Hot Air Safaris
Hot Air Safaris
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Full view
About
The Premier balloon safaris operator in the Masai Mara. We offer this service to all camps and lodges in the Greater Masai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
254 reviews
Excellent
212
Very good
18
Average
10
Poor
7
Terrible
8
Ann C
Brentwood, CA22 contributions
Feb 2023
I was very nervous about the balloon ride to say the least. To top off my nerves at about 1am the morning of the trip we had thunder and lightening the like I have never heard in my 67 years on earth! Mariko Emmanuel was our driver to the balloon sight and he was so reassuring and kind and told us dont worry its going to be a beautiful clear morning and sunrise and he was so right, He explained the drive was a little bumpy and he does the run every day and not to worry! He made my nerves disappear with his kindness and humor, he is a wonderful ambassador for the company. Riz took care of us and immediately I relaxed by his professionalism..
It is expensive but the amount of people involved you understand why and safety is the of the utmost importance!!! We got low enough to see the lions eating a water buffalo. It was just unbelievably beautiful. I would highly recommend the trip !! Even for "Nervous Nellies" like me!!
The breakfast afterward was great and the food great. The table was a mini UN so fun!! Thank Mariko and thank Riz it was a fantastic experience
It is expensive but the amount of people involved you understand why and safety is the of the utmost importance!!! We got low enough to see the lions eating a water buffalo. It was just unbelievably beautiful. I would highly recommend the trip !! Even for "Nervous Nellies" like me!!
The breakfast afterward was great and the food great. The table was a mini UN so fun!! Thank Mariko and thank Riz it was a fantastic experience
Written February 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words- and on behalf of us all at Hot Air, thank you for challenging yourself and joining us for the flight!
Written March 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bidule05
France1,918 contributions
Sep 2020
The driver comes at the Lodge at 5am to pick you up to the departure area of the air balloon.
Air balloon safari is an unforgettable and wonderful experience, especially during great migrational period (end of September 2020), allowing you to see at sunrise:
- huge herds of zebras and wildebeests in the savannah
-hippos coming back to the rivers
- acute geography of Masai Mara and rivers.
Our pilot, who came from Russia was professional.
The safari ended by a bush breakfast in the savannah.
Altogether, I recommend to do air balloon safari, especially during the great migration period
Air balloon safari is an unforgettable and wonderful experience, especially during great migrational period (end of September 2020), allowing you to see at sunrise:
- huge herds of zebras and wildebeests in the savannah
-hippos coming back to the rivers
- acute geography of Masai Mara and rivers.
Our pilot, who came from Russia was professional.
The safari ended by a bush breakfast in the savannah.
Altogether, I recommend to do air balloon safari, especially during the great migration period
Written December 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Isabelle! Glad you enjoyed the flight and the experience!
Written July 13, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Abhijit
14 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
If u haven’t done a Balloon Safari or a Hot Air Ballon, apart from your game drives, I would highly recommend this Ballon Safari. Its a memory that u will take away from Kenya. I cant put it in words the scenes We saw from up top. Its mesmerizing, starting from early morning sunrise to Panoramic view of the Masai mara was just exhilarating.
TIP: Please a spare day for this ride as ur Balloon Ride may get cancelled due to weather.
This happened to us and Hot Air Africa Eco Adventures Company was kind enough to accommodate us the next day. Thank you so much for such a Lively Experience.
TIP: Please a spare day for this ride as ur Balloon Ride may get cancelled due to weather.
This happened to us and Hot Air Africa Eco Adventures Company was kind enough to accommodate us the next day. Thank you so much for such a Lively Experience.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EarthSearch
Hartford, CT19 contributions
Nov 2021
The hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara was intended to end an epic journey. If you have never been on a ballon ride, this is the place to do it. Our pilot, Mervin, was pleasant and knowledgeable. The breakfast at the end was lovely. My reduced rating, however, is due to some miscommunication that impacted my final hours in Kenya. I was told in advance that I could fully pay with a credit card and the price was $400 per person. The night before, William prepped us for the next day and I was told that I needed to provide $150 in cash to secure the spaces for three people. I packed very little cash and I had to use money set aside for tipping our driver. The next morning, I was given a bill for $1200 and told the cost was $450 per person. As a once in a lifetime trip, my budgeting was careful and tight. I just wish I could have planned for this in advance, so the great experience was a bit soured by the communication.
