The Maasai Mara
The Unparalleled
Maasai Mara
Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve is the ultimate hot air ballooning destination. The landscape is stunning and free, and the abundant wildlife can make for extraordinary viewings from above. As this is a wilderness area contiguous with the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania, with free-ranging wildlife that is not fenced in, we of course cannot guarantee what we will fly over on any particular flight.
However, we typically see a good diversity of animals, and it is likely you will spot elephants, giraffes, various antelope species and ostriches from the balloon. Many guests also see hyenas, lions and cheetahs — and ballooning is one of the very best ways to search for the elusive black rhino, of which there are fewer than 40 in the Mara. Depending on the day's flight path, you may also drift along one of the rivers and see hippos and crocodiles.
Regardless of whether the Big 5 are seen from the balloon, most of our guests say that the balloon flight was a highlight of their entire safari.
Maasai Wildlife
What You're
Likely to See
Over the years we've had some truly remarkable sightings — leopards in trees, lions on kills, active hyena dens, and vast herds of migrating wildebeest stretching to the horizon. Here are the species most commonly spotted from the balloon.
Lions
Lions are regularly spotted from the balloon, often on kills or resting in the open — their tawny coats surprisingly visible from altitude against the golden grass.
Leopards
One of the harder Big Five species to spot on a game drive, leopards have been seen from the balloon resting in the canopy of acacia trees along the riverbanks.
Black Rhino
With fewer than 40 black rhinos remaining in the Mara, ballooning is one of the best ways to search for them — a wide-angle aerial view that no road vehicle can match.
Elephants & Giraffe
Elephants and giraffe are among the most regularly sighted species from the air — their scale, movement patterns and family groupings are particularly dramatic seen from above.
Hippos & Crocodiles
When the flight path drifts along the Mara or Talek rivers, hippos and Nile crocodiles are frequently visible from the balloon — the river seen from directly above is a world unto itself.
Birds of the Mara
The Mara hosts over 500 bird species. From the balloon you'll spot raptors riding thermals at eye level, vast flocks of starlings, and secretary birds stalking the open plains below.
Wildebeest
The wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara is an epic annual spectacle where over a million animals brave predator-filled plains and treacherous river crossings in a relentless search for fresh grazing pastures.
The Great
Migration
If you visit the Mara between July and October, you will almost certainly witness the Great Migration — over a million wildebeest, along with vast numbers of zebras and gazelles, traversing the plains of the Mara in search of fresh grazing. This is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.
Observing the Migration from the balloon is the finest way to grasp just how enormous the herds truly are. From a game vehicle you see a portion of a herd; from the balloon you see herds stretching to the horizon, a living river of animals that has followed this path for centuries. It is an experience not to be missed, and one that very few people have the privilege of witnessing from the air.
Over the years we've had some extraordinary sightings — leopards in trees watching the herds pass, lions and cheetahs hunting at dawn, and active hyena dens on the plains below. The Mara rewards patience and altitude in equal measure.
Take-Off & Landing
Our Launch Site
We operate one launch site in the Maasai Mara, positioned at the heart of the reserve to give pilots the widest possible range of flight paths depending on wind conditions. Depending on where you are staying, your wake-up and collection time will differ — your camp or lodge will confirm the exact timing the evening before your flight.
Our vehicles collect guests from across the Mara ecosystem and surrounding conservancies. The drive to the launch site is itself part of the experience — the pre-dawn game drive through the still, dark reserve is a world apart from a daytime safari, and many guests spot nocturnal species on the way.
Hot Air Safaris — Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
View on Google MapsGetting There
How to Reach
the Mara
The Maasai Mara is accessible by road from Nairobi or by scheduled and charter flights to a number of airstrips within and around the reserve. Once in the Mara, we collect you directly from your camp or lodge.
We Come to You
Once you are in the Maasai Mara, there is nothing to organise for the journey to the launch site. Our custom 4×4 vehicles collect you from your camp or lodge in the pre-dawn hours and return you by mid-morning — your camp will provide the exact pickup time the evening before.
By Air
Scheduled flights operate daily to Maasai Mara airstrips — Keekorok, Ol Kiombo, Mara North and others — from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Charter flights are also widely available. Flight time from Nairobi is approximately 45 minutes.
By Road
The drive from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara takes approximately 5–6 hours via the B3 highway through Narok. Most visitors travelling by road go with a driver-guide arranged through their camp or a reputable safari operator familiar with the route.
Passenger Reviews
What Our Guests Say
About the Mara
It was an early morning, but well worth it! Captain Mervin was knowledgeable and a great pilot. We were able to see the rivers and wildlife… simply gorgeous. I highly recommend this balloon ride!
Stunning sunrise and views of the Mara as well as many animal sightings including elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and so many more. Captain Riz was very informative about the land and animals and ensured a smooth take-off and landing. After landing, we were treated to a lovely champagne breakfast and the facilities included a 'loo with a view'. Highly recommend!
An amazing experience and a great opportunity to see the Masai Mara from another perspective! Lions, elephants, ostriches, warthog and the big migration — we saw it all. Captain Mervin is a lovely man who sees and knows so much, and the rest of the staff, food and organisation are all first-rate.
Ready to Experience It?
See the Mara
From Above
Flights operate year-round from the Maasai Mara. Contact us to check availability and secure your place on one of Kenya's most extraordinary experiences.