, and today was no different. We enjoyed smooth sailing over the Masai Mara.
But wait, our Hot Air Balloon Experience wasn’t over!
When you take a hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara, a champagne breakfast is included!
We hopped in our safari jeep to drive to a clearing in the middle of the reserve. Can you believe we’re sitting right in the middle of the Masai Mara eating eggs and bacon while sipping champagne?
When Dave had to go to the washroom, he was warned not to venture too far. You never know if a lion or leopard might be lingering around.
The weather was perfect. The morning sun warmed us, banishing the chill from the brisk balloon ride.
Picnic on the Masai Mara
It wasn’t freezing in the balloon, but there was a bit of a bite in the air due to the wind and the early morning flight.
We savored delicious Kenyan coffee, enjoyed an entire bottle of champagne, and indulged in seconds of our freshly prepared omelets. This is what decadence is all about.
It truly felt like a dream to have this hot air balloon adventure in Africa. We have wanted to take this flight since watching Africa The Serengeti in 1994.
While our balloon ride was over the Masai Mara, we managed to float over a small portion of the Serengeti. Tanzania’s Serengeti is right next to the Masai Mara; they are connected, and the only difference is the name.
Since we strayed across the official Kenyan border and flew for a few minutes in Tanzania, we fulfilled our original dream of soaring high over the Serengeti.
So, our hot air balloon adventure had come to an end.
Captain Kim presented us with our flight certificate from the Mara Wildlife Balloons Services. While we won’t be piloting our own hot air balloon any time soon, we have the piece of paper to prove it—we “Venture Aloft over the Masai Mara.
Dreams really do come true.
For more information on experiencing your own Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Kenya, check out Balloon Adventures and if you go, please say hello to Captain Kim for us. Tell him, Dave and Deb from Woodstock say hello!
Travel Planning Resources
Looking to organize your next trip? Utilize these resources that are tried and tested.
Find your Flights: Begin planning your journey by discovering the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have utilized them for years and found they offer the best flight deals.
Check your Hotel: Compare prices on hotels using reliable providers. If you are located in Europe, use Booking.com; if you are anywhere else, use TripAdvisor.
Find Apartment Rentals: Discover the best prices on apartment rentals with VRBO.
Consider Travel Insurance: Don’t travel without it. Here is what we recommend:
- Safety Wing – Ideal for occasional travelers.
- Medjet – Global air medical transport and travel security.
Plan your Activities: Looking for guided tours, skip-the-line tickets, or private guides? We recommend Get Your Guide.
Need more assistance with trip planning? Check out our detailed Resources Page highlighting all the dependable companies we trust while traveling.
