Our story

Pioneers of the African skies

As the first company to set a balloon aloft over the Serengeti, we have set the bar high for an exceptional adventure, delivered with safety at the forefront of our minds, and with our passenger's experience as a priority.

We've established ourselves as the premier partners in conservation in the Parks in which we operate and we've been recognised by Tanzania National Parks as the Best Balloon Operator for every year that they have made awards. We take an active role in ensuring ballooning standards are rigorously maintained and work with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority on a process of continual improvement for our industry.

We've had to learn the vagaries of the weather from first-hand experience and as such, there are no more experienced pilots than those that fly the green and gold of Serengeti Balloon Safaris, now having flown well over 250,000 guests over Serengeti on the magical experience of a lifetime. We are adventurers at heart, with a penchant for detail and quality, and with each balloon that flies we know we're doing something extraordinarily well.

1984

The seed of an adventure

Coincidence brought two like-minded adventurers together and the seed of a new idea began to grow. Colin MacKinnon, a pioneer of commercial ballooning in the UK and an early hot air balloon pilot in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, wanted to fly balloons over the Serengeti. Tony Pascoe had experience of running luxury camps and a safari business in East Africa and was excited by the prospect of such a venture. It was a good match and they began working out how to make their dream a reality.

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1989

Getting things off the ground

Ballooning was completely new to Tanzania, and it took five long years for Colin and Tony, together with their wives Sally and Marijka and their new Tanzanian partner, Jimmy Mkwawa, to get all the permissions and licences in place. They finally placed an order for their first 8-passenger balloon from Cameron Balloons, the world’s leading balloon manufacturer, in the ‘acacia-green’ and ‘savannah-gold’ of the Serengeti.

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1991

Proving it can be done

The first balloon took to the skies above the vast plains of the Serengeti. Those first years were tough as visitors to the Park were few; there was only one safari lodge and a handful of camps fed by infrequent flights to the park. It also took time to win over the sceptics and demonstrate the company’s commitment and environmental responsibility, which it did thereby winning the unwavering support of tour operators and conservationists alike.

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1993

Smoothing rough edges

Serengeti Balloon Safaris took delivery of the first 16-passenger balloon – the largest commercial balloon in the world. Colin continued to refine the company’s operation, logistics and safety while Tony focussed on marketing the experience to tourism partners around the world.

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2001

The first Tanzanian pilot

Mohamed Masudi was sponsored by Serengeti Balloon Safaris to train in the United States, became the very first Tanzanian commercial hot-air balloon pilot. The company continues to recruit experienced local and international pilots, all trained to the highest possible standards. Serengeti Balloon Safaris made passenger safety belts compulsory, becoming the only company to do so. It also improved safe flying practice by reducing the maximum wind speed for take-off from 15 to 8 knots, and the maximum altitude to 2000ft above ground level.

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2019

On every bucket-list

Serengeti Balloon Safaris carried its 250,000th passenger, making it one of the top balloon companies in the world. A Serengeti Balloon Safari has become a ‘bucket list’ experience for many travellers on a safari in Tanzania, one that has featured in the media around the world. Members of royal families, presidents, Heads of State and celebrities have all been borne aloft under the green and gold of a Serengeti Balloon.

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Meet the team

Tony Pascoe

Founder

Born in 1947 and raised in Somerset, UK, Tony was fascinated with the natural world from a very young age. As a five year old at primary school, he would enthusiastically lead the class nature walks in the surrounding countryside. At six years old, he did not have an ambition to be a train driver or cowboy, but wanted to be a warden in the Serengeti when he grew up. In 1970, Tony moved to Kenya and found a job managing game lodges and camps in some of the country’s most wild and beautiful national parks. He met Marijka, a young Canadian adventurer and they together explored East Africa and married. Their first child, Tania, was born at Oloitokitok Hospital at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. Their son Ivan was born two years later in UK. They returned to England in 1979 and, in something of a departure, Tony established a business with his father Rick, manufacturing Pascoe’s Complete Dog Food. In 1988, they sold, having built the company into the most successful producer of complete dog foo...

