Experience
Hot Air Ballooning Tours & Safaris
About this experience
What to expect.
Floating above it all in a hot-air balloon gives you the best take on the expanse of wildlife areas in Southern & East Africa. What amazes most first-time balloonists is the absolute stillness: the silence as you float above the scenic plains, desert dunes, forests, and rivers in Africa. Even if you’ve flown elsewhere, this is a unique experience. Balloon flights last an hour or so, drifting wherever the air currents take you, and with ample opportunities for photography and video filming. In the time-honored tradition of balloon flights the world over, you toast your return to earth with a champagne breakfast. Most Balloon Safaris end with some leisurely game viewing on the way back to your lodge or camp. With our in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience of Southern and East Africa, we’re able to custom-make a safari, with all the added adventures and activities, to suit your individual preferences and budget. Let's start planning!
Itineraries
Safaris built around hot air ballooning & safaris.
Real, ready-to-tailor journeys that include this experience. Ordered by what guests pick most.
Most requested
- 4 days
- Kenya
- 1 lodge
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
4 Day Fly-in Masai Mara Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 3 nights at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in the Masai Mara
- Dawn and dusk game drives tracking lion, cheetah, elephant and buffalo
- Hot-air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfast on the plains
- Guided nature walks led by Maasai trackers
- Seasonal Great Migration viewing with year-round big cat sightings
- Round-trip flights from Nairobi Wilson to Kichwa airstrip included
Per person, complete package, from
$3,840
Most requested
- 12 days
- Namibia, South Africa
- 1 lodge
- All-inclusive
12-Day Rovos Rail Namibia to South Africa Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Walking
- Ballooning
- 9 nights aboard Rovos Rail from Walvis Bay to Pretoria
- 1 night at Etosha Lodge with afternoon and morning game drives
- Visit to the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Otjiwarongo
- 1 night in Sossusvlei with desert drive, bush dinner and Deadvlei
- Walking the ghost town of Kolmanskop and colonial Lüderitz
- Fish River Canyon, Orange River cruise and Kimberley's Big Hole
Per person, complete package, from
R 215 000
Most requested
- 3 days
- Kenya
- 1 lodge
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
3-Day Masai Mara Fly-in Safari with Governors Camp
- Family
- Child friendly
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Governors' Camp on the banks of the Mara River
- 45-minute scenic flight from Wilson Airport over the Great Rift Valley
- Morning, afternoon and sunrise game drives across the Masai Mara Reserve
- Big Five viewing with chance of the Great Migration (July-October)
- Al fresco dining and sundowners overlooking the Mara River
- Round-trip flights from Nairobi and full board with drinks included
Per person, complete package, from
$2,095
- 10 days
- Kenya, Tanzania
- 5 lodges
10-Day Best of East Africa Migration Safari
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Luxury
- Honeymoon
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Karen Blixen Cottages with visits to David Sheldrick Trust and Giraffe Centre
- 2 nights at Kichwa Tembo in the Masai Mara for Big Five game drives
- 2 nights at Simbavati Grumeti Camp in the Serengeti with private guide
- Full-day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, staying at Melia Ngorongoro
- Tree-climbing lions and flamingos at Lake Manyara, overnight at andBeyond Tree Lodge
- Stop at Olduvai Gorge en route between the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Per person, complete package, from
$9,630
- 7 days
- Zanzibar, Kenya, Tanzania
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
7-Day All-Inclusive Masai Mara to Zanzibar Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Ballooning
- Bush & Beach
- Big 5
- 3 nights at Governors' Camp on the Masai Mara, then 3 at Nungwi Dreams in Zanzibar
- Twice-daily game drives and guided bush walks in the Masai Mara
- Big cat and plains game viewing from open Landcruisers
- Swim with green turtles at a community conservation lagoon in Nungwi
- Beach days on Zanzibar's northern tip with two infinity pools overlooking the Indian Ocean
- All flights from Nairobi Wilson, including the charter to the Mara and onward to Zanzibar
Per person, complete package, from
$4,165
Special
- 6 days
- Tanzania
- 1 lodge
- All-inclusive
6-Day Grumeti Safari Promotion
- Family
- Child friendly
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 5 nights at Simbavati Grumeti between the Serengeti and Grumeti River
- Daily open-vehicle game drives across the acacia-dotted plains
