Balloon safari in the Mara at a glance
A balloon safari is a dawn flight over the plains of the Maasai Mara. One operator offers it year-round from a launch at Fig Tree Camp in the reserve. The price example for 2026 is $499 per person. A private balloon costs $4,990 for up to 8 people. This is one operator's price, not a rate for every company.
The flight is only part of the morning. The package covers a transfer from nearby camps, a briefing, about 45 to 60 minutes in the air, a bush breakfast with a champagne toast and a ride back to the airstrip or camp on request. No flight can promise a route or a sighting, and the wind decides where you land.
Limits and conditions
Rules of the operator in the 2026 price example.
| Point | What applies |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 5 years, with a parent on the flight |
| Minimum height | 1.20 m |
| Weight | A surcharge applies above 120 kg |
| Pregnancy | Not allowed with this operator |
| Payment | In full before the flight |
| Start time | Around sunrise. One other operator gives about 06:15 to 06:45 |
Other operators may set other limits and other prices. Confirm the exact start time and the rules with the operator you book.
Our picks: balloon flights over the Mara
Two balloon flights with breakfast, plus a land safari where the balloon is an optional extra.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Balloon flight with champagne breakfast, 5-hour package
Transfer from your lodge or camp, a balloon flight with a local guide, breakfast and a glass of champagne. Tips are extra.
Check availability →Hot air balloon flight with breakfast, 70 minutes
Transfer from your camp or lodge, a balloon flight with a local guide, breakfast and a glass of champagne. A few camps in the far west are not covered by the pickup, so check yours before booking.
Check availability →
3-day Landcruiser safari with pop-up roof
A 4WD Landcruiser with pop-up roof, a driver-guide, full board and two nights in a private tent with bathroom. Park fees for both days, drinks at camp and the balloon flight are extra.
Check availability →Maasai Mara balloon flights and safaris
Balloon flights and safari packages with live prices and availability. Check whether the flight and the park fee are in the price.
Cancellation steps
The refund scale in the 2026 price example.
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 14 days or more before the flight | Full |
| 13 to 7 days before | 50 percent |
| 6 days to 48 hours before | 25 percent |
| Within 48 hours or no-show | None |
If you cancel on the border between two steps, ask the operator for the exact cut-off in writing.
The morning step by step
As the package in the 2026 price example describes it.
1. Transfer
A vehicle collects you from a nearby camp before sunrise and takes you to the launch site at Fig Tree Camp.
2. Briefing
The crew explains how the flight and the landing work. Listen closely, especially with children.
3. The flight
About 45 to 60 minutes in the air. The wind sets the direction, and the pilot picks the landing spot.
4. Bush breakfast
After landing, the package serves a breakfast in the bush with a champagne toast.
5. Return
You are taken back to the airstrip or your camp on request. Say which one when you book.
What to ask before you book
- Landing fee: a separate landing fee can apply. Ask whether it is in the price before you pay.
- Park fee: ask whether the park day is covered, and how many days your quote charges. See park fees.
- Children: do not assume a child price or a free child place. Ask for the rate in writing.
- Pickup: confirm the pickup time from your camp, and the way back to the airstrip or camp.
- Weather: ask what happens if the flight does not go ahead.
A balloon and a game drive show the Mara in different ways. The balloon gives a view from above and a quiet flight, but it cannot follow an animal. A vehicle can stay with a sighting for as long as the rules allow. Neither can promise what you will see, so many visitors combine both.
A balloon flight is a morning add-on to a longer stay. For the full set of trip formats, read safaris compared. For the camp you launch from or return to, see where to stay.
Balloon flights also run on the Tanzanian side, with their own rules. They are covered at the Serengeti balloon page.
Maasai Mara balloon safari: frequently asked questions
How much does a balloon flight cost?
One operator charges $499 per person in 2026, and a private balloon is $4,990 for up to 8 people. Other operators set their own prices.
How long is the flight?
About 45 to 60 minutes in the air. The full morning is longer, because it includes the transfer, the briefing and the breakfast.
Can children fly?
With this operator, from 5 years and at least 1.20 m tall, with a parent. Pregnant guests cannot fly with this operator, and a surcharge applies above 120 kg.
Will I see animals from the balloon?
You may, but no flight can promise it. The route depends on the wind, and the animals move.
What if I need to cancel?
The refund depends on the notice you give. In the 2026 price example it is full at 14 days or more, 50 percent from 13 to 7 days, 25 percent from 6 days to 48 hours and none inside 48 hours. Payment is due in full before the flight.
Where do the flights start?
The 2026 price example is for flights from Fig Tree Camp in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Transfers collect guests from nearby camps. Ask whether your camp is on the pickup route.
Is breakfast included?
Yes, in the 2026 price example. The package includes a bush breakfast with a champagne toast after the landing.
When is the balloon safari offered?
This operator lists it for the whole year at Fig Tree Camp. Confirm the dates and the start time when you book.