HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARIS IN UGANDA
OVERVIEW
Unlike traditional game drives, balloon safaris in Uganda provide a romantic and daring approach to experience the environment as you fly above the varied terrain and see wildlife. Hot air balloon safaris in Uganda start shortly before sunrise and take place in the savannah plains of Murchison Falls National Park. You will be suspended in a basket under the rainbow-coloured canopy as you go on a balloon adventure safari to see game.
Reserve a Hot Air Balloon Safari to get the opportunity to watch animals from above and experience nature. Since Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park are the most frequented parks in Uganda, every tourist should experience them in a different way. Dream balloon safaris used to be available in both parks, but they are now limited to Murchison Falls Park.
Most honeymoon safari guests and those who want to have a once-in-a-lifetime luxury experience in the air during an African wildlife safari now consider hot air ballooning to be a must-do activity. Experienced businesses like Dream Balloon Safaris offer hot air balloon rides in Uganda, and its skilled pilots are authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority Uganda to operate the balloons. They use well-maintained equipment and have safety precautions in place. Reservations must be made in advance because the balloon basket can hold roughly 6–16 persons who are 6 years of age and older.
Hot Air Balloon Safari's best time.
Balloon Safaris begin at around six in the morning, when you will meet your team at the launch site to prepare the balloon for the trip. The guide helps you board and provides a briefing on safety precautions and expectations.
will then lift off to the skies and get to observe and feel the beauty of the park at a glance. You may observe the variety of wildlife below and the Victoria Nile slicing through the park to generate the magnificent Murchison Falls when you're in Murchison Falls National Park. Don't forget to take overhead pictures of the park and its people and to record the lovely moments.
Since the balloon follows the direction of the wind and other favourable weather conditions to fly, this Hot Air Balloon Safari can be done throughout the year, with the exception of unfavourable weather.
In addition to enjoying bush breakfast, ground safari before and after balloon safaris, and the certificate of participation, balloon safaris allow guests to witness a variety of animals and off-track hidden creatures. Before adding it to the program, ask your tour consultant about availability. Come overcome your fear of heights and take in the beauty of the park from above while you capture amazing photos to preserve the memory of such a wonderful day.
Time Is Everything: When to Take Off
During ideal game drive periods, when animals are most active on the savannah, hot air balloon flights in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park usually run in the morning and evening. Your chances of seeing a wide range of species are increased by this ideal timing. You may observe the preparations, including the balloon's inflation, as you travel to the launch location next to Paraa Lodge on the Paraa side of the park.
Ugandan Balloon Safaris: An Approved Adventure
These remarkable balloon safaris are organized by Dream Balloons Limited, a firm fully certified and registered by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Uganda Wildlife Authority, National Environment Management Authority, and Uganda Communications Commission. These certificates guarantee both visitor safety and environmental preservation, including the protection of the park's priceless species. The pilots assigned to operate these balloons go through a rigorous training program and are certified by the Egyptian and Ugandan aviation authorities.
Safety First: Getting Ready for Your Trip
A thorough safety briefing will be given to you prior to your hot air balloon journey, making sure you are aware of all the rules and precautions that need to be followed. This dedication to safety maintains the company's reputation while also improving your experience.
A Different View of Wildlife: Identifying the Intangible
The chance to see creatures like lions that prefer to stay out of the open is one of the amazing features of a hot air balloon safari. From your elevated vantage point, you can spot your favourite wildlife species with careful attention and a sharp eye.
Breakfast in the Bush: An Enduring Experience
You'll savour a delectable brunch amid the captivating African bush after your hot air balloon ride. This exquisite lunch, which is provided by your lodge's restaurant staff and includes champagne, is a genuinely remarkable and enchanting experience on your safari in Uganda. It’s crucial to know that the evening hot air balloon trip does not include a dinner.
Flying Over the Savannah: An Adventure in the Airspace
Imagine flying far up into the African sky, circling the savannah, and seeing famous animals like antelopes, buffalos, elephants, and lions in their native environment. In Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park, a hot air balloon safari provides just that. A totally fresh perspective on the park's immense beauty will be provided by the breathtaking airborne vistas of its vast grasslands.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, hot air ballooning
It is the only location in Uganda to see the renowned tree-climbing lions, which are one of the country's treasures and the most popular tourist sites. The renowned Kazinga channel, which is home to gigantic Nile crocodiles, hippos, and black-lined elephants, splits the park in half. Other than Game Drive, though, it feels fantastic to see these lovely critters from above.