- Walking safari, night drive and full-day game drive included
- Great Wildebeest Migration passes through in June and July
- Resident big cats and large plains-game herds year-round
- Return transfers from Fort Ikoma Airstrip and all meals and drinks included
Per person, complete package, from
$2,855 $3,490
- 9 days
- Kenya, Rwanda
- 5 lodges
- All-inclusive
9-Day Kenya & Rwanda Safari: Big Five, Maasai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Tour
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Mara Sopa Lodge with game drives in the Maasai Mara
- Boat safari on Lake Naivasha and walking tour on Crescent Island
- 2 nights at Amboseli Sopa Lodge with elephants and Kilimanjaro views
- Kigali city tour including the Genocide Memorial
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park from Ingagi Park View
- Golden monkey tracking in the Virunga Mountains on the final day
Per person, complete package, from
$7,240
Special
- 8 days
- Kenya
- 2 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
8-Day All-Inclusive Fly-In Samburu to Masai Mara Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Honeymoon
- Photo
- Walking
- 4 nights at Soroi Larsens Camp in Samburu, then 3 at Soroi Luxury Migration Camp in the Mara
- Twice-daily shared game drives in custom 4x4 vehicles
- Track the Samburu Special 5: Grevy's zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe
- Sundowner on a raised viewing platform above the Koitogo Hills
- Big Five game viewing on the Mara plains, with Great Migration potential July-October
- Round-trip light-aircraft flights from Wilson Airport, all transfers included
Per person, complete package, from
$6,765 $7,405
- 5 days
- Namibia
- 2 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
5-Day Namib Desert Fly-In Safari
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Ballooning
- Walking
- 1 night at The Weinberg in Windhoek before flying into the desert
- 1 night at Desert Hills Lodge on the edge of the Namib
- 2 nights at Wolwedans Dune Camp in the NamibRand Nature Reserve
- Scenic drives, guided walks and a sundowner over the dunes
- Desert wildlife including oryx, springbok and zebra
- Light-aircraft flights and all transfers between Windhoek and the camps
Per person, complete package, from
R 84 880
- 7 days
- Kenya
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
7 Day Classic Kenyan Safari
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 1 night at Severin Safari Camp in Tsavo West, exploring Mzima Springs
- 2 nights at Ol Tukai Lodge in Amboseli with elephant herds beneath Kilimanjaro
- 1 night at Naivasha Sopa Lodge with an optional boat trip on Lake Naivasha
- 2 nights at Tipilikwani Mara Camp on the banks of the Talek River
- Full-day Masai Mara game drive with a picnic lunch by the Mara River
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with English-speaking guide and Flying Doctors cover
Per person, complete package, from
$3,980
- 8 days
- Kenya
- 2 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
8 Day Amboseli, Mount Kenya & Masai Mara Flying Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Honeymoon
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 1 night at Nairobi Tented Camp inside Nairobi National Park
- 2 nights at Porini Amboseli Camp with Kilimanjaro views and night game drives
- 2 nights at Porini Rhino Camp in Ol Pejeta, visiting the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Baraka the Black Rhino
- 2 nights at Porini Lion Camp in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara
- Optional hot-air balloon flight over the Mara, with Great Migration viewing July to October
- All internal flights between Wilson, Amboseli and Nanyuki airstrips included
Per person, complete package, from
$5,900
- 10 days
- Namibia
- 2 lodges
10 Day Namibia Must-See
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Walking
- Ballooning
- Self-drive route from Windhoek through Damaraland to Sossusvlei
- 1 night at Okapuka Safari Lodge, then 2 at Okonjima Plains Camp
- Guided game drive at Okonjima, home to the AfriCat Foundation
- 2 nights at Mowani Mountain Camp tracking desert-adapted elephant and ancient rock art
- 2 nights in Swakopmund where the dunes meet the Atlantic
- 2 nights at Sossusvlei Lodge beneath Namibia's colossal red dunes
Per person, complete package, from
R 52 470
- 10 days
- Namibia
- 5 lodges
10-Day Namibian Highlights Tour
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Ballooning
- Overnights at Kalahari Anib, Namib Desert Lodge, The Delight, Damara Mopane and Etosha Safari Camp
- Climb Big Daddy and walk the camelthorns of Dead Vlei at Sossusvlei
- Free day in Swakopmund for kayaking, sandboarding or Walvis Bay excursions
- Twyfelfontein rock engravings, Organ Pipes and a Himba village visit
- Afternoon and full-day game drives at Etosha's waterholes
