Bamburi Kenya - Hot Air Balloon Trips?

Question

We've booked a holiday to Bamburi in September this year and would like to do a hot air balloon trip while we're there. I've read most hot air balloon trips go from Masai Mara. Is that far away, has anyone else done this? Advice please and how did you go about booking everything? Thanks : )

Answer 1

yes!

i went to the masai mara 2 years ago to a place called governors camp

they do amazing balloon trips from there, with like champagne breaks too : )

have an amazing holiday, I know you will!

xx

Answer 2

You won't be able to do a balloon trip itself from Bamburi, as that is on the coast and the balloon trips operate from the Safari Parks - Masai Mara, but they might also run from Amboselli or Tsavo, you would have to check.

What this means is you will need to book a safari just to do a balloon trip. If you want to do a balloon trip over the Masai Mara, you would need to book a minimum of a 2 night safari - you would fly direct from Mombasa to the Mara airstrip. This safari itself would not be cheap as lodges are expensive (but worth it), and the cost of the safari would not include balloon trip - this is an optional extra.

When I did the Mara balloon trip back in July, it cost £225 per person, which included transport to / from the lodge to the take off point, 1 hour balloon flight and a champagne breakfast in the middle of the bush and it was 100% worth it. Just so you know, it is early start as we were pciked upt 04:30 a.m.

I would imagine the minimum you could pay for a two night safari + balloon trip would be £600 pp - September is an expensive month.

Personally, rather than using the beach boys, I would use the Tripadvsior Kenya forum and pick a Kenyan safari operator and organise with them before you go the safari and balloon ride - that way you can tailor your itinerary to exactly what you want without having to waste days of your beach holiday negociating with beach boys - plus the further in advance you do it, the greater the chance of getting the safari you want.

Any other info required, then let me know

Answer 3

you should arrange a trip to the masai mara when you get to bamburi, all the hotels on the beach have "beach boys", most of them work for mombasa north tours, their main office is next to the petrol garage at boro boro, just a short walk from bamburi,you will be able to book your complete safari and balloon trip together, your holiday company rep can also book your trip, but will be more expensive, make sure you get prices from different sources, for the same safari lodge and balloon trip, as all lodges have different prices.