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Tour overview
Join our 3-Day Midrange Balloon & Game Drive Safari for a short, private getaway that won't stretch your budget. Designed for guests who still want the full thrill of Tanzania's Northern Circuit, this plan mixes smooth, private game drives across Serengeti National Park with an early-morning hot-air balloon ride over endless plains. From both the ground and the air, you will search for the Big Five-lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino, as well as the moving curtain of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Perfect for couples, solo travelers, or a small group, the package includes a pop-up-roof 4x4, an English-speaking guide, and midrange tented camp lodgings that balance comfort and cost. Wake before dawn to drift above the savannah, follow thundering herds by road, and sit down to filling meals in picture-perfect spots, all of which add up to a memorable adventure for wildlife lovers.
Serengeti National Park occupies 14,750 square kilometers (about 5,700 square miles) at around 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) above sea level and sits on UNESCO's World Heritage list mostly because it hosts the Great Migration. Each year, more than 1.5 million wildebeest and roughly 200,000 zebras sweep across its grasslands, closely watched by lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, while the dramatic river crossings at the Mara usually happen between July and October. A balloon safari is a must-try; guests rise before dawn for a gentle one-hour flight that drifts 500 to 2,000 feet above the Seronera area, offering stunning overviews of both game and scenery, then land for a shared breakfast in the bush. Mid-range tented camps provide en-suite rooms, basic but solid comforts, shared dining spaces, and terrific views, making them a smart, wallet-friendly hub for safari lovers.
Designed for Tanzania's dry season from June to October, when the herds cross under clear skies and perfect ballooning weather, this plan works any month. January and February spotlight calves across the southern Serengeti, March to May keep the park lush, even with quick rains. Guests log 3 to 5 hours on the road each day, then float above the plains in a hot-air balloon, lounge at comfy tented camps, and enjoy filling meals, all aimed at midrange budgets. Every step meets TANAPA rules on rubbish and paths, and guides, balloon teams, and camp hands are paid fairly. A visit with local Maasai deepens the trip and adds real support to their community. Private drives, the balloon ride, and good-value lodgings combine for an authentic, memorable adventure among the Serengeti's legendary animals.
Day to day itinerary
Your three-day balloon-and-game-drive trip kicks off at 7:30 a.m. with a private pickup from your Arusha hotel. You'll then settle into a snug, pop-up-roof 4x4, complete with chilled water, biscuits, and fresh fruit, and roll for roughly four hours (240 km) through the craggy, green heart of the Northern Circuit. By 11:30 a.m., the vehicle crests Naabi Hill Gate, perched at 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), where your certified guide handles paperwork while you snap photos of rolling savannah below. From noon to 2:00 p.m., the real fun starts: a private game drive toward Central Serengeti that hunts for lazy lions, lanky giraffes, or, between July and October, the first wildebeest bands, all while your guide explains every bush and beast. Lunch is a hearty picnic at an outlook near Seronera around 2:15 p.m. Sandwiches, boiled eggs, crisp veggies, and bananas hit a folding table for 45 easy minutes as the breeze whispers across the plain. Afterward, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the search resumes, this time for sleek cheetahs or flashes of color like the lilac-breasted roller, capped by a quick sundowner of juice and nuts to toast the setting sun.
Get to a mid-range tent camp in central Serengeti by 5:30 PM. Your tent has a comfy bed, a simple bathroom, and opens to a shared dining area that looks over the vast savannah. At 7:00 PM, sit together for a filling dinner of ugali, veg stew, grilled chicken, and fresh fruit, then listen to Maasai stories while staring at a sky full of stars. By 9:00 PM, head back to your tent, excited for the wildlife day waiting for you.
Accommodation: Midrange tented camp in central Serengeti
Meals: Lunch (packed), communal dinner, packed snack
Activities: Private transfer to Serengeti, morning and afternoon game drives, packed lunch, sundowner, communal dinner, stargazing
Wake at 4:30 A.M. for a quick camp breakfast-bread, boiled eggs, banana, and instant coffee-in the dining tent, then gear up for the balloon trip. At 5:00 A.M., hop into a private vehicle for a 15-minute drive to the Seronera launch site, arriving by 5:15 A.M. for the safety talk. From 5:30 to 6:30 A.M, float 500 to 2,000 feet above the plains, spotting wildebeest buffalo, and maybe a lion beneath the golden sunrise, while the pilot calls out the action. Touch down by 6:45 A.M. and gather around a bush breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, and coffee, clinking cups to celebrate the ride. By 8:30 A.M, you're back at the camp to unwind until noon, jotting notes or chatting in the shared lounge.
Dig into a big group lunch at 12:30 PM-rice, veggie stew, and fresh fruit-for about forty-five minutes. At 1:30 PM, we hop into a private afternoon game drive until 4:30 PM, on the lookout for leopards, hyenas, and cool birds like the martial eagle, pausing at a waterhole for juice and snacks. We’ll be back at camp by 5:00 PM, then at 5:30 PM you can join a one-hour Maasai cultural visit, try beadwork and learn the dances, and even grab a few crafts to take home. Dinner at 7:00 PM is grilled meat, ugali, and a light sorbet, after which stories pop off around the fire. Slide under your tent flap by 9:00 PM, happy and tired from a day packed with views and wildlife.
Accommodation: Midrange tented camp in central Serengeti
Meals: Breakfast (pre-flight and bush), lunch (communal), communal dinner
Activities: Pre-flight breakfast, balloon safari, bush breakfast, camp relaxation, afternoon game drive, sundowner, Maasai cultural visit, communal dinner, storytelling
Day 3 :
Serengeti to Arusha - Departure
Start the day at 7:00 AM with a filling group breakfast of bread, eggs, fresh fruit, and coffee while you swap safari stories. At 8:00 AM, set off on a private game drive back to central Serengeti, a 150 km, four-hour loop from 8:00 to 12:00, watching for zebras, hyenas, and wildebeest as your guide shares conservation tips. Stop for a light snack at 10:15 AM: biscuits and fruit to tide you over.
