Congratulations on your upcoming flight!

Your driver will collect you from your camp or lodge very early, usually between 4:15am and 5:00am depending on your location. The exact time will be confirmed the afternoon before your flight.

We provide pickup and drop-off from a wide range of Amboseli lodges and camps. Below are some of the properties we regularly serve:

• AA Lodge Amboseli
• Amboseli Bush Camp
• Amboseli Sopa Lodge
• Elephant Garden Camp
• Elephant Gorge Camp
• Kibo Safari Camp
• Kilima Safari Camp
• Kili Springs
• KWS Campsite & Guesthouse
• Ol Tukai Lodge
• Porini Amboseli Camp
• Satao Elerai Camp
• Sentrim Amboseli Lodge
• Serena Amboseli Safari Lodge
• Tawi Lodge
• Tortilis Camp
• Tulia Amboseli Camp

If your camp or lodge is not listed, simply contact us to confirm arrangements. We serve most accommodations in the greater Amboseli area.

On arrival at our Balloon Camp, you’ll check in at reception and complete the passenger information waivers. Then you can relax in our Guest Pavilion, complete with morning coffee, teas or hot chocolate, fresh biscuits, real male and female washrooms, Wi-Fi and USB charging stations. While the balloon is being inflated you are welcome to take photographs and watch the process. It is quite something to see a balloon come to life in the dark before sunrise.

At the launch field, your Captain leads a pre-flight safety briefing. You’ll learn how the hot air balloon works, what to expect during ascent, flight and landing, and have the opportunity to ask any questions. Our goal is for every guest to feel relaxed, informed and excited before take-off.

Then the balloon comes to life. Powerful fans and burners fill the envelope with hot air until it rises to over 25 metres tall. This is one of the most photogenic moments of the morning, especially when Mount Kilimanjaro and the sunrise sky form the backdrop behind the balloon.

Once everyone has climbed into the basket and the final safety checks are complete, the Captain adds more heat to the balloon and you rise gently into the skies of Amboseli. Your flight generally lasts about 45–90 minutes, depending on the wind and weather conditions Mother Nature provides.

From the air, you’ll enjoy a spectacular 360° view of the Amboseli ecosystem:

• The first light of sunrise bringing the plains to life
• Wooded savannah grasslands dotted with acacia trees
• Mount Kilimanjaro often visible to the south
• Amboseli National Park and its wetlands to the north
• Elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest and other wildlife
• Traditional Maasai manyattas and bomas below

Every flight is different, shaped by the day’s wind and weather. For this reason we cannot guarantee the exact flight path, duration or which animals you will see — that is part of the magic of being truly “one with nature”.

As your flight comes to an end, the Captain guides the balloon back to earth for a gentle landing in the open bush. Our professional chase crew will have been following along by vehicle and are ready to assist you from the basket.

From the landing site, our custom safari vehicles take you on a relaxed drive back to Balloon Camp, turning the return journey into a mini game drive. It’s another chance to enjoy Amboseli’s landscapes, wildlife and local communities from ground level.

Back at Balloon Camp, your Chief Pilot leads a traditional post-flight celebration, sharing stories from the morning, the Balloonists’ Prayer and a champagne toast. For younger guests and those who prefer not to drink alcohol, we offer alternative beverages so everyone can participate.

A chef-prepared, made-to-order hot breakfast follows, typically including eggs cooked to order, fresh fruit, cereals, yoghurt, coffee, a selection of teas, hot chocolate and juices. With advance notice we are happy to accommodate most dietary requirements.

As a final keepsake, each guest receives a Commemorative Flight Ascension Certificate, signed by the Captain — a memento of your Kenya Balloon Safaris experience in Amboseli.

Guests are normally returned to their lodge by around 9:00am, leaving the rest of the day free for safari activities.

Please bring your Passport or National ID for check-in.

Ballooning is an outdoor activity, so comfort is important.

Please wear:

• Comfortable layered clothing as early mornings can be cool
• Closed toe shoes suitable for uneven ground
• A hat, as the burners produce heat overhead

We recommend avoiding high heels, sandals or delicate clothing, as landings can be in natural terrain and conditions may be dusty.

And of course, bring your camera.