Hot air balloon safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park: Imagine yourself in the skies, except this time you’re in a hot air balloon rather than an airplane, observing Queen Elizabeth National Park’s wildlife and other attractions. You can get a unique experience in the natural wilderness at Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. It enables you to fly high in the sky and see the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park from various perspectives. From above, visitors can see a variety of animals, plants, water features, and nearby surroundings.
Dream Balloons, a company licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority, owns and operates hot air balloon safaris in two national parks in Uganda: Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. Travelers who wish to visit the national parks mentioned above can always make reservations in advance by speaking with their local tour operators.
The hot air balloon experience in Queen Elizabeth national park
Tourists are urged to rise early on the day of the hot air balloon safari so that the driver guide can take them to the Kasenyi plains starting site. While you wait for the balloon to be put together, a pilot at the starting area gives you an overview of the activity’s rules and restrictions.
Lions, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, elephants, topis, warthogs, hippos, crocodiles, tree-climbing lions, Sitatungas, bushbucks, spotted hyenas, aardvarks, giant forest hogs, side-striped jackals, olive baboons, monkeys, and many other animals will be visible to you during your one-hour flight, which begins at 6:15 am and ends at 6:30 am.
While certain bird species can be seen flying in the skies, others can be seen perched on tree branches. The Kyamnura Gorge, Lake Edward, Lake George, Maramagambo Forest, and the Kazinga Channel will all be visible to visitors. Following the adventure, the balloon will descend in the wilderness, where visitors will get certificates and bush breakfast before being returned to their lodges to unwind and get ready for the next events.
How much is a hot air balloon safari?
You must get permission from Dream Balloons Uganda in order to participate in the hot air balloon safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Foreign residents and non-residents pay $380 for the permit, while East African nationals pay $250, which includes a balloon certificate and breakfast in the wilderness.
Accessing Queen Elizabeth national park for hot air balloon safaris
By road or air, visitors can reach Queen Elizabeth National Park for hot air balloon safaris in a single day. Chattered planes from Entebbe or Kampala can reach Queen Elizabeth National Park in one hour and fifteen minutes. Airlines such as Aerolink Uganda and Bar Aviation Uganda arrange flights from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airport to Mweya or Kasese Airports.
Hot air balloon safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be reached via two highways in 708 hours. Kampala can reach the park by Mubende, Kyenjonjo, Fort Portal, Kasese, or Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, and Rubirizi. Although the road transport trip is a little lengthy, it offers fantastic views of the nearby sights and stops at locations like the equator.
When to have hot air balloon safaris
Hot air balloon safaris are available to visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park throughout the year, although some times of the year are better than others. The best times to go on hot air balloon safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park are during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. This is because the park’s roads are in good condition, there is little to no rainfall, which leaves the sky clear, and the vegetation is short and dispersed with good views of the wildlife.
During the rainy season, tourists, especially those on a tight budget, can take hot air balloon safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park to take advantage of significant savings on lodging. Because of the heavy rainfall during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, the skies are not as clear for the ark activity. The roads leading to the park are in bad shape, and the tall, dense vegetation makes it difficult to see the park animals.
Accommodation in Queen Elizabeth national park
Travelers will need to spend at least one day at Queen Elizabeth National Park because the hot air balloon safari cannot be completed in a single day. Depending on their vacation budget, tourists will decide where to stay. There are lodging options that provide several degrees of service, including cheap, mid-range, and luxury.
Mweya Safari Lodge, River Ishasha Safari Camp, Jacana Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Kazinga Channel View Resort, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Elephant Hub Lodge, Topi Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Marafiki Safari Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Enjojo Lodge, Tembo Safari Lodge, and Bullbush River Camp are some of the lodges in Queen Elizabeth National Park.