GETTING STARTED WITH BIRDING
22 September 2025GETTING STARTED WITH BIRDING
22 September 2025HOT AIR BALLOONING
INCREDIBLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
There’s something magical about seeing Africa from above. It is quiet, peaceful, and utterly breathtaking. Hot air ballooning on safari is one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had. As the sun rises, breaking through the clouds, the landscape underneath start to become alive with the wildlife waking up, and you float in complete silence.
WHAT TO EXPECT
An early wake-up call, and short drive to the launch site, and watching the balloon inflate is part of the fun. Once in the air, you’ll glide for about an hour, depending on the wind speed of that day, then land to a traditional champagne breakfast in the bush. It’s a bucket-list moment, and one I’d do again in a heartbeat.
The perks of going on a hot air balloon? It’s a completely different perspective. From the air, you can truly appreciate the scale and beauty of the landscape. The bending rivers, herds of animals, and an endless savanna. It’s peaceful, no engine noise, just the occasional blast from the burner and the morning breeze.
A FEW TIPS
- Dress in layers, it’s chilly before sunrise, but warms up quickly, especially when you stand under the burner
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Bring binoculars and a camera with a wide-angle lens. And don’t forget your Cellphone! This will be your greatest tool to capture the whole experience
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Don’t overpack, space in the basket is limited. A small backpack that you can keep between your legs should be good
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Listen to your pilot, they’ll share fascinating facts along the way.
QUICK FACTS
WHERE ELSE SHOULD YOU GO ON A HOT AIR BALLOON
Masai Mara Traingle
Soaring over the Masai Mara Triangle in a hot air balloon is one of the most spectacular safari experiences imaginable. At dawn, as the balloon lifts off, the first light reveals herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope scattered across the grass plains. During the migration season, the view is especially dramatic where thousands of animals move together in an endless line, a perspective only possible from the sky. Even outside migration, the Mara teems with life: elephants, giraffes, and even lions and cheetahs are often spotted from above.
Amboseli National Park
Floating high above Amboseli in a hot air balloon is an experience that blends serenity with awe. As the sun rises, the first light reveals Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, its snowcapped peak painted golden with the early sky. Below, Amboseli’s famous elephants walk across the open plains, often forming long, winding lines that are breathtaking to witness from the air. Herds of zebra and wildebeest move across the landscape, and you can even see the swamps and acacias from above.
Namibia
Drifting silently over a vast desert in a hot air balloon is an experience that feels almost otherworldly. As the first light spills across the endless dunes, the landscape transforms into a sea of red, gold, and amber stretching as far as the eye can see. From above, you gain a new perspective on the sheer scale and beauty of Namibia, mountains, dry riverbeds bending through the earth, and the occasional gemsbok or springbok moving down below.
Working in the bush has developed me into a passionate guide and photographer deeply committed to capture the beauty of the great outdoors through my lens. I’m always on the lookout for the perfect shot and eager to share the wonders of nature with others.
ENKISHUI SAFARI CAMP
Located in Kenya's renowned Mara Triangle Conservancy in the Masai Mara, Enkishui Safari Camp offers an exclusive and incredibly immersive safari and wildlife experience.