A 6 days Serengeti Balloon Safari in Tanzania is an excellent way to explore the country’s famous wildlife destinations while enjoying the rare opportunity to see the Serengeti plains from a hot-air balloon. This six-day journey takes you through Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, combining traditional game drives with a sunrise balloon flight above one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife landscapes. It is a suitable safari for couples, families, honeymooners and travellers who want to experience Tanzania’s wildlife from both the ground and the sky.
Organised by Eddy Tours & Safaris, this private safari begins in Arusha and follows Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. During the six days, you will travel through different landscapes, from the baobab-filled woodlands of Tarangire to the open grasslands of the Serengeti and the wildlife-rich floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. Your professional safari guide will help you search for elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, leopards and many other animals while explaining their behaviour and the environments in which they live. The balloon experience adds something different to the journey, allowing you to watch the early morning light spread across the plains while floating quietly above the landscape.
Overview of the 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari Package
The six-day itinerary has been planned to provide enough time for wildlife viewing without rushing between destinations. The first day introduces you to Tarangire National Park, followed by three nights in the Serengeti, where you will enjoy game drives and the main balloon safari experience. The journey then continues towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before returning to Arusha on the final day.
| Safari Details | Package Information |
|---|---|
| Safari duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Starting point | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Ending point | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Main destinations | Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater |
| Main activity | Serengeti sunrise hot-air balloon safari |
| Safari type | Private guided wildlife safari |
| Accommodation | Mid-range or luxury lodges and tented camps |
| Transport | Private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof |
| Best travel period | Year-round, subject to balloon flight conditions |
| Meals | As specified in the itinerary |
| Balloon safari | Included, subject to confirmation and weather conditions |
Travellers who prefer a different combination of destinations can also explore our Tanzania safari packages, which include shorter wildlife trips and longer journeys across the northern safari circuit.
Detailed 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park – Elephant Herds and Baobab Trees
Your safari begins in Arusha, where your professional guide from Eddy Tours & Safaris will meet you at your hotel after breakfast. Following a short briefing about the journey, you will depart for Tarangire National Park, travelling through local villages and rural landscapes along the way. The drive normally takes approximately two to three hours, depending on traffic and your starting location. On arrival, your guide will complete the park entry procedures before you begin your first game drive in one of Tanzania’s most interesting wildlife areas.
Tarangire is particularly well known for its large elephant herds, impressive baobab trees and the Tarangire River, which attracts wildlife during the dry season. As you explore the park, you may encounter elephants moving through the woodland, giraffes feeding on acacia trees, zebras grazing in the open areas and buffaloes resting near water sources. Lions, leopards and several antelope species also inhabit the park, although sightings depend on animal movements and the conditions of the day. Your guide will select different game-viewing routes based on recent wildlife activity and the amount of time available.
Lunch will be served at a designated picnic area, allowing you to relax before continuing your afternoon game drive. Later in the day, you will leave Tarangire and travel to your lodge or tented camp in the Karatu area. After checking in, you can enjoy dinner and rest in preparation for the longer journey to the Serengeti the following morning.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Karatu.
Meals: Lunch and dinner.
Day 2: Karatu to Serengeti National Park – Journey Across the Great Plains
After an early breakfast, you will leave Karatu and travel towards Serengeti National Park through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The route passes through the highlands, where the scenery changes from cultivated farmland and forested slopes to open grasslands. Weather permitting, there may be an opportunity to stop at a designated viewpoint overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater before continuing towards the Serengeti. The journey involves several hours of driving, but the changing scenery and opportunities to observe wildlife make it an important part of the safari.
As you enter the Serengeti, you will begin to understand why the park is regarded as one of Africa’s leading wildlife destinations. Its vast plains support large populations of grazing animals and predators, including lions, cheetahs, hyenas and leopards. Depending on the season, you may also encounter groups of wildebeest and zebras moving between feeding areas. The Serengeti forms part of the wider ecosystem associated with the Great Migration, although the location of the herds changes throughout the year in response to rainfall and available grazing.
Your afternoon will be spent on a game drive towards the central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera area, which is known for wildlife activity around its rivers, grasslands and rocky outcrops. Your guide will look for animals along the route while allowing time for photographs and observation. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at your lodge or tented camp for dinner and an overnight stay. The evening provides an opportunity to discuss the next day’s activities and enjoy the atmosphere of the Serengeti.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3: Full-Day Serengeti Safari – Exploring the Wildlife of the Central Plains
Today is dedicated to exploring Serengeti National Park, giving you a full day to enjoy wildlife viewing without the pressure of travelling to another destination. After breakfast, you will depart with your guide for a morning game drive through the central Serengeti, where different habitats provide opportunities to see a wide variety of animals. The Seronera River and surrounding grasslands are particularly interesting because they attract herbivores and the predators that depend on them. Lions may be seen resting near rocky outcrops, while cheetahs are sometimes found scanning the open plains for prey.