By 12:30 PM, you've reached a shady picnic spot where lunch is made up of hearty sandwiches, boiled eggs, crunchy veggies, and sweet bananas. You sit back for about 45 minutes. Next, drive 240 km to Arusha, a journey of roughly four hours that brings you into town by 5:30 PM.
At 6:00 PM, gather for a simple farewell meal at a friendly local restaurant, enjoying rice, grilled meat, and fresh fruit for about 45 minutes. Finally, at around 7:00 PM, a private vehicle takes you to your Arusha hotel, or onward to Kilimanjaro International Airport, leaving memories of a rewarding adventure in every suitcase.
Head home carrying pictures of the Serengeti moving herds, sweeping balloon views, and lively Maasai stories, all wrapped around a friendly midrange trip made for curious explorers.
Accommodation: None (return to Arusha)
Meals: Breakfast (communal), lunch (bush), lunch (simple), packed snack
Activities: Morning game drive, bush lunch, transfer to Arusha, farewell lunch, transfer to hotel/airport
Includes and excludes
- Private 4x4 game drives with a pop-up roof vehicle and dedicated guide
- 1-hour hot-air balloon safari over Serengeti with communal bush breakfast
- Midrange tented camp accommodations with en-suite tents and communal dining areas
- All meals during the safari (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners) with hearty, locally inspired options
- Park entrance and conservation fees for Serengeti
- Private round-trip transfers from/to Arusha (hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Guided Maasai cultural visit near Serengeti
- Services of a certified English-speaking guide trained in wildlife ecology
- Purified drinking water during game drives and balloon safari
- Basic binoculars and field guides for wildlife and birdwatching
- International flights to/from Tanzania
- Tanzanian visa fees
- Mandatory travel insurance
- Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, gratuities for guide/driver/balloon crew)
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- Meals not specified (e.g., dinner on Day 1 in Arusha)
- Pre/post-trip accommodation in Arusha
- Optional activities (e.g., additional cultural visits)
- Personal toiletries, specialized travel gear, and premium photography equipment
Prices
| Dates | 2 People | 4 people | 6 people | 8 people | 10 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Season | $ 1,580 | $ 1,350 | $ 1,274 | $ 1,350 | $ 1,293 |
| Low season | $ 1,530 | $ 1,300 | $ 1,224 | $ 1,300 | $ 1,243 |
Price per person
FAQs about 3-Day Midrange Balloon & Game Drive Safari
1. What is included in the 3-Day Midrange Balloon & Game Drive Safari?
The package includes private 4x4 game drives, a 1-hour balloon safari with communal bush breakfast, midrange tented camp accommodations with en-suite tents, all meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners) with hearty options, park fees for Serengeti, private transfers, a Maasai cultural visit, a certified guide, water, basic binoculars, and field guides. Exclusions include flights, visas, insurance, personal expenses, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, unspecified meals, pre/post-trip accommodation, optional activities, and personal gear.
2. Is this midrange safari suitable for travelers new to safaris or balloon rides?
Yes, this private tour is ideal for first-timers, offering a dedicated vehicle and guide, safe game drives, and a professionally operated balloon ride with licensed pilots, ensuring an accessible, midrange introduction to Serengeti’s wildlife and aerial adventures, with clear guidance throughout.
3. What is the best time to book this midrange balloon and game drive safari?
The dry season (June-October) is optimal for migration crossings, clear skies, and ballooning conditions, ideal for Big Five sightings. January-February offers calving and lush landscapes, while March-May is feasible with rain preparation, with guides ensuring comfort.
4. What are the accommodations like on this midrange safari?
Accommodations include midrange tented camps in central Serengeti, featuring comfortable en-suite tents with beds, basic bathrooms with hot showers, and communal dining areas with savannah views, offering a cozy, affordable base for exploration.
5. How does this safari ensure sustainable and ethical practices?
The Maasai visit supports artisans through craft purchases, conducted respectfully with fair compensation. Safari and balloon operations adhere to TANAPA regulations for waste management and trail limits, with staff receiving equitable wages, ensuring ethical, sustainable tourism.
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Reviews
My safari with Visit to Tanzania Destination was absolutely unforgettable! The team organized a seamless 5-day adventure through Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Our guide, Juma, was incredibly knowledgeable, spotting wildlife I’d never have seen on my own. The lodges were comfortable, and the food was fantastic. I’m already planning my next trip to climb Kilimanjaro with them! Highly recommend for anyone wanting an authentic Tanzanian experience.
Zanzibar was a dream come true thanks to Visit to Tanzania Destination! The beaches in Stone Town were stunning, and the spice tour they arranged was a highlight – so much history and flavor! Everything was perfectly planned, from transfers to the resort to snorkeling trips. The staff was friendly and attentive, making us feel so welcome. I’ll be telling all my friends to book with them!
Climbing Kilimanjaro was the adventure of a lifetime, and Visit to Tanzania Destination made it happen flawlessly. The guides were professional. & equipment was top-notch, and the porters were amazing—true heroes! The itinerary was well-paced, and summiting at sunrise was magical. This company knows how to deliver an epic experience. Thank you!
Our family booked a combined safari and Zanzibar trip with Visit to Tanzania Destination, and it was perfection. The kids loved seeing elephants and lions up close, and our guide’s storytelling kept them engaged. Zanzibar’s clear waters and relaxing vibe were the perfect way to unwind after the safari. The team handled every detail, making it stress-free. We’re so grateful for this incredible journey!
