Hot Air Balloon in Murchison Falls National Park

Hot Air Balloon in Murchison Falls National Park is a breathtaking experience that rewards the visitor with great aerial views of wildlife in the jungle, the spectacular scenery and sunrises/sets. Hot air ballooning literally takes game viewing to a whole new level. Imagine floating above the park, enjoying views of the savannah animals wandering below you and seeing thickets and tree tops from above, not from the ground like it happens during game drives and safari launch trips! Our 3 Days Hot air balloon Safari tour might interest you.

Murchison Falls National Park is the only place/park that offers hot air balloon safaris in Uganda. The activity comes highly recommended to any visitor on a Murchison falls trip and those on a longer Uganda Safari vacation, can have it combined with Gorilla trekking in Bwindi. A hot air balloon safari in Murchison Falls National Park is such an exciting and excellent adventure for even families with children, tourists on honey moon, adrenaline junkies and those looking for such off-the-beaten-track experiences.

The available hot Air Balloon in Murchison Falls National Park has a capacity of 8 revelers implying that each safari/session is limited to a maximum of eight people. The age limit for a Hot Air Balloon Safari in Uganda is at a minimum of six (6) years, an age which can enjoy the flight with no fear of the sky. Remember the flight can take you up to a height of 10,000 feet above sea level.

Hot air balloon sessions in Murchison Falls National Park

The hot air balloon Safari experience in Murchison Falls National Park is in two sessions of morning and afternoon. The morning Hot Air Balloon starts early at 5.30am with a short briefing and preparation of the balloon for the activity. The sunset balloon flight starts at 4:00pm and ends at 6:30pm. It however does not come with any special offers like bush meals after the flying experience.

Hot Air Balloon Experience in Murchison Falls National Park

The Hot air balloon starts early in the morning at 5.30am so your driver guide has to pick you much earlier from your hotel, like at 5.00am to drive you to the landing site/starting point for the activity which is located near Paraa Safari Lodge.

You are briefed on what you are about to experience as you observe the cold inflation process done by the ground crew using large fans. Once the balloon is inflated, you are taken inside from where you learn about the internal workings of the balloon and the ropes used by the pilot to control the balloon during the flight. It’s at this point that the hot inflation begins with the burners blasting hot air into the balloon and you will see it slowly starting to rise off the ground in a vertical position. Another few blasts of the burner, you will be a few feet off the ground and you will be good to navigate various spots of the park as you view wildlife and the incredible scenery.

At the end of this exciting hot air balloon tour that takes about 1 to 2 hours, you will be handed certificates to confirm your participation in this activity. After all this, you are to enjoy a special bush breakfast and bottle of Champagne all well organized by skillful chefs from the lodge. After the delicious breakfast, you can go for a morning game drive around the park to search for the missed-out animals while on Hot Air Balloon Safari. Later return to your place of accommodation.

Cost of the Hot Air Balloon Safari in Murchison Falls National Park

The price of hot air balloon experience in Murchison Falls National Park is USD380 per person while children between 6 to 12 years of age are offered a 50% discount of the adult fee. The price includes the flight in a balloon, a ballooning certificate and refreshments before and after the experience.

Other tour activities in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park has so much to offer to the visitors on top of the hot air balloon safari. A game drive is the most popular tour activity for most people visiting Murchison Falls Park because it avails many opportunities to spot wildlife besides being cheaper when compared with others like chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve, sport fishing on the Nile, boat cruise to view the base of Murchison falls. The boat safari to the Delta always targets the shoebill but the park is a haven to over 450 bird species that can be spotted with in the north and the south at Budongo Forest Royal Mile. A few miles from Murchison Falls National Park at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Rhino tracking is possible.

Accessing Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is approximately 4 to 5 hours of driving from Kampala to access the main gate of the park and an hour to its headquarters at Paraa. Alternatively, you can access the park by use of a charter or scheduled domestic flight with Aerolink Uganda or Bar Aviation from Entebbe International Airport that fly you to Pakuba Airstrip or Chobe Airstrip landing within 1:15 hours.