Written November 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vassilis
Dubai, United Arab Emirates1 contribution
Mar 2023
Easily one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! Magnificent, peaceful, mesmerizing views of Mara (which, compared to the bumpy jeep safari rides, is quite a contrast) during sunrise. Our pilot Mervin was great at providing information about the surroundings and anything we needed to know about the flight. Get dressed in layers, as in the morning may be chilly, but as the sun rises and from the fire of the balloon, you will get pretty warm and may need to end in a t-shirt. The breakfast after was OK; I feel they need to do fewer options, but better quality and faster service (all of us were waiting for the egg station). Our pilot Mervin put together a 4 min video with pictures and videos from the flight we could get (at an additional cost) immediately after the flight (of course we got it!). I was with my 8 year old twins, which were a bit anxious about the flight. Their anxiety increased even more after the explanation of the safety procedures, but as soon as we got in and up in the air, everything disappeared :-)
it is an expensive activity, but entirely worth it and does not feel at all a rip off (if you add up transportation from & to our camp and all the personnel and equipment involved).
Highly recommended!
it is an expensive activity, but entirely worth it and does not feel at all a rip off (if you add up transportation from & to our camp and all the personnel and equipment involved).
Highly recommended!
Written April 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Written July 20, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Teresa D
Honolulu, HI39 contributions
Aug 2021
This was my first balloon ride and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Our driver, Carol, came to our camp the night before to brief us on everything. She arrived next morning at 5:45 am and drove us to the launch site. We watched the sunrise over the Mara as the balloons inflated. There were two balloons, each basket holding up to 16 passengers. Our basket had 14 people and our "compartment" had 3 people in it. We dressed for super cold weather but the radiant heat from the balloon was more than enough to keep us warm. Our pilot, David, gave us a safety briefing, saying there are two kinds of landing - boring and exciting!! Thankfully, we had a boring landing. The ride was quiet and peaceful. David was an excellent pilot but did not offer much in the way of animal spotting or guidance. Not sure if he was supposed to or not. But he gave us a safe ride and a boring landing, so I was grateful for that. Carol met us at the landing site and drove us to the bush breakfast, which was full-on amazing!! I was not expecting it to be so lavish! Mimosas, bloody marys, juices, french press coffee, hot teas, made to order omelets, pancakes, and an assortment of potatoes, pastries, jams, and breakfast meats were available. We had full table service with table linens and even a "loo with a view" for the restrooms. We were offered a fab video of our ride for $50, which I happily purchased. When we got home, however, the flash drive only contained pictures, no video. I have emailed the company and they responded. Still waiting on a resolution but I'm hopeful that they can email me the video. Other than that, it was an incredible experience. Our driver Carol took us on a short game drive after the balloon ride and we saw a cheetah with her two cubs - so tiny that they still had their baby fur!! We also saw leopards and lions!! It was an incredible day and I highly recommend this company!
Written September 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EmB1000
Dubai, United Arab Emirates154 contributions
Dec 2021 • Friends
Wow, where to begin?! This has to be up there, as one of top five activities I have ever done. From start to finish, the whole experience was outstanding and faultless. The ballon ride provided a great opportunity to see the vastness of the Masai Mara, the fact we saw elephant, lion and the all important hyenas was a bonus. Our captain Riz displayed a mastery skill of the balloon, allowing us to skim just inches above the ground before rising to allow for sweeping vistas of the Mara. It was fascinating to see the team preparing the balloon in the morning, and then to watch our pilot operating the balloon throughout - and a smooth descent capped a wonderful hour in the sky! The subsequent champagne breakfast out in the Mara was a wonderful way to conclude the adventure. A huge thank you to everyone involved in our trip, from the ground crew to our driver Sammy, to the chefs and catering team, you were all brilliant. I would recommend buying the photos from the trip and would say that this is one adventure to definitely put on your bucket list.
