Scenic Hot Air Balloon Safaris

Your adventure begins before sunrise. Pickup times vary depending on your lodge or camp and the time of year, with all guests scheduled to arrive at our Balloon Camp at approximately 5:15 AM. Some pickups may begin as early as 4:15 AM to allow for a smooth, well-timed launch.

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.

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.

Many travellers assume that the best views of Kilimanjaro must be from Tanzania. In reality, some of the most dramatic, wide-angle views of the mountain are from Amboseli, on the Kenyan side of the border. From our flight paths, Kilimanjaro often appears above a blanket of clouds, framed by open savannah, fever trees and acacia woodland below.

Flying with Kenya Balloon Safaris lets you experience:

• The Mountain: Sunrise often paints the glaciers and summit of Kilimanjaro in soft pink and gold tones — a classic “Kilimanjaro from Amboseli, Kenya” view that photographers dream of.
• The Land: Our balloons drift over a mosaic of seasonal swamps, dust pans, dry riverbeds and open grasslands that define the greater Amboseli ecosystem.
• The Culture: Below, you may see traditional Maasai manyattas, cattle tracks and daily life continuing as it has for generations, adding a rich cultural layer to the experience.
• Year-Round Game: Amboseli is known for elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and many other species all year round. While every flight is different, wildlife sightings are a natural part of the landscape.

For guests researching how to view Mount Kilimanjaro from a balloon or looking for the best place for a hot air balloon in Kenya, Amboseli delivers a powerful combination of landscape, culture and consistent game viewing — all in one flight.

What Makes Kenya Balloon Safaris Stand Out?

Choosing a balloon safari is choosing the story you will tell for years to come. At Kenya Balloon Safaris, every detail — from the first whisper of dawn to the last sip of coffee after breakfast — is designed to feel calm, unhurried and quietly unforgettable.

Below are a few of the reasons so many guests say their morning with KBS was the most magical part of their time in Kenya.

1. Safety First – The Quiet Confidence Behind Every Flight

Safety is the invisible thread that holds your whole experience together. Kenya Balloon Safaris operates under Kenya’s strict civil aviation regulations, with annual audits, regular pilot proficiency checks and continuous oversight from qualified aviation authorities.

Our pilots are experienced, professionally trained and intimately familiar with the morning winds and landscapes of Amboseli. Our balloons are maintained to exacting standards, so that by the time you step into the basket, everything beneath and around you has already been checked, double-checked and quietly cared for.

2. A Breakfast Pavilion That Feels Like a Private Lodge

After landing, the story doesn’t end — it changes pace. Rather than a simple table in the open, you arrive at our private Breakfast Pavilion, a space that feels more like a small safari lodge than a temporary field camp.

Here you’ll find shaded seating, real tables laid for breakfast, a functioning kitchen where meals are cooked to order, and the great shape of Kilimanjaro watching over the morning. Flush washrooms, fresh hand basins, Wi-Fi and charging points let you refresh, share photos or simply sit back with a hot drink and watch the light move across the plains.

3. Seamless, Gentle Mornings

A beautiful balloon flight depends on a calm, well-organised start. Our team arranges lodge pick-ups so that you arrive at Balloon Camp relaxed, on time and never rushed. You are greeted, offered something warm to drink and guided through the morning at an easy, human pace.

4. Time to Linger — Or Leave When You’re Ready

Some mornings you may want to linger over a second cup of coffee, savouring the view and replaying the flight in your mind. On other days you might wish to return quickly to your vehicle, ready to continue your game drive or head toward your next destination.

At KBS, your schedule is your own. Once you have finished breakfast, you are free to depart whenever it suits you, without waiting for other tables or groups. The pace of the morning bends gently around your plans.

5. Comfort That Respects the Wilderness

The charm of the bush is never far away — you are surrounded by open country, birdsong and the sense of being far from any town. But comfort matters, especially after an early start and a long time in the cool morning air.

6. A Flight Path Shaped by Kilimanjaro

Amboseli is one of the most beloved vantage points in the world for viewing Mount Kilimanjaro, and our operating area has been chosen with that simple truth in mind. On many mornings the mountain rises above the clouds as you drift over the plains, sometimes bold and clear, sometimes veiled and mysterious.

Coupled with year-round elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and other wildlife, the open views around our launch sites give you the best possible chance of the classic scene so many guests dream of — a balloon, a great mountain and the quiet breath of Africa at first light.

Kenya Balloon Safaris is part of a small, close-knit community around Amboseli. Many of our team members come from nearby villages, and our work only exists because of the support and trust of local families, elders and leaders. In return, we try to be a steady and practical partner in everyday life.

Together with community committees, we sponsor both women’s and men’s local football teams, helping with transport to matches, uniforms and basic operating funds. Several times a year, we organise food drives to support households in need, and we maintain an emergency vehicle that helps neighbours reach clinics and hospitals for urgent care — including pregnancies, fractures, malaria and other medical issues.

These initiatives are simple, on-the-ground ways for us to give back to the people who welcome our guests into their landscape. We do not see them as charity, but as part of being good neighbours and long-term partners in Amboseli.

Beyond the transport included in our balloon safari packages, Kenya Balloon Safaris offers stand-alone safari transport and transfer services throughout the greater Amboseli region. These services are ideal for guests needing reliable movement between lodges, airstrips, SGR stations, border points, or for travellers wishing to enjoy professionally guided game drives.

