Each day at dawn over the African Serengeti Plains, a fortunate few enjoy this ultimate and luxury hot air balloon safaris experience. An exclusive hot air balloon animals safaris over the Serengeti plains, offering unparalleled panoramic views of the awe-inspiring landscape, offering exceptional opportunities for taking stunning animals photos and possible big five pictures.

It includes a pre-dawn collection for these luxury safaris from your luxury African game lodge to the hot air balloon launch site near Maasai Kopjes. Here you will meet your hot air balloon pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of the hot air balloon.

This is the only time you will be allowed to move about the Serengeti during the hours of darkness and you may just glimpse some nocturnal animals, unusual sights, and the possibility to take some very unique animals pictures and photos.

Two Serengeti hot air balloons, capable of carrying 12- 18 passengers each, fly once every day. At dawn they take off, rising as the African sunrises and floating in whichever direction the wind of the morning takes them. The pilot can control the altitude of the hot air balloon: sometimes taking you up to 1,000-foot altitude for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Serengeti plains or flying at treetop height, offering a unique perspective and great pictures and photos of the Serengeti wildlife animals below.

More often than not, the early part of the flight is along the course of the Seronera River, an ideal location to get pictures and photos of some animals taking an early morning drink. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, cheetah, vultures, eagles, wildebeest, zebra, baboon, warthog, monkey, giraffe and pictures and photos of many other animals’ species is possible. The hot air balloon pilot will help you spot and identify the animals below.

From time to time, the pilot will need to put more heat into the giant hot air balloon, and there is a gentle roar from the burners, which for obvious reason provides the opportunity for stunning pictures and photos. Between burns, there are periods of peaceful silence as you drift onwards.

The whole trip is one long Serengeti pictures photos opportunity. You are traveling on a totally stable vibration-free platform with a unique perspective and nothing to block your view, which will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take absolutely unique and great animals pictures and photos.

All good things have to come to an end and your pilot will let you know when it is time to put away the cameras and crouch down in the landing position. Once everyone is out of the hot air balloon, the cork is popped and the chilled champagne is poured for a toast on this unique African safaris experience and some pictures and photos to remember this great experience.

After the champagne, it is off to the breakfast table, which will have been set up under a fine umbrella tree selected by the crew, close to the landing spot. Serving a full, cooked English breakfast with some tropical additions, “Out of Africa” style – a fine spread served on bone china with silver cutlery and crystal glasses.

Enjoy the food, the African Serengeti scenery, and your companions’ company. You’ll receive your Serengeti Hot Air Balloon certificate before being driven back to your luxury safari Lodge or campsite, viewing game animals en route. You’ll still have most of the day ahead for game drives.

NOTE: This adventure will fit in with all safari itineraries that include a night in central Serengeti