Your guide will use experience and recent wildlife information to decide which areas are worth exploring. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but spending a full day in the park improves your chances of observing different species and behaviours. You may come across elephants feeding among the trees, giraffes moving across the plains or large groups of zebras and wildebeest grazing together. The Serengeti also offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, with eagles, vultures, secretary birds and many smaller species found throughout the park.
A picnic lunch will be arranged during the day, followed by additional game viewing in the afternoon. The schedule can be adjusted according to your interests, whether you prefer photography, observing predators or spending more time watching animals in a particular area. Later, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay. Your guide will also confirm the arrangements for the following morning’s balloon safari, including the early departure time and meeting point.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4: Serengeti Hot-Air Balloon Safari – Sunrise Above the African Plains
The fourth day is the main highlight of your six-day safari. You will wake up before sunrise and travel from your accommodation to the designated balloon launch site, where the balloon crew will welcome you and provide a safety briefing. As the balloon is prepared for departure, you will have the opportunity to watch the inflation process and learn about the flight. Once the pilot has completed the necessary checks and weather conditions are suitable, you will board the basket and begin your sunrise flight over the Serengeti.
The flight generally lasts approximately one hour, although the exact duration depends on wind and operating conditions. As the balloon rises, the landscape opens beneath you, revealing grasslands, river channels, scattered acacia trees and rocky formations. Depending on the flight route and wildlife movements, you may see zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants or other animals from above. The experience is different from a vehicle game drive because the balloon moves with the wind, providing a quiet and changing perspective of the Serengeti. The pilot determines the route and landing location according to the conditions on the morning of the flight.
After landing safely, you will enjoy a bush breakfast arranged by the balloon operator before meeting your safari guide and continuing with the day’s game drive. The remaining hours can be spent exploring other parts of the central Serengeti, looking for wildlife and visiting areas that were not covered during the previous day’s safari. Your guide may choose different routes depending on animal activity, weather and your personal interests.
The balloon flight is operated by a specialist provider and remains subject to weather conditions, passenger eligibility and availability. If the flight cannot operate safely, alternative arrangements or a refund of the balloon component will be handled according to the confirmed operator’s terms. For further information about ballooning in the Serengeti, you can also read the Serengeti Balloon Safari information provided by Four Seasons.
In the late afternoon, you will return to your lodge or tented camp for your final night in the Serengeti, where dinner will be served.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in central Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Special activity: Sunrise Serengeti hot-air balloon flight and bush breakfast.
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Morning Game Drive and Highland Scenery
After breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation and begin your journey out of Serengeti National Park. The morning provides another opportunity for wildlife viewing as you travel through the park towards Naabi Hill Gate. Your guide will continue searching for animals along the route, and you may encounter species that were not seen during the previous days. The drive also offers a final chance to appreciate the scale of the Serengeti landscape, from its open plains to the distant hills and scattered rocky outcrops.
After leaving the Serengeti, you will continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the crater highlands. This region is home to Maasai communities who have a long history of living alongside wildlife. The journey passes through areas where livestock grazing and wildlife conservation form part of the same landscape. Your guide will explain the significance of the conservation area and how it differs from a national park, particularly in relation to human settlement and traditional pastoral activities.
As you approach the Ngorongoro highlands, the air becomes cooler and the vegetation changes. Depending on your accommodation arrangements, you may stay at a lodge near the crater rim or in the Karatu area. The afternoon is generally reserved for reaching your accommodation, enjoying the surrounding scenery and resting before the early crater visit on the following day. Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Accommodation: Lodge near Ngorongoro Crater or in Karatu.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Return to Arusha
Your final safari day begins with an early breakfast before travelling to the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is one of Tanzania’s most remarkable wildlife destinations, formed within a large volcanic caldera and surrounded by steep highland walls. Its grasslands, forests, wetlands and lakes provide habitats for a wide range of animals, making it possible to observe several species within a relatively small area.