We operate a small fleet of custom 4×4 Land Cruisers and can match the vehicle style to your comfort preferences, the distance you are travelling, the weather, and the type of experience you want — from fully enclosed comfort to open-air viewing. (Tap any image to enlarge.)

All transfers and game drives are operated by professional KBS driver-guides. With extensive knowledge of Amboseli’s terrain, wildlife behaviour and road networks, our team ensures smooth, safe, and comfortable travel from start to finish.

• Emali SGR Transfers: Pickups and drop-offs for guests traveling on the Madaraka Express (SGR). A convenient option for travellers arriving from Nairobi or the Kenyan Coast.
• Border Transfers: Private vehicle transport to both the Tarakea and Namanga border crossings for seamless onward travel between Kenya and Tanzania.
• Amboseli Airstrip Transfers: We meet guests arriving on scheduled flights to the Amboseli Airstrip operated by:
  – Safarilink Aviation
  – Air Kenya Aviation
  
  Whether you are arriving or departing, our team ensures timely pickup and drop-off from the airstrip to your lodge or camp.
• Half-Day Game Drives: Explore key wildlife areas, swamps, and viewing points within Amboseli National Park.
• Full-Day Game Drives: Spend the entire day immersed in Amboseli’s landscapes, wildlife habitats, and scenic viewpoints with a knowledgeable KBS guide.
• Note: Amboseli National Park entry fees are not included and are paid separately at the gate or via smart card.

Whether you are connecting between destinations or planning a day of wildlife viewing, our stand-alone transport services provide exceptional convenience and peace of mind.

Contact us for availability and specific pricing.

Kenya has a long history of ballooning, and with that history has come a strong framework of safety and regulation. All licensed balloon operators in Kenya work under the oversight of the civil aviation authorities, following strict rules that cover everything from pilot training to maintenance schedules.

Annual audits, regular pilot proficiency checks and continuous technical inspections help ensure that ballooning in Kenya remains consistently safe across the country. As a guest, you may not see all of this behind the scenes — but you can feel it in the quiet confidence of the crew and the calm way your morning unfolds.

Balloon flights begin before sunrise, when the air is cool and still. Choosing an operator close to your lodge or camp keeps those early-morning drives short and gentle, and gives you more time at the launch site to wake up slowly with coffee and the first light of day.

Sometimes drivers, guides or lodges may be incentivised to recommend particular operators. It’s completely acceptable for you to ask which company they are using, where it is based and how long the transfer will take. You should feel free to choose the operator that best fits your own location, comfort level and sense of trust — it is, after all, your once-in-a-lifetime morning.

Kenya offers several beautiful regions for ballooning, each with its own rhythm. Amboseli is a year-round destination, known for its elephants, wide horizons and frequent views of Mount Kilimanjaro at sunrise. Even as the light and clouds change with the seasons, the landscape remains wonderfully photogenic throughout the year.

The Maasai Mara, by contrast, has a famous but relatively short window during the Great Migration, when vast herds may be seen crossing the plains. Outside this period, wildlife can feel more dispersed and the experience becomes less about huge herds and more about the broader landscape.

There is no single “right” choice: the best region is the one that matches your travel dates and your dreams. If Kilimanjaro, elephants and open vistas speak to you, Amboseli is a beautiful fit in any month.

Every balloon safari ends with some form of bush breakfast, but the style, comfort and hygiene can vary a great deal from one operator to another. Traditional setups might offer simple tables in the open, with out-house facilities or the classic “loo with a view” looking out over the bush. Many travellers find this rustic approach fun and charming, especially on their first safari.

After several hours away from your lodge, however, some guests begin to appreciate more modern comforts: a proper washroom, a place to wash hands with running water, and a shaded spot to sit down and truly relax.

At Kenya Balloon Safaris, the post-flight experience is designed to feel like a small, peaceful lodge in the middle of the savannah. Our restaurant-grade kitchen prepares hot, made-to-order breakfasts, served in a spacious pavilion that looks toward Mount Kilimanjaro. Guests enjoy flush washrooms, clean sanitary facilities, Wi-Fi and charging stations, so you can freshen up, share photos or simply linger over a second cup of coffee.

After such an extraordinary morning, your day on safari is only just beginning. Some operators follow a fixed schedule where all guests must finish breakfast before anyone can leave, which can create delays if you have other activities planned or a long drive ahead.

Kenya Balloon Safaris offers a more flexible approach. Once you have eaten, taken your photos and enjoyed the view, you are welcome to depart whenever you are ready. If you wish to linger, you can stay and savour the calm of the pavilion; if you are eager to return to your lodge or continue your game drive, your vehicle can be ready to go. The morning bends to fit your itinerary, not the other way around.

The way you reach the launch site shapes the very first part of your experience. Some operators rely on your driver-guide or on the lodge to arrange transportation in the dark hours before dawn. While this often works well, it can occasionally lead to confusion, delays or vehicles taking wrong turns on unfamiliar tracks.

When the balloon company manages pick-ups directly, the journey tends to feel smoother and more reassuring. Kenya Balloon Safaris provides standard lodge pick-ups throughout the Amboseli area, with routes and timings carefully planned so that guests arrive on time, calm and unhurried. For travellers who love their independence, self-drive is still welcome — with clear directions and a warm welcome waiting at Balloon Camp.

However you choose to travel, it is worth asking in advance who is responsible for your transfer, how long it will take and what time you can expect to be back. A little clarity at the planning stage makes the whole sunrise experience feel effortless.