The hot air balloons lift off just before cool breeze at sun rise    on the plains when  still cold. Once airborne, the balloons are blown by the prevailing winds across the broad landscape. Apart from the hiss of the burners, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent. The pilot controls the height of the craft by regulating the flow of hot air into the balloon. Sometimes the balloon will descend over the plains for a close up view of the wildlife; on other occasions, it rises to clear a tree canopy and rise over the reverine forest.

At the end of the flight, the passengers are treated to a complete champagne breakfast. The finishing touch to the flight is a game drive back to the lodge or camp, and the possibility of seeing the same pride of lions, or herd of elephants that had been viewed while ballooning. Over a dozen balloons depart from sites near six of the lodges and tented camps.

Tourists are often able to view four of the ‘ Big Five ‘ (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) while ballooning.