When travelers think of visiting Rwanda, they usually picture hiking through thick green forests to see the mountain gorillas, but the country now offers a thrilling new adventure in the sky with hot air ballon safaris. This magical safari activity takes place in Akagera National Park, which is Rwanda’s only savannah park and a beautiful home to the famous Big Five animals including lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and then buffaloes. Floating in a hot air balloon gives you a peaceful, bird’s eye view of the African wilderness, allowing you to explore the vast open plains, rolling hills, and then quiet lakes from high above without the noise and then bumps of a traditional safari vehicle.

The hot air balloons can soar anywhere from 100 meters to 1000 meters above the ground, giving you a complete 360-degree view of the spectacular landscapes as it stretches out toward the horizon. It is an amazing and then peaceful way to experience the natural beauty of Rwanda, providing a quiet and then eco-friendly adventure that lets you watch the animals moving naturally below you without disturbing their daily routines.

What to expect on a hot air balloon safari experience in Rwanda?

Early morning preparations and take off.

Your hot air balloon adventure begins very early in the morning usually around 5:15am, when the air is still cool and the stars are just starting to disappear from the dark sky. Reach at the starting point in the southern gate of Akagera National Park, where you will be welcomed with a warm cup of freshly brewed Rwandan coffee or tea and some light snacks. Watching the launch team prepare the giant balloons for flight is a beautiful and then exciting show on its own, as you will see the dark morning sky light up with the giant bursts of fire from the burners as they fill the heavy fabric envelopes with hot air.

As the balloons slowly stand upright and become fully inflated, your highly trained and then professional pilot will invite you to step inside the study wicker basket and then give you a short safety briefing about what to expect during your journey. Once everyone is safely on board, the pilot will pull the burner handle, and you will experience the incredible gentle and then smooth feeling of lifting off the ground as you float weightless into the cool morning air.

What to see on a balloon safari in Akagera National Park?

As the giant balloon rises into the sky, you will be treated to the breathtaking sight of a golden African sunrise painting the clouds and the hills in the bright shades of orange, yellow and then soft pink. Drifting silently with the morning wind, you can look down over the open grasslands and then the quiet papyrus swamps to spot the large herds of buffaloes grazing, zebras running through the grass, and then the tall giraffes eating leaves from the tops of the acacia trees. You will also get a beautiful aerial view of Lake Ihema and then then many surrounding wetlands, where you can easily spot the massive pods of the hippos splashing in the water and then the large crocodiles resting on the muddy riverbanks as they try to warm up in the early sun.

Looking out from your high basket, you will see how the landscapes change from the flat grassy plains to the rolling hills and then thick green woodlands, making you feel completely connected to the quiet and then untouched nature around you. The flight usually lasts between forty-five minutes and one hour, depending on the wind conditions, giving you plenty of the uninterrupted time to take the spectacular panoramic photographs and make unforgettable safari memories with your travel partners.

Traditional champagne toast and celebration.

Landing a hot air balloons a fun and then exciting part of the adventure,  the pilot carefully guides the heavy basket back down onto a safe, flat patch of grass where the ground crew will be waiting to help you set out. After a beautiful and then historical hot air balloon tradition that started hundreds of years ago in France, your successful flight will be celebrated with a cold glass of sparkling champagne of fresh tropical fruit juice right in the middle of the wild bush.

After the toast, you will be served with a delicious and freshly cooked outdoor bush breakfast set up under the shade of a tree, allowing you to relax and eat a hot meal while listening to the beautiful morning birds singing around you. After the experience your pilot will present you with a beautiful, flight certificate signed by the aviation to take home as a special souvenir of your journey. It is the perfect. Luxurious end to a beautiful morning in the sky, and it leaves you feeling relaxed, happy and ready to explore the rest of what Rwanda’s wilderness has to offer.

Book a Balloon safari with Wilder Africa Holidays

Taking a hot air balloon safari in Akagera National Park is a magnificent and then unique way to upgrade your vacation in Rwanda and experience the African savannah from a completely different perspective. Waking up early morning, floating quietly over elephant herds and attractive lakes, and landing for a champagne breakfast offers a peaceful and luxurious memory that you will never forget. If you are planning a trip to East Africa and want to experience something truly special that combines soft adventure with beautiful nature, floating in the skies above Rwanda is a perfect bucket list safari activity for you. Book this experience.