- Guided road tour from Windhoek with vehicle, fuel and English-speaking guide
Per person, complete package, from
R 63 720
- 10 days
- Namibia
- 4 lodges
- All-inclusive
10 day Namibia South (Desert, Canyon and Ocean)
- Family
- Children by arrangement
- Ballooning
- Walking
- 2 nights each at Bagatelle Kalahari Ranch and Fish River Lodge
- Hike the rim of Fish River Canyon, Africa's largest canyon
- Track the Namib feral horses from Klein Aus Vista
- 2 nights at Wolwedans Dune Camp in the NamibRand Nature Reserve
- Kayak with seals at Pelican Point Lodge, Walvis Bay
- Self-drive route with rental vehicle included throughout
Per person, complete package, from
R 94 470
- 3 days
- Tanzania
- 2 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
3-Day Singita Faru Faru Luxury Fly-In Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Luxury
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Singita Faru Faru Lodge in the Grumeti Game Reserve
- Twice-daily open-vehicle game drives across the Grumeti plains
- Tennis at neighbouring Sasakwa Lodge
- Dinners and sundowners on open-air decks under the stars
- Round-trip flights from Kilimanjaro Airport to Sasakwa airstrip
Per person, complete package, from
$5,700
- 9 days
- Namibia
- 4 lodges
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
9 Day Ultra-Lux Fly-in Namibia
- Family
- Child friendly
- Luxury
- Honeymoon
- Walking
- 2 nights each at Fish River Lodge, &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Shipwreck Lodge and Ongava Lodge
- Aerial views of Fish River Canyon on the safari flight in
- Stargazing through suite skylights between the red dunes of Sossusvlei
- Sundowners on deck at Shipwreck Lodge on the Skeleton Coast
- Twice-daily game activities at Ongava Lodge in Etosha West
- Private charter flights between all lodges from Windhoek
Per person, complete package, from
R 229 520
- 10 days
- Tanzania, Zanzibar
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
10 Day Bush and Beach Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Bush & Beach
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha bookending the safari
- Game drive in Lake Manyara, home to tree-climbing lions
- 2 nights at Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp with full-day Central Serengeti drives
- Descend 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater for Big Five viewing
- 3 nights at the 5-star Melia Zanzibar on the Indian Ocean
- All internal flights and transfers included
Per person, complete package, from
$5,340
Special
- 12 days
- Kenya
- 2 lodges
- All-inclusive
12-Day Bush to Beach Luxury Safari through Kenya
- Family
- Child friendly
- Luxury
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Sasaab in Samburu, tracking the Samburu Special Five
- 2 nights at Solio Lodge for black and white rhino viewing
- 3 nights at Sala's Camp in the Masai Mara with bush lunches
- 3 nights at Kinondo Kwetu on Diani Beach with kite surfing and diving
- Final night at Giraffe Manor feeding resident Rothschild's giraffes
- All internal flights and airstrip transfers included
Per person, complete package, from
$16,335 $20,370
- 7 days
- Namibia
- 3 lodges
- All-inclusive
7-Day Namibian Desert to Coast Adventure
- Family
- Child friendly
- Honeymoon
- Ballooning
- 2 nights each at Kwessi Dunes, Hoanib Valley Camp and Shipwreck Lodge
- Day trip to the blood-red dunes of Sossusvlei
- Stargazing in Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve
- Track desert-adapted elephant, giraffe, lion and rhino in the Hoanib Valley
- Scenic flight along the Skeleton Coast past historic shipwrecks
- Quad biking, sandboarding and a Mowe Bay seal colony visit
Per person, complete package, from
R 180 210
- 9 days
- Namibia
- 3 lodges
- All-inclusive
9 Day Diverse Namibia
- Family
- Child friendly
- Ballooning
- 2 nights at Kulala Adventurer Camp on the red dunes of Sossusvlei
- 2 nights at Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund with optional Walvis Bay catamaran cruise
- 2 nights at Damaraland Camp tracking desert-adapted wildlife near Brandberg Mountain
- 2 nights at Ongava Tented Camp with game drives in Etosha National Park
- Sunken waterhole hide at Ongava for close-up wildlife viewing
- Optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Sossusvlei desert
Per person, complete package, from
R 113 430
Special
- 9 days
- Kenya, Tanzania
- 4 lodges
- All-inclusive
9 Day Masai Mara, Serengeti & Manyara Safari
- Family
- Child friendly
- Honeymoon
- Ballooning
- Big 5
- 1 night at Hemingways Nairobi on arrival
- 2 nights at andBeyond Bateleur Camp in the Masai Mara tracking the Big Five
- 2 nights at Serengeti under Canvas, a mobile camp following the Great Migration
- 3 nights at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge searching for tree-climbing lions
- Game drives, bush walks, night drives and Maasai cultural visits
