Choose to fly in Ruaha: a land of wilderness and contrast

YOUR RUAHA BALLOON SAFARI EXPERIENCE

The peace is palpable here and yet it is bursting with life. Hear the hornbill tapping at his reflection on the car window and the hippo’s morning chorus snorting in the river as we float low overhead. With our balloons safaris we offer a unique perspective above the landscape which allows us to search for the elusive and shy just over that next bush or suddenly come upon a herd of 100 buffalo. Gentle winds steer the balloon between the baobabs and acacias, dipping down to just above the wide Ruaha River and then they are bearing us up to five hundred feet where the dawn chorus rises into the painted sky. Ruaha is a meeting point for the wildlife of southern and eastern Africa and it is here that you might just see something really special.

From your camp to the balloon
0400 – 0515hrs
Rise before the birds to drive through the pre-dawn, eyes fixed on the glow of the headlights in case they should pick-up a night-time beasty out on the prowl. You arrive at the Balloon Safari launch site as the crew prepare the balloon and light the burners.

Keeping safe & preparing to fly
0615 - 0645hrs
Our experienced Captain takes you through the important safety procedures and explains the launch and landing positions while the gold and green of the balloon billows against the lightening sky. It’s time to embark.

Journey through the soft winds
0645 – 0815hrs
As the balloon glides gently upward, your pilot gives the signal to rise from the launch position in the basket. Your first glimpse from the sky – a landscape of meandering river courses, towering baobabs, granite outcrops and acacia woodland for as far as the eye can see. Among them move big cats on early morning hunts, herds of hundreds of elephant seeking water at the river bank, hippos wallowing peacefully and birds giving accompaniment to the rising sun. Our experienced pilot will interpret the sights and sounds as you drift low across the treetops, scanning the riverbanks, or climb into the deepening blue of the sky to gaze down at this great wilderness. An hour or so aloft, and you’ll return gently to the earth, exhilarated and ready for the next part of your adventure.

Celebrating a tradition
0815 – 0830hrs
“We have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in laughter and set you gently back into the loving arms of mother Earth.” As is the tradition of balloonists, we toast the flight with sparkling wine before boarding a safari car for a short game drive to breakfast.

Breakfast as nature intended
0830 – 0930hrs
Our crew have laid an immaculate table under the spreading boughs of a baobab tree in the wilds and are waiting to serve fresh coffee and juice, tropical fruit and freshly baked bread. They will prepare a delicious selection of breakfast options while you relax and relive your flight with your fellow passengers. The time will come to move on, but right now you can just “be”, soaking in the warm sunshine and the feeling of having let your soul soar free for a moment.

Land of Contrasts
The wide swathe of the river rises to open woodland interspersed with softly grassed glades and weathered granite kopjes. The forests of giant baobab trees are amongst the most striking of its diverse landscapes. The lifeline of the park is the river and this is where the wildlife is often to be found, but in a balloon we can float at head-height above the water or change direction and soar for a better vantage point over the trees and bushes. In an area as varied as this, we have the freedom to make the most of our unique vantage point. There is no typical day on safari with so many things to see.

Where North meets South
The wildlife is notable for many reasons. This is where north meets south and it’s possible to see not only typically East African mammals such as Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu but also roan, sable and greater kudu found mainly in Southern Africa. The park is renowned for its large herds of elephant and buffalo – sometimes numbering several hundred, and particularly sizeable lion prides which have been known to specialize in hunting giraffe. This is generally an excellent park to see big game, especially cats but it’s also possible to see wild dog. That said, it is often the smaller, unexpected animals of the bush that are the highlight of a visit here as part of a wider Tanzanian safari.