Serengeti balloon safari at a glance
A balloon safari is a sunrise flight in a hot-air balloon over the plains, followed by a toast and breakfast. One commercial operator runs shared flights, and its price in 2026 is $599 per person. The price is described as all-inclusive for the shared balloon, but park entry is not part of it. Pay the entrance fee separately.
The balloon is a shared one. You fly with other guests in a single basket. This page is an independent guide and does not sell flights. You book through your lodge, your safari operator or the balloon operator.
The flight is not a stand-alone trip. You are collected from your accommodation in the area where you stay, so the right start region depends on your camp. Check the start regions below before you pick a lodge.
Where and when the balloons fly
Start regions follow the season. Pick the one that matches your camp.
| Start region | Flights run | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Central Serengeti | All year | Camps around Seronera |
| Western Corridor | June to October | Camps in the west, the Grumeti area |
| Northern Serengeti | June to October | Camps near the Mara River |
| Ndutu | 20 December to 31 March | Camps in the calving-season area |
These are the operating windows, not a promise of a flight on every day. Weather can cancel a morning. The Ndutu start covers the weeks around the calving season, which usually runs from January to March. The northern start fits the months when herds gather near the Mara River. Read the calving season and river crossing pages to match your dates.
Our picks: balloon flights
Two dawn flights over the plains, both with breakfast.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Dawn balloon flight over the Serengeti
One hour in the air, followed by champagne and an English breakfast, with pick-up from your camp or lodge. Park entry is extra.
Check availability →Balloon ride with a bush breakfast
A flight of about an hour, bush breakfast and a certificate, with balloon concession fees, VAT and insurance included. Park entry is extra.
Check availability →Serengeti safaris that can include a balloon flight
Guided Serengeti trips, from group safaris to private tours. Ask whether a balloon morning can be added to the dates you choose.
The morning step by step
What the flight day looks like.
Pickup before sunrise
You are collected from your accommodation in the start region and driven to the launch site. The transfer is timed so that you take off at sunrise.
The flight
The flight lasts about 1 hour. You drift over the plains in a shared basket. The balloon moves with the wind, so the route is not fixed.
Toast and breakfast
After landing there is a toast and breakfast in the bush. The price covers both.
Back to your guide
You are handed back to your safari guide at about 9:45 a.m. The exact time depends on the meeting point you agree on.
Booking and what to check
Points that affect the day and the total.
Book your first free morning
The operator recommends the first available morning of your stay. If the flight is cancelled, you then have a following day to fly instead.
Match the region to your camp
Choose the start region that fits where you sleep. A camp in the north is not served by the Ndutu start, and the Ndutu start runs only from 20 December to 31 March.
Park entry is extra
The $599 does not include entry. Add the conservation fee for your days in the park. The park fees page shows the 2026/27 amounts.
Ask about cancellation
Refund and cancellation rules differ by booking channel. Ask for them in writing before you pay, together with the policy for weather-related cancellations.
Questions to settle before you pay
Ask about the minimum age for children, weight limits for guests and private charter options. Check these with the operator when you book.
More Serengeti planning
Pages that go with a balloon morning.
Serengeti balloon safari: frequently asked questions
How much does a Serengeti balloon safari cost?
The shared balloon is $599 per person in 2026. It includes the flight, the transfer, a toast and breakfast. Park entry is not included.
How long is the flight?
The flight lasts about 1 hour, starting at sunrise. You are handed back to your guide at about 9:45 a.m., depending on the meeting point.
Where do the balloons take off?
In central Serengeti all year, in the Western Corridor and the north from June to October, and at Ndutu from 20 December to 31 March.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. A toast and breakfast follow the landing and are part of the price.
What if the flight is cancelled?
Weather can cancel a morning. The operator advises booking the first available morning, so that a later day is still open for a new try.
Can I fly from any camp?
You are picked up in the start region you book, so the camp and the region have to match. See the table above for the seasons of each region.
Does the price include park entry?
No. Park entry is not part of the $599. Add the conservation fee for your days in the park, and check the 2026/27 amounts on the park fees page.
Who runs the balloon flights?
A commercial operator runs the shared flights. They are not run by this independent guide, and the guide does not sell them. Book through your lodge, your safari operator or the balloon operator.
When do flights run from Ndutu?
From 20 December to 31 March. That covers the weeks around the calving season in the south.