The Maasai Mara from Above: A Hot Air Balloon Safari Diary

Some experiences defy description, but I’ll try. A hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara is one of those bucket-list items that seems almost cliché until you’re actually living it. It is, without a doubt, one of the most serene and perspective-shifting adventures I have ever undertaken.

Our day began in the profound darkness of a Mara morning. We met our pilot and crew in an open field, where the balloon lay like a giant, colourful caterpillar on the grass. As the burners roared to life, inflating the canopy, the excitement was palpable. We climbed into the spacious wicker basket, and with a few more bursts of flame, we were airborne.

The lift-off was so gentle, so smooth, that we were suddenly floating above the treetops before we even realized it. The first thing that strikes you is the silence. The only sound is the occasional whoosh of the burner. We drifted silently, like a leaf on a breeze, as the sun began to rise over the plains.

The view from above is transformative. The vast, complex ecosystem of the Mara unfolds beneath you like a living map. Herds of wildebeest appeared as flowing rivers of brown, their trails etched into the earth like veins. Giraffes loped below us, their shadows stretching out in the long morning light. We spotted a family of elephants from a completely new angle, their majestic size perfectly contextualized against the landscape.

It’s a feeling of pure, unadulterated freedom and peace. You are not an intruder in a vehicle; you are a ghost, a silent observer floating through a dream.

The journey culminated in the ultimate safari tradition: a champagne breakfast in the middle of the plains. We landed smoothly, and right there, tables were set with white linens. We toasted with glasses of bubbly, eating a full English breakfast while sharing stories and watching the sun climb higher. It was a moment of sublime, almost surreal, perfection.

Yes, it’s a splurge. But it’s a memory I will carry with me forever. It was the crowning jewel of my trip, an experience I was so glad that Visit Kenya had encouraged me to book.