After descending into the crater, your guide will begin searching for wildlife across the crater floor. Buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and elephants are among the animals commonly found here, while lions and spotted hyenas are also present. The crater is one of the places in northern Tanzania where visitors may have an opportunity to see the endangered black rhinoceros, although sightings are uncommon and cannot be guaranteed. The wetlands and lake areas also support waterbirds, including flamingos when conditions are suitable.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated area before continuing your game drive and eventually ascending from the crater. In the afternoon, you will travel back to Arusha, where your guide will drop you at your hotel or another agreed location. Arrival time will depend on road conditions, the duration of the crater visit and the location of your final drop-off. If you are planning an international flight on the same day, sufficient time should be allowed for the transfer and airport procedures.
This marks the end of your six-day Serengeti Balloon Safari with Eddy Tours & Safaris.
Accommodation: Not included after the safari unless arranged separately.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari Package Inclusions
The following services are included in the proposed safari package:
- Private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing.
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide.
- All scheduled game drives in Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
- National park entry and applicable conservation fees for the stated itinerary.
- Ngorongoro Crater descent and vehicle service fees.
- Five nights of accommodation in the agreed lodges or tented camps.
- Meals as specified in the six-day itinerary.
- One shared sunrise hot-air balloon safari in Serengeti National Park.
- Bush breakfast provided by the balloon safari operator.
- Balloon activity fees and applicable operator charges.
- Drinking water during game drives.
- Safari vehicle fuel and driver-guide expenses.
- Pick-up and drop-off in Arusha at the agreed locations.
- Applicable government taxes included in the confirmed quotation.
6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari Package Exclusions
The following services are not included unless specifically stated in your quotation:
- International and domestic flights.
- Tanzania tourist visa fees.
- International travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and shopping.
- Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and other drinks not included in the meal plan.
- Tips and gratuities for the safari guide, lodge staff and balloon crew.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari.
- Optional cultural visits or activities not listed in the itinerary.
- Extra transfers outside the agreed safari programme.
- Additional park fees arising from requested itinerary extensions.
- Private balloon charter upgrades.
- Any other services not specifically mentioned under package inclusions.
What Makes the Serengeti Balloon Safari Special?
A balloon safari provides a different way of experiencing the Serengeti because it allows you to observe the landscape from above rather than following the established vehicle tracks. From the balloon basket, you can appreciate the relationship between rivers, grasslands, woodland and wildlife habitats. The early morning light also creates excellent opportunities for landscape photography, particularly when the sun rises over the plains and the shadows begin to disappear.
Unlike a conventional game drive, the balloon follows the direction of the wind, so every flight has a different route. Wildlife sightings vary, and the pilot cannot promise to fly over particular animals or locations. However, the opportunity to see the Serengeti from the air, followed by breakfast in the bush, makes the experience especially appealing to travellers celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or another important occasion.
For visitors interested in understanding the wildlife and conservation importance of the destination, the official Serengeti National Park website provides useful background information about the park and its protected ecosystem.
Best Time to Book a 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari in Tanzania
A Serengeti balloon safari can be arranged throughout the year, subject to weather and operational conditions. The best time to travel depends on the type of wildlife experience you are looking for, the landscapes you prefer and your accommodation budget. The Serengeti supports resident wildlife throughout the year, meaning that a rewarding safari does not depend entirely on seeing the Great Migration.
From June to October, northern Tanzania generally experiences drier conditions, making this a popular period for wildlife safaris. Vegetation is often less dense in many areas, and animals may gather around permanent water sources. The period from November to May brings changing rainfall patterns, greener landscapes and opportunities to observe different stages of the wildebeest migration. Calving activity is commonly associated with the southern Serengeti and Ndutu region during the early months of the year, while river crossings are more often associated with the northern Serengeti during the middle and later parts of the dry season.
Because this itinerary focuses mainly on the central Serengeti, travellers specifically interested in migration calving or Mara River crossings may need adjustments to their accommodation locations and game-drive routes. Eddy Tours & Safaris can help plan the safari around your travel dates and wildlife interests rather than promising sightings that depend on nature.
Accommodation During Your Serengeti Balloon Safari
Accommodation plays an important role in making a six-day safari comfortable, especially because several days involve early departures and long game drives. This package can be arranged with mid-range or luxury lodges and tented camps, depending on your budget and preferred level of comfort. Properties in the Serengeti generally provide access to the surrounding wildlife areas, while lodges in Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands offer convenient locations for visiting Tarangire and the crater.
For the balloon safari, accommodation location is particularly important because guests normally need to reach the launch site before sunrise. Staying in the central Serengeti near the confirmed launch area helps reduce unnecessary travelling in the early morning. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed during the booking process, taking into account availability, the balloon operator’s departure location and your preferred safari category.