Born in 1947 and raised in Somerset, UK, Tony was fascinated with the natural world from a very young age. As a five year old at primary school, he would enthusiastically lead the class nature walks in the surrounding countryside. At six years old, he did not have an ambition to be a train driver or cowboy, but wanted to be a warden in the Serengeti when he grew up. In 1970, Tony moved to Kenya and found a job managing game lodges and camps in some of the country’s most wild and beautiful national parks. He met Marijka, a young Canadian adventurer and they together explored East Africa and married. Their first child, Tania, was born at Oloitokitok Hospital at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. Their son Ivan was born two years later in UK. They returned to England in 1979 and, in something of a departure, Tony established a business with his father Rick, manufacturing Pascoe’s Complete Dog Food. In 1988, they sold, having built the company into the most successful producer of complete dog food in the UK. At this point, Tony could no longer ignore his yearning for Africa and he set about starting his own small safari company, personally escorting clients on safari to Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana. In 1984 Tony and Colin met by chance in the UK. Colin had previously been flying hot air balloons in Kenya’s Masai Mara and had the ambition to start a balloon safari in the Serengeti National Park. They formed a company, pooled ideas and invested their savings to pioneer the first balloon safari company in Tanzania. Serengeti Balloon Safaris’ first commercial flight was in 1989.

Colin MacKinnon

Founder

Colin’s early life was coloured vividly by the nature and wildlife of Alaska where he came across bears, moose and even a wild cat in the basement. It wasn't your run of the mill childhood; Colin's father's job as an RAF pilot meant that the buzz and hum of airfields was part of daily life, feeding his young son's restlessness with the promise of far-flung adventures. The airfields were a haven for wildlife so from a young age, nature and flight became dual passions. That said, Colin also dabbled with writing, art and screen-printing as a young man in London in the 1960s, before moving with his wife Sally to the countryside where they bought a 15th century house with a bit of land and started a small-holding. A first flight in a friend’s balloon cemented his trajectory into “lighter than air” aviation and Colin bought his first balloon, which he launched from his garden in Suffolk, England. In 1982 he started “Cirrus, an introduction to balloon flying” which proved popular with guests ...

Colin’s early life was coloured vividly by the nature and wildlife of Alaska where he came across bears, moose and even a wild cat in the basement. It wasn't your run of the mill childhood; Colin's father's job as an RAF pilot meant that the buzz and hum of airfields was part of daily life, feeding his young son's restlessness with the promise of far-flung adventures. The airfields were a haven for wildlife so from a young age, nature and flight became dual passions. That said, Colin also dabbled with writing, art and screen-printing as a young man in London in the 1960s, before moving with his wife Sally to the countryside where they bought a 15th century house with a bit of land and started a small-holding. A first flight in a friend’s balloon cemented his trajectory into “lighter than air” aviation and Colin bought his first balloon, which he launched from his garden in Suffolk, England. In 1982 he started “Cirrus, an introduction to balloon flying” which proved popular with guests at a country house, as did the sheepskin jacket that Sally made to keep him warm during chilly flights over the Suffolk plains. In 1981 he had taken a year’s contract to fly in Kenya’s Masai Mara where he got his first peek at Tanzania, and the wilds of Africa stayed with him. He returned to Africa in 1987 where stories of Tanzania from a chance meeting in Zimbabwe, prompted him to fly north to investigate. From his jump-seat next to the pilot, he got a good view of Tanzania and the subsequent meetings with Jimmy Mkwawa and Tony Pascoe crystallised the beginnings of Serengeti Balloon Safaris.

Abeid Soka

Chief Pilot

Abeid grew up in Kilimanjaro and has been a balloon pilot since 2007. While guiding guests in the Serengeti one day, he was offered a flight and was immediately hooked. He hassled Tony and Colin every week until they gave him the opportunity to train, which he did in Italy and the USA. He is an exceptional pilot with a deep understanding of local flying conditions based on his years of experience, and he has arguably the best smile in the business. A passionate advocate of ballooning over the ...

Abeid grew up in Kilimanjaro and has been a balloon pilot since 2007. While guiding guests in the Serengeti one day, he was offered a flight and was immediately hooked. He hassled Tony and Colin every week until they gave him the opportunity to train, which he did in Italy and the USA. He is an exceptional pilot with a deep understanding of local flying conditions based on his years of experience, and he has arguably the best smile in the business. A passionate advocate of ballooning over the Serengeti, he fully expects some of his four children to follow in his wake. He’s had some pretty amazing moments while flying, among which are several successful cheetah and lion hunts and a playful lion cub that tried to chase the balloon.

Mohamed Masudi

Pilot

Mohamed was the very first Tanzanian commercial balloon pilot in the world, recruited by Serengeti Balloon Safaris in 1996 initially as ground crew, and then trained to fly balloons by the company in 2001. He has genuine enthusiasm for balloons and also for his country and while he has in the past hankered to fly elsewhere in the world, he also finds it hard to find any reason to leave the Serengeti. Mohamed will tell you that flying over the migration is something very special and second to tha...