Beginning in the morning, the hot air balloon safari offers breathtaking views of the gorgeous sun rising from the east, seemingly emanating from Lake George, located east of the park. Experience the peace and quiet of Africa's wild landscape as you soar across the vast Ishasha plains on a unique hot air balloon safari. The exciting journey begins at 5:30 am, and the flight lasts approximately an hour.
The lift-off locations frequently vary daily based on weather and wind flow, but the flight typically begins at Kasenyi gate, where you meet for a briefing. You will have access to coffee and/or tea during the briefing, where you will meet your pilot, get safety equipment, and learn about landing procedures. The balloon has a 300,000 cubic foot capacity and can hold roughly 16 passengers. During your flight, the pilot uses the varied wind currents to fly at different altitudes to provide you new views.
Expectations for a Queen Elizabeth National Park balloon safari
In addition to offering fantastic photo possibilities, the flying offers tourists an experience that is genuinely distinctive and distinct from a typical ground-based game safari. You may observe the morning as the savannah below comes alive with wildlife and birds as you slowly glide across the park. The crew at Mweya Safari Lodge serves a delicious bush breakfast following a hot air balloon ride. The finest way to see wildlife is on a hot air balloon tour, where you may see hyenas returning from a hunt and other species, including hippos returning to the water, particularly in the Kazinga channel area. After the flight, a flying certificate is also given out, and it's a voyage of discovery to delight. Following the flight, passengers enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and Mweya Safari Lodge's delectable bush breakfast.
In Murchison Falls National Park, hot air ballooning
In Murchison Falls National Park, Dream Balloons offers hot air balloon safaris. The business was founded in 2007 with a licence to provide hot air balloon safaris in Egypt, but it subsequently extended to East Africa and then Uganda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and other relevant government agencies have granted Dream Balloons Company a complete licence to conduct hot air balloon safaris in Uganda. The company was registered in 2011 for this purpose.
What you must understand
In addition to having experience flying for 1000 hours or more, the pilots operating the hot air balloon are certified and licensed by the Egyptian Aviation Authority and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. Under the supervision of a qualified and experienced instructor, Dream Balloons Company also provides ground crew training. For individuals who wish to ride in a hot air balloon, safety is thus guaranteed.
In Murchison Falls National Park, hot air balloons come in a variety of sizes. The hot air balloon's air volume and passenger carrying capability increase with its size. There are two types of hot air balloons in Murchison Falls National Park: a medium-sized balloon that can carry eight people and reach an altitude of 10,000 feet and a large balloon that can carry sixteen people. For private use, honeymooners, and wedding proposals, this capacity is ideal.
The sunrise session, which begins at 5:00 am and allows you to witness early bird grazers, and the sunset session, which begins at 4:00 pm and concludes at 6:30 pm, are the two times that hot air balloon rides are offered in Murchison Falls National Park. The company transfers guests staying in the park's northern sector to the starting site for the hot air balloon activity. Those remaining in the southern sector are transported to the starting point in the northern sector by Uganda Wildlife Authority speed boats. When they arrive, they will watch the balloon inflate before the pilot briefs them on safety procedures and expectations. Since the flight takes roughly two hours, they will begin flying between 6:00 and 8:00 am.
Expectations for a safari in a hot air balloon
Visitors will enjoy breath-taking views of the park, sunrise, animals, birds, savannah vegetation, tree tops, Lake Albert, and the powerful Murchison Falls during the hot air balloon ride. Once you land on the ground, you will receive your certificate for taking part in the hot air activity. After that, the chef at Paraa Safari Lodge will prepare a bush breakfast for you to enjoy with a bottle of champagne. The business will then take you back to your resort. An alternative option is to go on a game drive inside the park.
At 4:00 pm, a second hot air balloon ride starts, and it concludes at approximately 6:30 pm. Visitors will be driven to the beginning location by the company, which will also give them a training on safety precautions and expectations. The cost of a bush dinner is not covered by the flight price, but participants will receive a certificate from the firm for taking part in the activity after landing.