The best balloon safari in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara
is the original location
for balloon safari in Africa
an iconic wildlife experience
Maasai Mara is the original home of the balloon safari, with operations having been established here way back in the 1980s.
To this day it remains a very popular activity, as you will see by the amount of balloons that rise from the plains at dawn every day.
The experience inevitably involves a very early wake-up call and a long cold drive to the location, ready for take-off at sunrise. The flight itself usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes, with a mix of high altitude scenery and low altitude wildlife viewing, ending up with a traditional champagne breakfast out in the bush.
The balloon operations are relatively commercial (with baskets typically carrying 16 or 24 guests) and prices are high, but the overall experience is undeniably good, the scenery is wonderful and photo opportunities can be magnificent.
The main downside is that including balloon safari into your trip can throw you a little bit into the main traffic flows in the reserve, which is why some of the more authentic and remote camps do not support it.
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