2 Day Serengeti Balloon Safari with Camping: Ultimate Itinerary 2026

The 2-day Serengeti National Park balloon Safari with camping adventures is about strengthening a traveler’s intimate bond with the wilderness. So, one has the opportunity to come face-to-face with wild animals in Serengeti National Park during the camping tours in Tanzania. Also, monitor their behavior from a bird’s-eye view in the hot air balloon in Serengeti.

This 2 Days Serengeti Balloon & Camping safari is tailor-made for people like you and me who crave maximum wildlife action but can’t disappear for a week. You block off two days, and boom, you’re in the thick of the Serengeti without the long commitment. This 2 Day Serengeti Balloon Safari is well customized for people who want to experience optimal action like the big five in Tanzania but have limited time. Hence, it is easy for them to set aside two days from the schedule to not only have fun, but also explore the wilderness with camping experiences in Serengeti included.

Why Choose a 2 Day Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari and Camping?

One would ask oneself why the two Safari experiences? Well, this 2 day Serengeti Balloon Safari with Camping gets different perspectives of how wildlife and Mother Nature can be viewed at different points.

  1. So, these two experiences, combined, subject travelers to not only exclusivity, but also have higher chances of optimal wildlife and landscape viewing compared to those who come for a longer period of time.
  2. People always ask me, “Why mash ballooning and camping together in such a short trip?” Simple: the contrast is magic. The Serengeti hot air balloon safari in Tanzania gives you the big-picture sweep of the migration’s flow.  Camping flips this 2 day Serengeti Balloon Safari intimate. So, you smell the dust, watch a pride’s social dynamics up close during an evening drive, and fall asleep to the bush breathing around you. Put them back-to-back like this, and even folks on longer Serengeti safari holidays sometimes envy the intensity you pack into 48 hours. The exclusivity, the prime positioning in high-density areas, and the back-to-back perspectives are often more memorable than spreading the same Serengeti safari experiences over ten days.This 2 Days Serengeti Balloon Safari with Luxury Camping Adventure allows adventure seekers usually caught up with time, to experience it. But with just 48 hours from their tight schedules, they explore the landscapes, wildlife, and the distinctive Maasai cultures that have coexisted with the Serengeti over the years. Hence, travelers immerse themselves in the unique culture of these people.
  3. Lastly, the two-day hot air balloon and camping safari in Serengeti is cost-effective. So, this is because it’s affordable due to its duration, unlike longer Serengeti tours, which cost more money. Therefore, our 2 Serengeti camping and balloon safari doesn’t discriminate when it comes to costs.

2 days Serengeti Camping and Balloon Itinerary Summary

  • Day 1 – Arrival & Immersive Camping in Serengeti.
    • Early pickup from Arusha followed by a scenic drive through Ngorongoro Highlands (spot elephants & more). Next, enter Serengeti NP late afternoon for golden-hour views. Later, check into a luxury Serengeti tented camp. Lastly, evening game drive (prime for lions & hyenas at dusk), dinner & overnight under the stars with full bush sounds.
  • Day 2 – Sunrise Balloon & Departure
    • Pre-dawn wake-up and transfer to the launch site in the Seronera Valley. 60-minute hot air balloon flight at sunrise (aerial views of herds, Serengeti wildebeest migration patterns, possible chases). Gentle landing, iconic bush breakfast with champagne toast and morning/midday game drives (Seronera for big cats, hippo pools, etc.). Lastly, bush lunch and afternoon transfer back to Arusha.

Quick highlights recap: Sunrise hot air balloon ride plus champagne breakfast, luxury tented camping in Serengeti with nocturnal wildlife sounds. Plus multiple game drives for Big Five in the Serengeti & migration action, all wrapped in just two intense, unforgettable days.

What Is Included in a 2 Day Serengeti Balloon Safari?

