An African Balloon Safari Experience

in Safari Planning & Tips by Araneta&Tan — September 26, 2009 at 4:44 pm | 1 comment

Can you imagine any better way to go searching for game in Africa than from the air? It is the dream of many when they head on a safari. Up above the plains you can float silently over herds of grazing wildebeest and prides of sleeping lions, seeing the places that can’t be reached by vehicles.

And of course you get the whole experience to yourself. A balloon safari is a very personal experience, and you will get a viewpoint that simply can’t be beaten. For photographers, the option of a balloon safari opens up the possibility of unique photo opportunities, and is therefore highly recommended for anyone who wants to get the most out of their safari.

How it Works

Anyone can go on a balloon safari but it is imperative to book in advance. Balloon safaris take place during the early hours of the morning, before you head out on your day of game viewing. You will be picked up in your lodge and driven to the departure point where you can see the whole team including the captain set-up the hot air balloon. Seeing all of these will certainly make you even more excited and you will be guaranteed amazing photo opportunities. You and your group will be up in the air by the time the sun rises, the best time of the day for game viewing when activity is at its height.

You’ll usually be in the air for about an hour, which is plenty of time to admire the view and take some amazing shots. You’ll be carried on the air in complete silence and will observe the animals below as they begin their day. You may even be able to get lower to the animals for a close-up experience that cannot be beaten. The views are spectacular and it will surely leave you breathless. Being up on the hot air balloon across the plains of the Serengeti National Park just brings the excitement and appreciation to a different level and you will love every minute of it.

After the balloon safari, you will be served champagne breakfast in the most amazing setting you can ever imagine!! I will not go through much detail and let you experience it yourself.

Photography Considerations

A balloon safari clearly introduces new problems when it comes to taking photographs. One thing you will have to remember is that you cannot simply stop the balloon like you can a vehicle. So although the movement will be a lot smoother, you will still be constantly moving. You will therefore need to be aware of your shutter speed to prevent blurring. Also remember that a balloon safari typically begins at dawn and therefore the initial part of your flight will be under fairly dim lighting conditions.

A good telephoto lens (400mm to 500mm) sounds like a good idea to get in on the action but be aware of camera shake from the movement. Also there are opportunities for spectacular panoramic and wider angle shots from up above hence we would recommend having a wider zoom lens on a balloon safari. We found that a 70-200mm F2.8 works very well and have a second camera equipped with an even wider 24-70mm.

Clothing Considerations

To make the whole experience even more fun and comfortable, we highly recommend you bring the following with you when you go on a balloon safari:-

• Hat – there will be hot air blowing on top of you so make sure to bring a hat to protect your head and hair from the heat.
• Light Jacket or fleece – it can be really chilly in the morning so make sure you dress up warm

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