Balloon Safaris in the Okavango Delta

The Okavango has long been admired for its incredible range of safari activities – game viewing on land and water – and now visitors have the opportunity to view this magnificent wilderness from the unique perspective offered by hot air balloon flights.  You’ll enjoy breath-taking views of the Okavango and game viewing from a birds eye level. Elephants, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, antelope and much more are seen on flights.

Since 2014 balloon safaris have been operating from a private concession in the north eastern Okavango, a particularly beautiful and game rich area. Pre-booking is essential and best done through us at the same time as booking your accommodation to enquire the transfers go smoothly. Please note we do not book this as a stand alone activity, all bookings must be part of a full Okavango Delta Explorations itinerary. See our Okavango Skies itinerary for an example of the kind of itinerary we can arrange for you.

Hot Air Balloon rides in the Okavango Delta will see you rise above this incredible oasis with the sun, enjoying spectacular sunrise views as you glide peacefully over this magnificent wilderness. As the bush slowly comes to life you will watch animals moving into the plains – elephants are easily seen, but keep looking and perhaps you will spot hippos moving back to the water, plains game sunning themselves on the plains and giraffe peeping out above the lower trees.

Only a handful of camps can reach the hot air balloon launch site and therefore offer this incredibly special activity. Luckily they cover a wide range of accommodation levels from the most luxurious to the more simple bush camps. Some camps require a short helicopter ride to access the site.

Kadizora Camp has the advantage of accessing the launch site by 4×4 game drive. Others camps, such as Mapula Lodge, Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura and Setari Camp have to take a short but thrilling helicopter to the launch site, in order to reach the site for a sunrise take off.

Hot Air Balloon flights in the Okavango Delta take place at sunrise lasting around 45-60 minutes.  The flight ends with the traditional champagne breakfast before returning to camp. With transfers and the launch/landing time the whole experience lasts about 4 hours.

Flights take a maximum of 8 people and the minimum age is 7 years old. The rates in 2022 are USD 495 per person. Helicopter transfers will be an additional cost and vary from camp to camp, please enquire for precise details.

Please note the hot air balloon flights in the Okavango Delta only run from 15 April – 15 September due to weather conditions. Warm clothes are strongly recommended. And well charged cameras!

Hot Air Ballooning at sunrise in the Okavango Delta

Hot Air Ballooning at sunrise in the Okavango Delta

For those not able to reach the Okavango Delta hot air balloon launch site, this amazing activity is now also available in Chobe and easily accessible from most Kasane lodges. A sunrise balloon safari over the plains is followed by a sumptuous champagne breakfast at a nearby luxury camp.

The flights take place from the Seloko Plains in the Chobe Region, about an hour from Kasane. The Northern or Seloko Plains run along the border with Zimbabwe. While this area is not within the Chobe National Park itself these plains provide a vital ecological link and wildlife corridor between the greater Chobe and Hwange ecosystems. The alluvial grasslands and forests here are home to a wide variety of animals which can be seen from the hot air balloon.

The Hot Air Balloon safaris are run by Air Ventures Okavango Balloon Safaris, the sister company to Air Ventures Hot Air Ballooning South Africa.

Hot Air Ballooning at sunrise in Botswana

Hot Air Ballooning at sunrise in Botswana

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