Ballooning over the Okavango Delta & Soar silently over the wilderness
Experience Okavango Delta Ballooning, in one of Africa’s great wilderness destinations, epitomises the very best of game viewing, flying over a landscape flooded with water and winding channels, dotted with islands, and combined with large expanses of woodland forests. This age old ballooning adventure explores the Okavango Delta in a completely unique way offering a 360 degree panoramic view from tree top level to a thousand feet in the air. The balloon safari adds to the diverse list of activities on offer in the Okavango Delta, including mekoro (dugout canoes), game drives, game walks, boating and giving guests the opportunity to enjoy a truly life-changing adventure.
This exciting excursion offers more than just a balloon ride; it is the ideal opportunity for us to share with our guests the wonders of the Delta from a completely different perspective, offering a bird’s eye view of some of the spectacular remote areas that are not often explored on game drives. Okavango Delta Ballooning offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore some of the waterways in search of wetland species like elusive sitatunga and forgotten pods of hippo in remote areas.
From Kadizora you will be transferred by road to the starting point & from Vumbura Camps you will be transferred by helicopter. The welcoming is followed by a safety briefing and demonstration of the boarding and landing procedures for the balloon, gets you set and ready for take-off! The flight launches just prior to sunrise and will drift across the flood plains with the cool winds of the morning. On a different adventure every morning, the pilot will expertly navigate the balloon using only the winds at various altitudes. From drifting at treetop height to a 1000ft or more, spectacular vistas of the Delta will unveil themselves as the first rays of sunlight roll across the waters of the flood plains.
A Balloon Safari - What to Expect
Balloon Safari Itinerary
The entire experience will take approximately 4 Hours:
04h00 wakeup call
04h30 game drive to launch site (Wilderness Camps Helicopter)
05h30 Tea and coffee served while balloon is inflated
06h00 take off, approximately 45 minute flight over the Okavango Delta
07h00 landing of balloon, guests will receive celebratory champagne, tea or coffee and a personalised certificate on landing 07h30
game drive transfer back to camp Camp
Wildlife Sightings
The chance of sighting wildlife adds to the excitement of the flight, elevated by the heart pounding anticipation of spotting one of the Big Five. A wide variety of wildlife, in an equally wide variety of terrain and vegetation types, can be viewed as the balloon floats unhindered across this great African Wilderness.
The diversity of the fauna and flora, and the encounters between the two, provide for some spectacular photographic opportunities, especially from the unique vantage point the balloon offers.
Traditional champagne celebration
On landing, the balloon will be met by the recovery vehicles which have been tracking the balloon’s journey. A scenic area in the bush will be selected for the traditional champagne celebration, to toast this age old adventure.
A presentation by the pilot of your commemorative flight certificate concludes a memorable morning. The awaiting guides then take you on a game drive back to your Camp for a well-deserved breakfast.
Location in the Delta
Our balloon safaris are located in the North Western part of the Okavango Delta, between the Vumbura River, and the Salinda Spillway. The area is comprised of a diversity of terrain types, ranging from large wooded forests, to wide open flood plains, and attracts a wide variety of wildlife.
Large herds of buffalo and elephant visiting the area during the winter months, resident predators, and a prolific birdlife during the summer months, make this an impressive area to visit.
Camps offering the Ballooning
This is one of the most exclusive hot air ballooning experiences in Africa & only offered from the following safari camps:
Kadizora
Vumbura
Little Vumbur
Mapula Lodge
Kadizora Camp comprises 13 tents, Vumbura Plains comprises 14 rooms, Little Vumbura is an intimate 6-tented camp and Mapula 9 rooms. All four are perfect bases from which to explore this pristine wilderness area. Contact Safari Online to design a safari for you.
Operating Times, Rules & Children Policy
The balloon does not operate from beginning of October to the end of March. All passengers must be able to stand for the duration of the flight and be able to enter and exit the basket.
Children need to be a minimum of 1.3 metres to comfortably see over the basket. Due to safety reasons no parent may hold a child to view over the basket. A parent or guardian must accompany any child under the age of 16.
Rates: Starting at USD495 per person (Sometimes included as a Special – ask us)