- All inter-camp flights and airstrip transfers included
Per person, complete package, from
$10,250 $11,455
Special
- 6 days
- Tanzania
- 1 lodge
6 Day Great Migration Safari - Natures Most Spectacular Show
- Family
- Child friendly
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 1 night at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge exploring Tarangire's baobab-dotted savannah
- 3 nights at Kati Kati Tented Camp, positioned seasonally to track the herds
- Witness wildebeest and zebra crossings on the Serengeti plains
- Game drive on the Ngorongoro Crater floor with chance of black rhino
- 1 night at Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp with sunset views over the caldera
- Throughout in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with open roof and private guide
Per person, complete package, from
$3,650 $3,790
- 10 days
- Kenya, Tanzania
- Fly-in
- All-inclusive
10 Day Luxury Fly-in Kenya & Tanzania Tour
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 1 night at Gran Meliá Arusha, then 2 nights at Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge
- Guided game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
- 3 nights at Nimali Serengeti in the heart of the migration corridor
- 3 nights at Entim Mara Camp with twice-daily drives in the Masai Mara
- Big Five tracking across Tanzania and Kenya's top reserves
- Light-aircraft flights between Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and the Mara
Per person, complete package, from
$11,885
Special
- 8 days
- Tanzania
8-Day Exclusive Northern Tanzania Migration Safari
- Big 5
- Ballooning
- 1 night at Arusha Coffee Lodge, then Lemala Mpingo Ridge in Tarangire
- Ngorongoro stay at Melia with a Lake Manyara game drive
- 2 nights at Siringit Serengeti Camp exploring the Central Serengeti
- 2 nights at Siringit Migration Camp tracking the wildebeest migration
- Private vehicle and guide throughout all parks
- Regional flight from Kogatende back to Kilimanjaro Airport
Per person, complete package, from
$9,745 $10,095
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Where to stay
Lodges suited to hot air ballooning & safaris.
Lodges across the region that offer this experience. Ordered by what guests pick most. Rates per person sharing, per night.
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Live availability
AndBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
This luxury safari camp is set at the edge of riverine forest, overlooking the sweeping plains of the Maasai Mara, and it lies within the path of the incredible annual Great Migration. At Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, you can expect an authentic African safari experience with legendary Kenyan hospitality.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$670 $785
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Stay 4, Pay 3 Enjoy four nights at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp and pay for only three. The complimentary night will be applied to the final night of your stay. Validity: 11 Jan - 30 Apr and 1 Nov - 20 Dec 2026 | Terms and conditions apply.
Honeymoon
50% discount on one partner's accommodation rate for the whole stay (based on 1–3-night rate)
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Live availability
02 Masai MaraGovernor's Camp
Experience luxury befitting Kenya’s colonial governors when you stay at Governors’ Camp. Established in 1972 as a place for local leaders, it is still the accommodations’ standards that all others are measured by.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$620
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Enjoy exceptional value with the Governors’ Camp Collection: Stay 4 nights and pay for 3, OR Stay 5 nights and pay for 4, OR Stay 8 nights and pay for only 6. These offers apply to new bookings | Flights booked through Governors’ Aviation, and require a combination of at least two Governors’ Collection properties in Kenya. | Park, community, and conservancy fees payable for all nights | Valid for travel from 1 Jan to 31 May & 1 Oct to 15 Dec 2026.
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Live availability
AndBeyond Bateleur Camp
Bateleur Camp is located in the lush forests of the world-renowned Masai Mara in Kenya where you can experience elegance amidst the diverse wildlife of Narok County. Bateleur Camp provides a truly memorable Masai Mara experience through its luxurious facilities, attentive service, and lush surroundings.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$1,060 $1,245
Current offers
Honeymoon
50% discount on one partner's accommodation for the whole stay
Combo
Enjoy 15% off your nightly rate when you stay 6 nights or more at andBeyond Bateleur Camp. This offer may also be applied to a combination of AndBeyond lodges in Africa, rates may vary depending on the lodges selected.
