Picture this.....floating in mid air at the dawn of the morning with a
cool and crisp breeze...and lo! below you, are hundreds of wild animals
in the plains....you take a shot here and there and continue
clicking....excitement rises...what you are experiencing is the sheer
thrill of a balloon safari. At the end of it all...you land in the
middle of the plains and you are treated to a heart full breakfast with
Champaign to gulp up your appetite. Now this is the adrenalin of the
Masai Mara in the air.
A Visit to the Masai Mara is capped with
this rare excitement of game viewing from a hot air balloon.
Preparation
The adventure begins just before dawn. The
pilot lights up the banners and as the flames flare and the balloon
begins to inflate. The first,
pink tongues of sunlight flicker across the skies and the balloon fills
then rises. Suspended in a basket beneath the rainbow coloured canopy,
you're off for an awesome game-viewing adventure.
One thing that amazes most first-time
balloonists is the absolute stillness, the silence as you float above
the plains, the forest and the rivers of the Masai Mara. And suddenly
you are
flown elsewhere and everywhere, you've seen nothing like this. The sounds below drift
clearly upwards: a lion's roar, elephants crashing through the bush,
baboons perched in the tips of the trees startled and screeching to see
something above them.
For an hour or so you drift wherever the air currents take you. If
you're lucky you'll climb high above for the view of a
lifetime. Then your balloon safari finishes with a flourish. In the time
honoured tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your
return to earth with a champagne breakfast. The difference is that this
breakfast happens in the bush, wherever you land, and it's cooked as you
see with the burners that minutes before kept you suspended in the
air.
Safety and Requirements
Passengers should be able to climb in and out of a basket and stand for
the duration of the flight. Warm clothing is required for early
mornings.
Variety of flights
Flights last an average of 1 hour over the Masai Mara. Balloon flights
often get booked up in advance, we recommend you book early.
Best times to go
Available most of the year round but subject to prevailing weather
conditions. All balloon flights begin soon after dawn, it means an early
start.
Rates:
Price
ranges from US$ 450 per person but is subject to confirmation at the
time of booking.
What is included?
-
The above rate includes the Balloon
Safari
-
A full champagne safari breakfast
freshly cooked at the landing site
-
You will get a souvenir flight
certificate too
-
A game drive on the return to camp
What is not included?
Champagne break fast after a
balloon flight
Easter and Christmas Surcharge
A surcharge would be charged per person per night on Good Friday,
Saturday, Sunday, Easter Monday and on 24th 25th, 26th, 31st December
and 1st January. THE SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE CONFIRMED AT THE TIME OF
BOOKING FOR CLARITY REASONS.
Additional
Information
The evening prior to the flight, the pilot or representative will brief the clients
and confirm the time to meet the following morning. If the clients are
staying at one of the lodges, they will have to
wait at the reception at around 0530 hours. Clients staying in any of
the lodges or camps on the east side of the Mara game reserve can be
collected and returned by our specially equipped 4 wheel drive vehicles
to enjoy both a balloon flight and a game drive back to the lodge or
camp:
Below are balloon departure
points in Masai Mara
We pick you up at 5.30am from the following lodges and camp
|
1. Mara Simba lodge
2. Siana springs
3. Mara sopa lodge
4. Sekanani
5. Fig tree camp |
6. Mara Sarova lodge
7. Keekorok lodge
8. Mara hippo lodge
9. Mara intrepid |
Kenya