Important Things to Know Before Your Balloon Safari
A Serengeti hot-air balloon flight requires an early start, and temperatures before sunrise can be cool even during warmer months. Travellers should carry a light jacket or warm layer, comfortable closed shoes, a camera with a secure strap and any personal items needed during the morning. Loose accessories should be avoided, and passengers must follow the pilot’s instructions during boarding, flight and landing.
Balloon operators have specific passenger requirements relating to age, mobility, pregnancy and other safety considerations. These conditions vary between operators, so they should be confirmed before making a reservation. Flights are also dependent on weather, particularly wind conditions, and the pilot has the authority to delay or cancel a departure when conditions are unsuitable.
We recommend reserving the balloon activity early, particularly during busy safari months, because the number of available seats is limited. The flight should be confirmed together with the Serengeti accommodation to ensure that the planned itinerary works with the operator’s schedule.
Extend Your Tanzania Safari with Mount Kilimanjaro
For travellers who have additional time in Tanzania, a Serengeti Balloon Safari can be combined with a Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expedition. This creates an opportunity to experience two very different parts of the country, beginning with wildlife viewing in the national parks and continuing with a guided trek on Africa’s highest mountain.
Those interested in adding a mountain adventure can explore the 6 Days Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb or the 6 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Climbing Package offered by Kilimanjaro Climbing Specialist. Both routes provide different trekking experiences, and the most suitable option will depend on your fitness, available time and climbing preferences.
You can also arrange a longer Tanzania holiday through Eddy Tours & Safaris, combining wildlife safaris with Kilimanjaro trekking or a relaxing stay in Zanzibar.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari
Is the Serengeti balloon safari included in the six-day package?
Yes. The proposed package includes one shared sunrise hot-air balloon flight in the Serengeti, together with the operator’s bush breakfast. The activity must be confirmed in advance, and the final quotation will clearly show the services included. Balloon flights are subject to suitable weather conditions and the operator’s passenger requirements.
How long does the Serengeti balloon flight last?
The balloon flight generally lasts around one hour, although the exact duration depends on weather and wind conditions. Additional time is required for the early morning transfer, safety briefing, balloon preparation, landing and bush breakfast. The overall activity therefore takes several hours before guests continue with their regular game drive.
Can children join the Serengeti balloon safari?
Some balloon operators accept children who meet their minimum age and height requirements, while others have additional restrictions. Families should provide the ages of their children before booking so that Eddy Tours & Safaris can confirm eligibility with the selected balloon operator.
Will I see the Great Migration during the balloon safari?
The Great Migration moves through different parts of the Serengeti ecosystem throughout the year, and the location of the herds depends on rainfall and grazing conditions. A balloon flight may provide views of migrating animals when they are present near the flight route, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. Travellers whose main interest is the migration should discuss their travel dates before confirming the itinerary.
Is six days enough for a Serengeti safari?
Six days provides a good amount of time to visit Tarangire, explore the central Serengeti, enjoy a balloon flight and experience the Ngorongoro Crater. This itinerary includes several game drives in the Serengeti, allowing travellers to see different habitats and wildlife areas. Those who prefer more relaxed travel or want to visit the northern Serengeti may consider extending the safari to seven or eight days.
How much does a 6 days Serengeti Balloon Safari cost?
The cost depends on the travel season, number of travellers, accommodation category and availability of balloon seats. Private safaris for two people generally have a higher per-person cost than safaris with more travellers sharing the same vehicle. Because park fees, accommodation rates and balloon charges can change, Eddy Tours & Safaris prepares individual quotations based on the requested dates and services rather than applying one fixed price to every departure.
Book Your 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari with Eddy Tours & Safaris
Experience Tanzania’s northern safari circuit with a six-day journey that combines traditional wildlife game drives and a sunrise balloon flight above the Serengeti. From the elephants of Tarangire to the predators of the Serengeti and the wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater, this itinerary offers a varied introduction to Tanzania’s natural landscapes.
At Eddy Tours & Safaris, we organise private safaris based on your travel dates, preferred accommodation and personal interests. Whether you are travelling as a couple, with family or as a small group of friends, we can help you arrange a practical itinerary with comfortable accommodation, an experienced safari guide and a confirmed balloon experience.
To receive a personalised quotation for your 6 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari in Tanzania for 2027, 2028 or 2029, please visit our Contact Eddy Tours & Safaris page or email sales@eddytours-safaris.com with your preferred travel dates and number of travellers.
Eddy Tours & Safaris – Your Local Tour Company in Arusha, Tanzania.