Mohamed was the very first Tanzanian commercial balloon pilot in the world, recruited by Serengeti Balloon Safaris in 1996 initially as ground crew, and then trained to fly balloons by the company in 2001. He has genuine enthusiasm for balloons and also for his country and while he has in the past hankered to fly elsewhere in the world, he also finds it hard to find any reason to leave the Serengeti. Mohamed will tell you that flying over the migration is something very special and second to that, watching the whole saga of a hunt unravel beneath you is impossible to describe. As a pioneer of ballooning in Tanzania, Mohamed would love one of his four children to follow in his footsteps but it looks as though his son will be a Doctor. Perhaps one of his daughters, then?

Zumo Godliving

Pilot

Zumo is from the coastal Tanga region but he did his early studies in Arusha. His father was in the aviation industry working for Air Tanzania, however Zumo was drawn to the idea of flying without wings. When he met Abeid, he decided that one day he would learn to fly hot air balloons, which he did in Italy and the USA. He joined Serengeti Balloon Safaris in 2017 and loves the experience of viewing the wildlife from the air, particularly the migration. Zumo is very conscious of the trickier aspe...

Zumo is from the coastal Tanga region but he did his early studies in Arusha. His father was in the aviation industry working for Air Tanzania, however Zumo was drawn to the idea of flying without wings. When he met Abeid, he decided that one day he would learn to fly hot air balloons, which he did in Italy and the USA. He joined Serengeti Balloon Safaris in 2017 and loves the experience of viewing the wildlife from the air, particularly the migration. Zumo is very conscious of the trickier aspects of flying in the Serengeti and Ruaha but knows that an early night, thorough pre-flight preparations and good teamwork all contribute to a successful flight. He loves to fly in his native Tanzania and while it’s too early to tell if there’s another pilot in the family, his little ones are starting to take an interest in his work.

Frank Bellantoni

Pilot

Frank remembers looking down from the basket of a Serengeti Balloon and locking eyes with a leopard reclining in the top of an acacia tree, using the foliage like a bed. It’s one of many memorable moments he’s had in his career as a balloon pilot, and arguably less fragrant than the time he landed in a beautifully soft field in Canada, only to find it had been freshly covered with cow manure. The biggest challenges of a pilot, says Frank, are being able to multi-task, make good and quick decisio...

Frank remembers looking down from the basket of a Serengeti Balloon and locking eyes with a leopard reclining in the top of an acacia tree, using the foliage like a bed. It’s one of many memorable moments he’s had in his career as a balloon pilot, and arguably less fragrant than the time he landed in a beautifully soft field in Canada, only to find it had been freshly covered with cow manure. The biggest challenges of a pilot, says Frank, are being able to multi-task, make good and quick decisions and communicate well, and above all, be a morning person! Frank has been a valuable member of our team for almost ten years now, but has flown in many places from Japan to Trinidad and all over the US, Canada and in Germany and the UK. He loves the Serengeti particularly for its wide-open spaces and wildlife.

Jonny Smith

Pilot

Jonny has wanted to fly balloons literally since he could just about walk; his first flight was at the age of 2. It helped having a father who flew balloons for a living and so Jonny was able to hop in the basket whenever there was a free space. As soon as he possibly could, he became a private balloon pilot (aged just 17) and went on to become the youngest commercial balloon pilot in the UK at the time, when he was barely out of his teens. Since then, Jonny has flown over Namibia, France, Germa...

Jonny has wanted to fly balloons literally since he could just about walk; his first flight was at the age of 2. It helped having a father who flew balloons for a living and so Jonny was able to hop in the basket whenever there was a free space. As soon as he possibly could, he became a private balloon pilot (aged just 17) and went on to become the youngest commercial balloon pilot in the UK at the time, when he was barely out of his teens. Since then, Jonny has flown over Namibia, France, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Austria and flies regularly over the ancient temples of Bagan in Myanmar. He says that the sunrises over the Serengeti are pretty hard to beat and the amazing wildlife, spectacular scenery and tranquility keep drawing him back. It can be tough being away from friends and family for such long stretches but Jonny’s girlfriend understands as she’s a balloon pilot too (and has even built her own balloon!).