The costing for this 2 day Serengeti balloon and camping safari by Serengeti Masai Mara Experts depends on camp level, season, and transfers, with the balloon experience often extra, approx. $550-$650 pp:

  •  Serengeti National Park entrance fees
  • 1 night luxury tented camping (full-board: all meals, often drinks included).
  • Hot air balloon safari in Serengeti (flight + bush breakfast & champagne).
  • Private 4×4 in Tanzania with English-speaking guide/driver.
  • All game drives and Serengeti activities to do in Tanzania as per the itinerary.
  • Transfers (road from/to Arusha; some offer fly-in upgrades).
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner; bottled water, soft drinks, sometimes local beers/wines.
  • Camping gear/tent with en-suite facilities.

Exclusions

These are the common add-ons or personal items not covered in this 2-day Serengeti National Park camping and balloon safari:

  • International flights to/from Tanzania.
  • Visa fees (Approx. $50-$100 depending on nationality).
  • Travel insurance (mandatory-get coverage for medical/evacuation).
  • Alcoholic drinks beyond what’s included (premium wines/spirits).
  • Tips for guides, drivers, and camp staff (customary: $10-20/day per person).
  • Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, extra drinks).
  • Optional activities to do in Serengeti (e.g., Maasai village visits if added).
  • Flights, if you choose the Serengeti fly-in instead of the road transfer.

Things to Do in This 2 day balloon and Serengeti camping Safari

This trip packs in the Serengeti’s best without fluff:

  • Sunrise hot air balloon ride (the star of the show, silent, panoramic views of wildlife patterns and landscapes).
  • Evening and morning game drives, spotting the Big Five in Serengeti National Park, migration herds, and predators hunting.
  • Authentic Serengeti camping experience: sleep in a luxury tented camp in Tanzania surrounded by the wild (hear lions roar at night, wake to birds and distant elephants).
  • Bush breakfast with champagne after the balloon flight (feels celebratory and quintessentially African).
  • Scenic transfers through Ngorongoro Highlands and Serengeti plains (bonus wildlife spotting).

It’s all about contrast: big-picture awe from above, raw closeness on the ground in this combined balloon and camping safari in Serengeti.

2 Day Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari & Camping - Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Arusha to Serengeti National Park | Camping Safari

Our guide will pick you up from Arusha Airport and transfer you to Serengti for your 2 days hot air balloon safari with camping experiences. The trip from Arusha to Serengeti by road takes about seven hours, covering a distance of about 350km. Along the way, have a stopover in Karatu town for a meal as you relax after the long journey. After your meal, continue your journey through the Ngorongoro highlands, and you might see elephants and other animals, including rhinos and buffaloes. Later, continue your trip, and since it will be in the late afternoon, you are to observe the sunset down the rolling hills of the Serengeti.

Reach Mbuzi Mawe tented camp, and this is where you are to spend the night while in Serengeti. Next, check in and have an evening meal, followed by an evening game drive through the park. So, spot animals such as lions and hyenas either hunting or feeding on their prey, as this is the time they are most active. After the evening game drive, enjoy camping in your tent and sleeping under the canvas in the Serengeti.

Sundowner experience in Serengeti (bush meals)
A tented camp in Serengeti

Day 2: Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari, Game Drives and departure.

Wake up by 4:30 AM, and prepare for the hot air balloon Safari experience in Serengeti on this day. Your guide will drive you to the Seronera launching site of the hot air balloons. Observe the pilot and his crew preparing the hot air balloon.  So, before you jump into the basket, you will be briefed about the necessary safety operating procedures of these balloons, and then the magic begins. Watch the landscape brighten as you continue up in the sky. So, see the sunrise glow as it rises from the rolling Hills of Serengeti National Park.

Also, observe the different behaviors of the animals in Serengeti, such as the movements of herds of elephants moving simultaneously through the landscape. Additionally, you may notice lines of wildebeests making their way through the endless plains of the park. Observe the zebras running for their life from a cheetah, lion, or leopard chasing them. The hot air balloon flight in Serengeti takes up to 60 minutes, descend back to the ground. Later, be served with a bush breakfast accompanied by a champagne toast before you continue with the game drives through Serengeti.