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04 Masai MaraAngama Mara
Inspired by the Swahili word meaning "suspended in mid-air," Angama Mara is a remarkable safari lodge perched high above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Overlooking the breathtaking Maasai Mara—often regarded as one of Africa’s most beautiful game reserves—this luxurious lodge blends contemporary design with classic safari elegance, offering unforgettable wildlife encounters and world-class hospitality.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$1,850
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Stay 3 Nights, Pay for 2 | Valid from 1 March to 31 May & 1 November to 22 December 2026
Honeymoon
4 nights for the price of 2 (2 nights complimentary); plus private vehicle, 1-hour on-property photoshoot, and Maasai blessing
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Kulala Desert Lodge
Wilderness Kulala Desert Lodge sits on the 37,000-hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve, with its own gate into Sossusvlei and the closest access to the towering red dunes of Namibia's Namib Desert. Twenty-three thatch-and-canvas tents on raised wooden decks open to sweeping desert vistas, and guests can sleep out under the stars on private rooftop skybeds.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 10 970
Current offers
Honeymoon
Spend your honeymoon at Kulala Desert Lodge, and one spouse will receive a 50% discount on their accommodation. Travel must be within 6 months of the wedding
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Lemala Nanyukie Lodge
Lemala Nanyukie sits in the eastern Serengeti on grassy savanna dotted with rocky kopjes and shaded by ancient acacias. Fifteen canvas-walled suites with private plunge pools look out over the endless plains, in a region known for high-density predator viewing, cheetah research history and a front-row seat on the annual wildebeest migration.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$1,480
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07 Masai MaraMasai Mara Sopa Lodge
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge sits on the eastern edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, close to the Oloolaimutia Gate. One of the first lodges built in the reserve, it offers 99 rooms set across mature gardens on the Oloolaimutia Hills, a comfortable base for game drives across the Mara plains and well placed for guests following the Great Migration between July and October.
Per person sharing, per night, from
$165
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Specialist's pick
08 SwakopmundStrand Hotel
The Strand Hotel is the ideal venue for travellers on a mission to explore Swakopmund. It has become a sought after destination resort for international, Namibian and SADC visitors.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 4 400
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Specialist's pick
09 NamibiaWolwedans Dune Camp
On the edge of a 250 meter high dune you will find the unique, down to earth, yet stylish Wolwedans Dune Camp.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 9 930 R 14 900
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Linger Longer: Stay for 3 nights in one camp, and only pay for 2 (all year) OR Ultimate Immersion: Combine 4 nights across 2 camps (perfect for Boulders) and get 1 night free – applies to the lowest camp rate. Valid All year.
Honeymoon
Honeymoon Balloon Safari – stay 3+ nights and get a free hot air balloon flight over the Namib Desert with Namib Sky Safaris (all year, subject to weather)
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10 SossusvleiNamib Desert Lodge
Situated in an idyllic location, the lodge provides comfortable accommodation options, stunning panoramic views, and a range of activities to explore the surrounding desert scenery. From guided nature walks and sunset viewing to stargazing and cultural experiences, guests can immerse themselves in the beauty and tranquillity of this iconic desert landscape.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 2 390
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11 SossusvleiKwessi Dune
Kwessi Dunes sits deep in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a 200,000-hectare private wilderness near Sossusvlei. Twelve thatch-and-canvas chalets face red dunes and craggy mountains, each with its own open-roof 'star gazer' room for sleeping under one of the darkest skies on earth. Days are spent quad biking, walking, horse riding or ballooning over the desert.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 12 490
Current offers
Honeymoon
50% off the nightly accommodation rate for one spouse
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12 NamibiaZannier Hotel Sonop
Zannier Hotels Sonop is a luxurious and unique tented camp nestled in the dramatic landscapes of the Namib desert. Resting on top of boulders in the Karas Region, this exceptional property blends lushness with the allure of 1920s British colonial adventure.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 8 990
Current offers
Honeymoon
20% discount on the room rate
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Imagery
Hot Air Ballooning Tours & Safaris, in pictures.
Recent travellers
Word from people who have just come back.
"i will have to say i had a pleasant time on my trip, full of fun experiences, that is something that i can say that i can knock out of my bucket list"
"I had an amazing experience working with Monica H. from Safari.com while planning a very special family safari in South Africa. From the very beginning, she was incredibly patient, responsive, and knowledgeable. I initially felt overwhelmed trying to coordinate different lodges, dates, and availability during high season, but she helped me find the perfect…"
"This is our first time (possibly the only one) booking a safari trip and it is a very big deal for us. We were able to to find something that met our needs and budget. Monique P was very helpful and responsive throughout the whole process. Definitely appreciate her assistance. We are off on our safari in a few days, so now we’ll just need her to keep us safe…"
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Plan your safari.
Tell us when, who's coming, and what you're hoping for. One specialist looks after the rest.