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Serengeti Balloon Safari in Tanzania
The feeling is indescribable, crispness of the African air, chill in
the wind that hits your face as your Mara hot air balloon gradually
rises, smoothness in the exhale of your breath, and the excitement
to see and learn more. One's physical presence can be felt on the
plains of the Serengeti when reading this.
You trip begins when you get your wake up call at your safari lodge
in central Serengeti in the early hours of the morning, as you yawn
away, and thoughts about your wildlife viewing from an elevated
position begins to stir your mind. The fresh Tanzanian traditional
hot tea and coffee quickly awaken you, in fact preparing you for a
"mission".
By 6.00 a.m. you are almost arriving at the hot air balloon site in
the Serengeti. As you approach the site, the balloon seems bigger
than you expected, the experience is one that has never been
visited, and you are about to have a trip of a lifetime.
Liftoff! Up and away we go! At 6.15 a.m., the hot air balloon safari
starts. The captain asks you to relax and experience the wonders
under the African sky. As you finally start to get a grip on the
elevation, an inner smile that resonates on one's face does not need
an explanation. The wildebeest moving in large numbers across the
Serengeti plains, the beauty of the landscape when the rising sun's
bright orange colors are displayed, the elephants at the water pool,
and the gazelles and zebras scampering away, just if it was their
first time to witness an alien object in the sky.
By 7.15 a.m., one is very content with balloon safari, and it is
almost touch down time. There is a celebration, and for those who
prefer a toast, champagne is served, as hot breakfast in the bush is
being prepared. You ask yourself, is this true? I am really doing
this trip of a lifetime in Tanzania? In the Serengeti? As the
sweetness and aroma of the African coffee or tea surrounds you, with
fresh eggs being served as you like it, you hope for another ride,
and wish that such luxury never ended. By the time you finish your
Serengeti bush breakfast, you have made up your decision to
immigrate to Tanzania because such life is only found here. You
begin to question yourself, and you feel an urgency to seek, live
and enjoy this pristine beauty, a once in a lifetime "thing".
By 9.00 a.m., you have been declared a champion, a mighty
certificate of completion handed out to you which you hope to
display in your home country, to family, friends, coworkers.
Clapping and participation by everyone present makes you proud to
have achieved a trip as wonderful as this. By then, you hear a
blaring sound of music or even an annoying buzz, you turn around and
switch of the alarm clock. Your eyes wide open, you know that you
have to get back to Tanzania, to Serengeti, again otherwise the
recurring dreams will drive you mad.
Serengeti Balloon Safari -
Tanzania |
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SAFARI CODE |
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Kenya
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari
The
balloons lift off just before sunrise when the breeze on the plains is still
cold. Once airborne, the balloons are blown by the prevailing winds across
the broad landscape. Apart from the hiss of the burners, the flight above
the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. The pilot controls the height of
the craft by regulating the flow of hot air into the balloon. Sometimes the
balloon will descend over the plains for a close up view of the wildlife; on
other occasions, it rises to clear a tree canopy and rise over the reverine
forest.
At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a champagne
breakfast, complete with flowers.
Over a dozen balloons depart from sites near six of the lodges and tented
camps. Our customers are often able to view four of the 'Big Five' while
ballooning. A flight certificate is issued on completion of the balloon
safari.
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Serengeti
Balloon Safari
2 BALLOONS FLY DAILY AT DAWN
Probably the most beautiful balloon flight in the world and
the ultimate Safari Experience.
5:00 am, Serengeti Balloon Safaris will collect you from
your central Serengeti lodge or camp, and transfer you by
Landrover to our launch site near Maasai Kopjes. Here you
will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the
inflation of your balloon.
At dawn we take off, rising as the sun rises and float in
whichever direction the winds of the morning take us. Your
pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon:
sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower,
offering a unique perspective and great photographic
opportunities of the wildlife below.
At other times he will ascend to 1000' or more to see the
enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. From time
to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with
the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there
is silence apart from the natural sounds below.
The flight is for about one hour depending on conditions, on
landing you celebrate in the traditional manner with
champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine), before
sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served
in the bush in 'Out of Africa' style with bone china, linen
table cloths, King's silver etc.
After breakfast you receive your Serengeti Balloon
certificate and we drive you back to Seronera Lodge game
viewing enroute. 9:30 am Arrive at Seronera ready to
continue your day's activities.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This adventure will fit in with all safari itineraries that
include a night in central Serengeti (Serena Lodge, Seronera
Lodge or Sopa Lodge or any of the central Serengeti camp
sites)
The Serengeti plains and woodlands are world famous for the
variety and sheer number of its animal population. A
Serengeti Balloon Safari however, is not merely a game
viewing experience, but rather an opportunity for an
adventure and unique perspective over outstanding
quintessentially African landscapes.
Of course there can be no guarantee that you will see
specific animals from the balloon.
We have however seen some amazing wildlife from the balloon
and witnessed many incidents such as lion kills, cheetah
stalking and killing, leopard hunting and of course THE
ANNUAL MILLION STRONG WILDEBEEST MIGRATION, one of the
natural wonders of the world.
Conservation
Serengeti Balloon Safaris are acutely aware of their
environmental responsibilities and are proud of their
ecological credentials. Serengeti Balloon Safaris (SBS) pay
a substantial royalty to Tanzania National Parks for each
passenger. These funds are used for conservation purposes in
the Serengeti.
The colours of our balloons are acacia green and savannah
gold and blend with the colours of the Serengeti. The
balloon burners are ‘stealth’ and ‘whisper’ burners and make
less noise than standard burners. Wherever possible, we land
on a road, thereby saving the vegetation from damage by
retrieve vehicles.
Our pilots are all committed conservationists and will share
their knowledge of the area and wildlife with you.
Naturally, wildlife have priority and consideration is given
to them when flying.
SBS have assisted in the funding and construction of a
technical school in Rubanda Village close to the boundary of
Serengeti National Park. The object is to teach income
generating skills to the villagers offering an alternative
to poaching wildlife. SBS director Colin MacKinnon has been
made an elder of the local Wakoma tribe. SBS is also pleased
to have sponsored educational trips to the park for school
children from surrounding villages. seronera,
approximately 9.30am, and return to your own Lodge or camp.
Serengeti Balloon Safari -
Safaris in Tanzania
Masai Mara Balloon
Safari, Kenya
Thank you
and enjoy!. |
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African Holiday Safaris |
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