Safari Overview
This 4 days Maasai Mara balloon safari is built around one unforgettable experience — seeing the Mara from above at sunrise. You travel by road from Nairobi, spend three nights in a luxury tented camp and have plenty of time for game viewing alongside the balloon experience.
The highlight is the dawn hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara. As the sun comes up, you float quietly above the open plains, watching elephants, giraffes and herds of wildebeest moving below. After landing, you are taken to a private bush breakfast where a champagne breakfast is served in the Mara.
The rest of the safari gives you time on the ground. You have two standard game drives included, plus additional game viewing around the balloon experience and on your final morning. The Mara is one of Kenya's best places to see lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo, with the open grasslands making wildlife easy to spot.
This is a good choice if you want the Mara experience to feel special without spending a full week on safari. The route is simple — Nairobi by road, three nights in the Mara and back to Nairobi — with the balloon flight and bush breakfast as the main highlights.
Best Time to Visit
July to October is the most popular time for the Maasai Mara and coincides with the Great Migration. The plains are busy with wildlife and this is a great period for a balloon safari.
January to March is another excellent period, with generally dry weather, good game viewing and fewer crowds. Balloon flights are available during the year, subject to weather conditions.
April to June is the long rainy season. The Mara is still beautiful and green, but balloon flights depend more heavily on weather and wind conditions.
Animals You Can Expect to See
Predators
- ✓ Lion
- ✓ Leopard
- ✓ Cheetah
- ✓ Hyena
Big Game
- ✓ Elephant
- ✓ Buffalo
- ✓ Giraffe
- ✓ Hippo
Plains Wildlife
- ✓ Wildebeest
- ✓ Zebra
- ✓ Gazelle
- ✓ Eland
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi to Maasai Mara — Road Transfer & Afternoon Game Drive
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive southwest towards the Maasai Mara. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours and passes through the Great Rift Valley and Narok before you reach the reserve. Stop along the way for a break and some views over the Rift Valley.
Arrive at your luxury tented camp in time for lunch and some rest. Later in the afternoon, head out for your first game drive across the Mara plains. This is your first chance to look for lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and other wildlife before returning to camp for dinner.
Dawn Balloon Flight, Champagne Bush Breakfast & Game Drive
Wake before sunrise for the highlight of the trip. You are transferred to the balloon launch site while the Mara is still quiet and dark. Once the balloon is ready, climb aboard and rise above the plains as the first light appears.
From the air, the Mara looks completely different. You can see the winding rivers, open grasslands and wildlife moving across the plains below. After landing, enjoy a champagne bush breakfast in the reserve before returning to camp.
Later, head out for your afternoon game drive. Spend the afternoon exploring different parts of the reserve with your guide before returning to camp for dinner.
Maasai Mara — Full Day Game Drive
Enjoy a relaxed morning at camp before heading out for your full day game drive. The Mara is at its best in the cooler hours, when predators are active and the light is excellent for photography.
Your guide will choose the best areas based on recent wildlife sightings. Look out for lion prides, cheetah, leopard, elephants and large herds of zebra and wildebeest. Depending on the season, you may also visit areas around the Mara River where hippos and crocodiles are often seen.
Return to camp for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing, enjoying the views or taking part in an optional camp activity before dinner.
Final Morning in the Mara & Return to Nairobi
Wake early for a final short game drive (optional) before breakfast and check-out. It is a good opportunity for one last look at the Mara before you leave, especially if there is a particular animal you are hoping to see.
After breakfast, begin the road journey back to Nairobi. The drive takes around 5 to 6 hours depending on road conditions. You can be dropped at your hotel, airport or another location in Nairobi depending on your travel plans.
Optional Nairobi Experiences Before Your Flight
If your flight is later in the evening, we can arrange one or more optional Nairobi activities before taking you to the airport. Choose from the Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Karen Blixen Museum or lunch at the famous Carnivore Restaurant. The exact activities depend on your flight time and the day's traffic.
- ✓ City Tour — explore Nairobi's highlights
- ✓ Giraffe Centre — see and feed Rothschild's giraffes
- ✓ Sheldrick Wildlife Trust — visit the elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre
- ✓ Karen Blixen Museum — visit the former home of the author of Out of Africa
- ✓ Carnivore Restaurant — enjoy lunch before heading to the airport
After your chosen Nairobi activity or lunch, continue to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend allowing enough time for traffic and airport check-in, especially for international flights.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Private road transfers from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara and back
- 3 nights luxury tented camp accommodation
- All meals — full board in the Mara
- Dawn hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara
- Champagne bush breakfast
- All scheduled game drives in the Maasai Mara
- Maasai Mara park/reserve fees
- Professional safari guide and private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Bottled water throughout the safari
- 24/7 support from Wild Safaris & Travel
Not Included
- International flights
- Kenya eTA / visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Additional game drives outside the included schedule
- Alcoholic and premium beverages outside the bush breakfast
- Gratuities for guide and camp staff
- Personal expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
The package includes a dawn hot air balloon flight, champagne bush breakfast, game drives, three nights in a luxury tented camp, road transfers, park fees, meals and an expert safari guide.
The balloon flight starts around dawn. You leave camp very early and head to the launch site before sunrise so you are in the air as the first light reaches the Mara.
Yes. The champagne bush breakfast is included and is served after the balloon flight, usually at a special breakfast setup in the Mara.
This itinerary is by road from Nairobi in a private 4×4 safari vehicle. The journey normally takes around 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
You can expect to look for lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and hippo. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the Mara is one of Kenya's best areas for game viewing.
Yes. This is a simple and comfortable way to experience the Maasai Mara, with a luxury camp, game drives and a balloon flight packed into four days without adding several long transfers.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before travel. We guide clients through the process after booking.