Hot Air Balloon adventure Safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve
Hot air balloon adventure safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve are one of the interesting activities that are conducted within the great reserve by several tourists or clients. Visitors who are interested in exploring the wildlife of Masai Mara National Reserve from the air have to participate in hot air balloon adventure safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve. This is a good activity that is usually done during the early morning hours before the sun rises.
Before the hot air balloon is conducted, participants or tourists are first briefed majorly about the safety measures. This kind of briefing is done by the pilot that provides all the information and what you expect to see and so while in the air during the hot air balloon safaris.
Masai Mara National Reserve is found in the southwestern part of Kenya with various conservancies. Masai Mara National Reserve is known because of its wildebeest migration that involves several wildebeest animals. The gazelles and zebras crossing the Mara River from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
The whole activity of the hot air balloon safaris lasts for one hour as you’re in the air enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Masai Mara National Reserve coupled with various tourist attractions and several sites. The weather is an important component of the hot air balloon safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve, usually, there should be windy conditions that are important in directing the floating and give it direction.
You will spend an hour enjoying the morning sunrise, the beautiful scenery, and the wildlife species of the Masai Mara National Reserve while you are above in the air. The wild animals of Masai Mara National Reserve that you will be able to see while on your hot air balloon safaris in Kenya include giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, lions, leopards, and the gently rolling hills without forgetting the meandering rivers where animals concentrate to drink water during the dry season as well as the lush grassland of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Visitors will be introduced to the baskets that are made of the willow and cane which are made to carry specific weight and have got some resilience meaning that people need not exceed the capacity of the basket during the hot air balloon safaris. This implies that the number of people on the hot air balloon safaris will depend on the capacity of the basket. The capacities may include 4 passengers, 12 passengers, 16 passengers, 8 passengers, and they are always operated by different companies available in Masai Mara National Reserve.
How to prepare for your hot air balloon safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve
 As it starts, the hot air balloon crew members will light up the flames of the hot air safari burners and it is these flames and burners that will help to fill the hot air balloon and the moment the balloon is filled up, then tourists or visitors at this stage need to be prepared to be airlifted and drift to the air as you explore the unbelievable of the Masai Mara National Reserve including the rivers, green vegetation, savannah plains and the excitement of the wildlife viewing.
It is the responsibility of the crew members to inflate the hot air balloon as it’s on the ground with the help of the big fan to fill up the envelope half and later introduce the basket and banner to provide the full capacity of the envelope to make it full. All these activities are done when you’re seeing and these are also regarded as part of the hot air balloon experience.
As the sun rises, this hot air balloon can be seen floating in the air above the Masai Mara National Reserve and the hotter the flames the faster the balloon rises. The hot air balloon safaris just occur at a reasonable height that allows visitors to see clearly the wildlife happening on the grounds of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Because they fly far then it client may not get a chance to see the wildlife animals at ease.
As I earlier said, the direction of the hot air balloon will depend on the direction of the wind, in other words, where the which is blowing to is where the hot air balloon will follow and thus the pilot will always be on the steering and he navigates to the direction of the wind and he chooses the right height for the hot air balloon safaris. Since this is determined by the strength of the wind.
The distinguished part of the hot air balloon that is in an envelope form helps to make the hot air balloon safaris remain stable in the air even if there are some difficulties of the burner to perform its duties but in most cases, this is always rare for the burner to develop faults. As the matter of fact, the envelope acts as the parachute on an airplane.
The people or a person who operates the hot air balloon in Masai Mara National Reserve is known as the Pilot and he must be able to identify properly when the weather is favorable for him to fly the hot air balloon in Masai Mara National Reserve since weather determines the operation and the movement of this hot air balloon safaris.
Once you have fined your hot air balloon safaris, you will find a fine breakfast with Champagne at the base where you started with hot air balloon safaris and you share the experience of this great safari and the success you have registered in terms of the animals and other attractions sighted.
What is the cost of the hot air balloon in Masai Mara National Reserve? All the visitors that are interested in taking hot air balloon safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve will pay USD500 so as to enjoy a totally different wildlife experience in Masai Mara National Reserve from the air.
Other activities that you can do in Masai Mara National Reserve
Other than the hot air balloon safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve, there other activities which you as the tourist or the visitor you get involved in, and these include the birding safaris, the cultural encounters, the guided nature walk safaris, safari game drives that are carried out both in the morning, afternoon, evening and night game drives.
Cultural exploration in Masai Mara National Reserve involves visitors get interacting with the local people of the Masai who are well known for the pastoral life of keeping large herds of cattle. With the cultural encounters, you will learn the traditions and cultural norms of the Masai people, seeing the local arts, and the materials that they make from the local materials such as beads and jewelry.
Masai Mara National Reserve also has a lot of bird species that can be seen during the organized birding adventure safaris. Visitors will get a chance to enjoy the birds such as yellow-throated sandgrouse, kingfishers, Cisticola, Woolly-necked Stork, Herons, Secretary birds, African finfoot among bird species, Masai Mara National Reserve has over 450 recorded bird species and this makes it an important birding area in Kenya.
When is the best time to go to Masai Mara National Reserve for hot air balloon safaris?
Visitors planning to visit Masai Mara National Reserve for hot air balloon safaris or any other activity are hereby informed that Masai Mara National Reserve is visited throughout the year however June, July, August, September, and October are the best months when you should visit Masai Mara National Reserve. This is because this is the time when the reserve is dry and very many tourists are attracted to this climate. Also, this is the same time when the wildebeest migration does occur in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Masai Mara National Reserve is served with different accommodation facilities which range from camping, budget, and mid-range and to luxury accommodation facilities which are available for the visitors who are interested in exploring the Masai Mara National Reserve by engaging in different activities such as games drives, hot air balloon safaris among other wildlife safaris.
How to access Masai Mara National Reserve?
Masai Mara National Reserve can be accessed from Nairobi the capital city of Kenya through the Narok county and continue driving to access any Masai Mara national Reserve gate that includes the Oloolaimutiek gate, Oloololo gate, Sekenani Gate, Talek gate, and the Musiara gate.
Through the use of air transport, visitors can use various airports and airstrips to fly to Masai Mara National Reserve.
You can use the Wilson airport to fly to some of the airstrips close to Masai Mara National Reserve and these include Musiara airstrip, Shikar airstrip, Sian springs airstrip, Ol Kiombo airstrip, Kichwa Tempo airstrip among others. Both scheduled and chartered flights can be organized for you and are available for fly tourists from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve
Visit Masai Mara National Reserve for Amazing wildlife safaris as you enjoy various plains of savannah filled with various wildlife both animals and birding life. Contact Africa Adventure Vacations for more information about wonderful game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve.
