What Makes A Balloon Safari In The Serengeti A Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience : It’s unusual to obtain a bird’s-eye perspective of anything, let alone one of the world’s most famous wildlife plains, the Serengeti. On a cloudless day, flying over land at a height of over 30,000 feet anywhere in the world will give you a peek at the country below, but you can only guess what is going on down there. You can see every detail when you drift gently over land on a balloon safari near the earth. It’s a unique way to enjoy a Serengeti safari.
The balloon that you may fly above the Serengeti causes no harm to the species below, and you will see the activities from an entirely different perspective. The Serengeti in Tanzania is one of the best sites in the world, much less Africa, to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hot air balloon ride. It spans around 11,500 square kilometers in northern Tanzania, connecting to the smaller Masai Mara in Kenya. You can clearly view only a small portion of that, but you will see far more from above in a balloon than you could ever see from the ground in a jeep.
The hot air in the balloon itself gives elevation because it has a lower density than the cooler air outside the envelope, according to the principle of hot air balloon flight. You can see for miles as you soar like a bird above the Serengeti. On a clear day in this part of Africa, you can travel as high as 1,000 feet, allowing you to see far into the distance.
However, because you are often not much higher than treetop height, you are arguably closer to the animals than you would be in a jeep. The herds and herbivores in general will be preoccupied with feeding while keeping half an eye out for predators, but they will entirely overlook the balloon above them. They see them on a regular basis and are aware that they pose no threat.
Early morning sunrise
The best time to go on a balloon safari is very early in the morning, when you can view the finish of the night’s activity as the sun rises. Because there are no night safaris in the Serengeti, planning a flight provides you with the added benefit of getting from your lodge to the balloon while it is still dark and ascending at first light.
The pilot will launch the balloon once you have taken your seat in the basket. The pilot needs to heat the air in the envelope now and then, so he sends a boost from the burners, but other than that, you are in perfect silence, save for your own chats in the balloon’s basket. Because of the activities going on below, most talks are held in whispers.
Seronera
There are marked trails that take you to the best sites in the Serengeti, and jeeps are not allowed to drive anywhere they choose. As a result, you will only be able to witness wildlife that is close to the trails. There are no such constraints in a hot-air balloon. One excellent path is along the Seronera River, where animals congregate to drink, and predators are aware of this. Few areas have as dense a population of big cats, such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as the Seronera, with leopards being particularly difficult to spot on a vehicle safari.
There are many animals along this river all year, but between April and June, as well as October and December, you will see massive herds on the move in quest of massive grazing. Imagine observing it from the air rather than at ground level. It will give you a true sense of the scope of the activity. As far as the eye can see, there will be animals.
Outside of those months, you will only view the resident animals. They contain a diverse range of species that get along well with one another but not with predators. While lion numbers in the Serengeti have declined in recent years, you will still have a good chance of seeing them along the river, and if they have had a successful night’s hunting, they will most likely be feasting before sleeping for the remainder of the day. When prey animals watch lions feeding, they may approach them since they know hunting is no longer on their agenda.
Time will fly by, and upon landing, generally with a glass of champagne in hand, you may be in a state of shock, your mind racing over what you have witnessed. The images in your head will stay with you for a long time, and your photographs will help to reinforce your memories. Friends and relatives will appreciate them and will not rush to see someone else’s Christmas photos.
Breakfast will be served near your arrival point, with the rest of the day free for land-based safaris; however, late afternoon is the optimum time to venture out in a vehicle to see additional wildlife. Relax in between shots by looking at the photographs you’ve taken.
SUMMARY: WHAT MAKES A BALLOON SAFARI IN THE SERENGETI A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
For many years, hot-air balloons have been a popular tourist activity in various parts of the world. Even so, while certain gorgeous landscapes have grown popular, moving silently across a famous wildlife plain where activity might alter minute by minute and day by day is unique. The Serengeti is a region that wildlife movies have brought into the homes of people all around the world, but cameramen have access to areas that land-based tourists cannot. Those who choose to schedule a hot-air balloon safari have access to the same resources as those professional documentary filmmakers. It offers an invaluable experience with memories that will last a lifetime.