Silvano Temba

Operations Manager

Silvano comes from the Dodoma region in Central Tanzania and has been with us since 2014. His star shone brightly and he was promoted to Operations Manager in 2022. He’s most definitely a “people person” and as such, it is fitting that he should be responsible to lead the field team in Serengeti, Ruaha and Tarangire. He’s very sensitive to the variety of nationalities, ages and backgrounds of the guests that fly with us and conscientiously ensures that they are well briefed and that after their ...

Silvano comes from the Dodoma region in Central Tanzania and has been with us since 2014. His star shone brightly and he was promoted to Operations Manager in 2022. He’s most definitely a “people person” and as such, it is fitting that he should be responsible to lead the field team in Serengeti, Ruaha and Tarangire. He’s very sensitive to the variety of nationalities, ages and backgrounds of the guests that fly with us and conscientiously ensures that they are well briefed and that after their flight we find out how their experience has been. It’s a vital part of ensuring we continue to offer the best possible service and Silvano is just the man for the job. He sees some funny things in the course of his duties, amongst which was a warthog who decided to chase some lions who had been pestering him. Unfortunately that didn’t end well though so we wouldn’t advise anyone else to try it. Silvano likens the SBS team to the highly cooperative and hardworking termites and is a proud leader of the colony!

Haji Alhaji

Director of Safety and Quality Manager

We're thrilled to welcome Haji Alhaji as our new Director of Safety and Quality Manager! His love for aviation started in 2007, leading him to gain extensive experience across Tanzania and the region’s top airlines. With over 15 years under his belt, Haji’s expertise and passion in safety and quality management is second-to-none. Now Haji brings his talents to Serengeti Balloon Safaris - cementing our #1 core value of safety first as Tanzania's premier balloon operator. Implementing robust q...

We're thrilled to welcome Haji Alhaji as our new Director of Safety and Quality Manager! His love for aviation started in 2007, leading him to gain extensive experience across Tanzania and the region’s top airlines. With over 15 years under his belt, Haji’s expertise and passion in safety and quality management is second-to-none. Now Haji brings his talents to Serengeti Balloon Safaris - cementing our #1 core value of safety first as Tanzania's premier balloon operator. Implementing robust quality assurance programs and the highest safety standards, he leads us in delivering world-class balloon adventures! Under his diligent direction, we'll continue pioneering sustainable ballooning excellence where luxury meets safety and environmental responsibility.

Barry Birch

Pilot

Capt Barry has led an extraordinary life, he was an actor, appearing in a number of films and TV series, before becoming a balloon pilot. He has flown balloons in the UK, Europe and Myanmar, he has run his own balloon operation in Chile, as well as flying in Kenya and Tanzania. Barry is particularly interested in the natural world and will fill you with interesting facts about what you are seeing when you fly with him.

Capt Barry has led an extraordinary life, he was an actor, appearing in a number of films and TV series, before becoming a balloon pilot. He has flown balloons in the UK, Europe and Myanmar, he has run his own balloon operation in Chile, as well as flying in Kenya and Tanzania. Barry is particularly interested in the natural world and will fill you with interesting facts about what you are seeing when you fly with him.

Jeff Gilles

Pilot

"I grew up ballooning with my family. Both my parents are pilots and they took me for my first flight in 1978. In 1981 we rented the film Safari by Balloon, by Alan Root, to show at our local balloon club meeting. That really sparked the interest for my parents to come fly in Africa. My father, Joe, started flying for SBS in 1996 until 2001. I then first came over to Tanzania in November 1997. I stayed initially for 5 months and came back in November 1998 for another 5 months - I was hooked on A...

"I grew up ballooning with my family. Both my parents are pilots and they took me for my first flight in 1978. In 1981 we rented the film Safari by Balloon, by Alan Root, to show at our local balloon club meeting. That really sparked the interest for my parents to come fly in Africa. My father, Joe, started flying for SBS in 1996 until 2001. I then first came over to Tanzania in November 1997. I stayed initially for 5 months and came back in November 1998 for another 5 months - I was hooked on Africa! Before SBS I flew in Costa Rica and the USA and after SBS I have flown in Australia, Mexico, and Japan and 35 states in the USA."
"I feel as a pilot for SBS I need to deliver the safest flight possible, animals are a bonus. I enjoy meeting people from all corners of the world and sharing this amazing landscape. Of all the places I’ve flown, the Serengeti ranks on top. Some of my favourite flights have included elephants and giraffes. Watching a giraffe galloping or a matriarch elephant turn around and trumpet at the balloon to protect her family is an experience you will never forget."