Written December 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A_Traveling_Norseman
Philadelphia, PA313 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
My family and I had a great experience hot air ballooning with Hot Air Africa ECO Adventures LTD. We signed up via our safari company prior to the trip who provided us with the details re our trip. The evening prior to the trip a rep met us to answer any questions we had and give us pick up time (4:40am). My advice is to wear layered clothing bc it is rather cool in the early morning but gets warmer from the burning gas. Our pilot was Murat who was great, turning the basket so everyone could enjoy the ride. I also felt we were the perfect height from the ground. Afterwards, we enjoyed a champagne breakfast which hit the spot. Although the price was high ( $450 x 4 = $1800) compared to other locations around the world, the price was reasonable compared to the competitors at Maasai Mara. It was a great experience and happy we did it.
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin Clark
Jersey, UK245 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
We had this booked as one of the first things we did and it didn’t disappoint! We have never done a hot air balloon ride before so we didn’t know what to expect but it was so smooth when we took off. As we drifted higher our pilot Ravi slowly turned the balloon so we all got a great view of the sunrise! As we floated over the Mara we spotted a cheetah and a group of elephants and we even managed to drop very low to get a good look at them. The whole experience was outstanding and so worth doing!
Written September 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike S
Arlington, TX2,801 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
We went on two balloon rides on our trip to Africa; this one in Maasai Mara and another one in Serengeti. If I knew before I went what I know now, this would have been the only one I went on. It was vastly superior.
From the pick-up to the boarding to the quality of our pilot to the landing and the champagne breakfast afterwards, this outfit was far better than the other one.
Our pilot was actually Kenyan (many are not) and he was great. Had a good sense of humor, kept us informed and entertained the whole time, was happy to answer questions and was an excellent pilot. The wind for this flight was somewhat strong so boarding, takeoff, landing and disembarking was the "exciting" version as opposed to how it's done on a calm day. You get in with the basket on its side like an astronaut getting into an Apollo capsule which, with sixteen people (plus the pilot) in the basket is quite a thing to orchestrate. And landing is the same thing. It lands and then tips on its side and then everyone gets out while trying not to get kicked in the head or kick someone else in the head. But it was all good and everyone had a great time. The ground crew was waiting for us and then took us to breakfast. The food was a full buffet in the middle of the Mara and was cooked right there. Even eggs cooked to order.
Everything about this experience was great and we're so glad we did it. We didn't see a ton of animals on this ride but that is totally the luck of the draw. The sunrise was beautiful and just floating along in the peace and quiet looking out over this vast landscape was very special.
From the pick-up to the boarding to the quality of our pilot to the landing and the champagne breakfast afterwards, this outfit was far better than the other one.
Our pilot was actually Kenyan (many are not) and he was great. Had a good sense of humor, kept us informed and entertained the whole time, was happy to answer questions and was an excellent pilot. The wind for this flight was somewhat strong so boarding, takeoff, landing and disembarking was the "exciting" version as opposed to how it's done on a calm day. You get in with the basket on its side like an astronaut getting into an Apollo capsule which, with sixteen people (plus the pilot) in the basket is quite a thing to orchestrate. And landing is the same thing. It lands and then tips on its side and then everyone gets out while trying not to get kicked in the head or kick someone else in the head. But it was all good and everyone had a great time. The ground crew was waiting for us and then took us to breakfast. The food was a full buffet in the middle of the Mara and was cooked right there. Even eggs cooked to order.
Everything about this experience was great and we're so glad we did it. We didn't see a ton of animals on this ride but that is totally the luck of the draw. The sunrise was beautiful and just floating along in the peace and quiet looking out over this vast landscape was very special.
Written May 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it ok for 79 year old lady to go for the balloon ride? How difficult is it to climb in it and get down? Is there place to sit inside the balloon if she is tired? Do you have a small ladder to climb in?
Written November 19, 2019
I am 73 and I'd like to think I managed quite well, the climbing in and getting off are a wee bit daunting - but once you're in, there is ample sitting and standing room. The balloon pilot is quite helpful, as well.
Written November 26, 2019
we plan to travel in 1st week of Nov to Masai Mara. What's the price for the balloon safari during those day. We are 2 adults and 2 kids aged 10 and 8
Written July 28, 2019
Jessy M
Pune, India
Hi. Will we have pick up from Mara Simba lodge. We will be four adults. Also what is the charge per person ??
Written August 21, 2024
The rates are US$450 per person at the moment.
Thank you!
Written August 23, 2018
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