Explore the different Serengeti areas for wildlife sighting during game drives, such as the retina pool that is known for a high concentration of hippos. After the game drive, you have a wilderness lunch in the middle of the grasslands just next to your Mbuzi Mawe tented camp. Later, park your luggage and board the Safari vehicles back to Arusha airport. Hence, marks the end of your two-day hot air balloon safari in Serengeti with camping adventures.

Hot-air-balloons-in-Serengeti-over-the-Mara-River
Balloon in the Serengeti above wildebeests

People Also Ask - 2 Day Serengeti Balloon and Camping Safari

1. Can beginners do a Serengeti balloon safari?

Yes. No prior experience is required to participate in a hot air balloon safari in Serengeti.

2.Is camping inside Serengeti safe?

Yes. Campsites in Serengeti National Park are secured. Also, guides in this Tanzania National Park monitor wildlife activity throughout the night.

3.Can this safari be customized?

Yes. This 2 day Serengeti hot air balloon safari with camping itinerary can be adjusted based on travel time, budget, or accommodation preference.

4. Is a 2 day Serengeti safari worth it?

Yes, a 2 day Serengeti safari is worth it for travelers with limited time. It offers high wildlife density and professional game drives in various Serengeti Safari areas. Also, offers unique safari experiences such as a hot air balloon safari within a short timeframe.

5. How much does a Serengeti balloon safari cost?

A Serengeti hot air balloon safari typically costs between USD 500 and 600 per person for the balloon flight alone. When combined with a 2-day safari and camping, total costs vary depending on inclusions, park fees, and accommodation type.

6. What animals can you see on a Serengeti balloon safari?

During a Serengeti balloon safari, you can see elephants, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, lions, cheetahs, and other wildlife moving across the plains, especially during the early morning hours.

7. Is the Serengeti balloon safari safe?

Yes, Serengeti balloon safaris are very safe. Flights are operated by licensed pilots, conducted under strict aviation regulations, and only take place when weather conditions are suitable.

8. What is the best time for a Serengeti balloon and Camping safari?

The best time for this safari is from early July to late October as this is the time when the dry season is flourishing in the Serengeti National Park. So, this is advantageous because the weather is more predictable for the hot air balloon safari. Also, it is easy for the camping safari because the routes used to access the camps in the Serengeti are usually dry and more navigable.

However, months from March to May are the worst times to go for Serengeti balloon and camping safaris. So, this is because of the heavy rains in this season that hinder transportation to the camps in the Serengeti.

9. Can children go on a Serengeti hot air balloon safari?

Most operators require children to be at least 7 years old to participate in a Serengeti hot air balloon safari, mainly for safety and height requirements.

10. How long does a Serengeti hot air balloon flight last?

A Serengeti hot air balloon flight lasts approximately 60 minutes, depending on wind conditions and landing location.

11. Does a Serengeti balloon safari include a game drive?

Yes, most Serengeti balloon safari packages include game drives before or after the balloon flight. Hence, allowing travelers to experience wildlife in Serengeti both from the air and on the ground.

12. Is camping inside Serengeti National Park safe?

Yes, camping inside Serengeti National Park is 100% safe. Campsites are managed by trained staff, wildlife movement is monitored, and safety guidelines are strictly followed.

13. Can you combine a balloon safari with camping in Serengeti?

Yes, combining a balloon safari with camping is a popular option. It provides an immersive wilderness experience in the Serengeti. Additionally, it is more affordable than luxury lodge-based balloon safari packages.

14.How early do you wake up for a Serengeti balloon safari?

Travelers in Serengeti, Tanzania usually wake up around 4:30 AM to transfer to the balloon launch site in Seronera Area before sunrise.

15. Why choose a balloon safari over a regular game drive?

A balloon safari offers a unique aerial perspective, allowing you to observe large-scale wildlife movement and landscapes that are impossible to see from a vehicle alone.