Paul Sparkes

Pilot and Director of Maintenance

Paul is a man of many talents, he is a highly accomplished engineer, specialising in steel fabrication and welding since 1990. He is a multi-qualified diving instructor and leads diving expeditions in Mozambique. He is also a balloon pilot! He first flew for Serengeti Balloon Safaris from 2005 to 2007 and we are delighted to welcome him back! He holds commercial balloon pilots licences for Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

Paul is a man of many talents, he is a highly accomplished engineer, specialising in steel fabrication and welding since 1990. He is a multi-qualified diving instructor and leads diving expeditions in Mozambique. He is also a balloon pilot! He first flew for Serengeti Balloon Safaris from 2005 to 2007 and we are delighted to welcome him back! He holds commercial balloon pilots licences for Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

Our balloons

Since we first started out in 1989, we have taken care to source the best balloons from the most credible manufacturers. We work with suppliers Cameron Balloons, one of the oldest balloon manufacturers and Ultramagic, who have a long history of adventurous ballooning, to continually develop proprietary modifications that make our balloons stronger and safer. From the Lexan linings that create extra passenger protection, to the Nomex, Ultralast and Hyperlast fabrics that make our envelopes, a great deal of technology goes into making our balloons reliable and safe. Our balloons are regularly inspected and all are retired well before they are considered legally or technically worn-out.

Balloon

A traditional design with extra strength

Baskets are made of woven wicker and leather, reinforced with stainless steel and Lexan sheeting.

Balloon

Using the latest technology

Our envelopes are made of coated heavy duty fabrics reinforced with steel cables and Nomex fire-resistant bases for durability and safety.

Balloon

Keeping you safe

All balloons are fitted with passenger safety seatbelts and a rapid deflation system.

Balloon

Staying well within the limits

All balloons are retired well before the end of their technical lifespan.

Bookings & FAQs

We partner with many reputable tour operators and you can book your wonderful balloon safari through one of them or you can book directly with us using our online booking form

How does a hot air balloon work?

A hot air balloon works on the principle of buoyancy. It consists of a large balloon, known as an envelope, filled with hot air. The envelope is typically made of lightweight and heat-resistant materials such as nylon or polyester. The balloon is attached to a basket or gondola, in which passengers and the pilot stand.

The process starts by heating the air inside the envelope using burners fueled by liquid petroleum gas. The burners generate a flame that heats the air, causing it to expand and become less dense than the surrounding air. As a result, the balloon becomes buoyant and begins to rise.

The balloon moves with the wind, as there is no way to steer it directly. However, our pilots can control the ascent and descent of the balloon by adjusting the heat inside the envelope. By adding more heat, the air inside the envelope becomes hotter and provides more lift, causing the balloon to rise. Conversely, by reducing the heat, the air inside the envelope cools down, becoming denser and causing the balloon to descend.

To land the balloon, the pilot gradually decreases the heat and allows the air inside the envelope to cool, slowing down the ascent. The pilot looks for a suitable landing spot and, with the help of ground crew, guides the balloon to the ground by releasing some of the hot air from the envelope.

The basic principles behind a hot air balloon are simple yet effective. By controlling the temperature of the air inside the envelope, the pilot can control the altitude of the balloon and navigate the skies. It's a unique and serene way to experience flight and enjoy breathtaking views from above.

When is the best time of year for ballooning in Serengeti?

We are fortunate that the weather in the Serengeti is suitable for ballooning almost every day of the year.

We fly in the following areas every morning: Central Serengeti : Year Round. Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation Area/Serengeti: 20 Dec – 31 March. Western Serengeti: 15 May – October. Northern Serengeti: 15 June - 15 January. Safari wildlife viewing varies depending on the time of year and location, and the wildebeest migration moves through the ecosystem year-round so although there are no guarantees, if you're in the right place at the right time, you have a good chance of seeing plenty of wildlife.

In Serengeti, it mostly rains in the afternoons, evenings or night time, early morning is the driest part of the day and that's when we fly!

Do you operate year round?

Yes, we operate daily throughout the year in central Serengeti. We operate seasonally in the following areas in Serengeti: Central Serengeti : Year Round Ndutu Area, Ngorongoro Conservation/Serengeti: 20 Dec – 31 March Western Serengeti: June – October Northern Serengeti: 01 July - 15 November A typical day on safari can now include an early morning balloon flight and a different perspective the Serengeti!

Do I need to book in advance?

We strongly recommend that you book in advance, either directly with us or with your tour operator. We have limited capacity and this exclusive adventure is often fully booked. For peace of mind, it is always best to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

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