Hot Air Balloon Safaris Uganda | Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth National Parks
Hot Air Balloon Safaris Uganda are a newly introduced tourism activity by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) at the Murchison Falls National Park and are today progressively becoming popular. Hot air ballooning can only be found at the Murchison Falls National Park and the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and are handled by the Dream Balloons who were registered and certified fully in 2011 by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the National Environment Management Authority, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Communications Commission before they could to run this particular activity in Uganda’s National Parks.
Uganda is best known for gorilla trekking through misty forest, but the country also offers a quieter, sweeping way to see its savanna landscapes: a hot air balloon safari over Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drifting above the park’s plains, crater lakes, and the Kazinga Channel at sunrise, with the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon, is an experience few visitors expect from a Uganda itinerary — and one that pairs beautifully with the country’s more famous primate and wildlife safaris.
Where Do Balloon Safaris Happen in Uganda?
Uganda’s hot air balloon safaris are centered on Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the southwest of the country, with flights typically launching from the Kasenyi area within the park. Balloon operators have also flown, at various times, over Murchison Falls National Park in the north, the country’s largest protected area. Since balloon operations in Uganda are run by a small number of licensed companies and have shifted locations in the past, it’s worth confirming current flight availability and launch location directly with an operator or your safari planner before booking.
Why Take a Hot Air Balloon Safari in Uganda
Rift Valley scenery in one view. Queen Elizabeth National Park sits within the Great Rift Valley, and a balloon flight takes in a wide sweep of this landscape at once — the rift valley floor, escarpments, the Kyambura Gorge, crater lakes, and, on clear mornings, distant views of the Rwenzori Mountains, sometimes called the “Mountains of the Moon.”
Wildlife viewed from above. Flights typically pass over herds of buffalo, elephants, Uganda kob, and other plains game, along with the Kazinga Channel, a waterway connecting Lake Edward and Lake George that’s usually packed with hippos and often visited by elephants coming down to drink.
A quiet complement to ground safaris. Queen Elizabeth is already known for game drives, boat cruises along the Kazinga Channel, and chimpanzee tracking in the nearby Kyambura Gorge. A balloon flight adds a different vantage point to a park visitors typically explore entirely from vehicles and boats.
An easy pairing with gorilla trekking. Many visitors combine a Queen Elizabeth stay with gorilla trekking in nearby Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, making a balloon safari a natural early-morning addition to a broader southwestern Uganda itinerary that also includes primates and Big Game viewing.
The traditional post-flight breakfast. As with balloon safaris elsewhere in Africa, Uganda’s flights typically end with a bush breakfast on landing, often served with sparkling wine, along with a certificate marking the flight — a nice memento of an early start well spent.
What to Expect on a Uganda Balloon Safari
- Very early starts. Pickup from camp or lodge typically happens around 5:00 to 5:30 am to reach the launch site before sunrise.
- Flight duration. Flights generally last around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on wind and weather conditions on the day.
- Group size. Balloons operating in Uganda have historically carried a modest to sizeable number of passengers per flight, so ask your operator about current group sizes when booking.
- Post-flight breakfast. A full bush breakfast is typically served after landing, often prepared by a nearby lodge, followed by a game drive back to camp.
- Cost. Uganda balloon safaris have generally been priced in the region of a few hundred US dollars per person, though this can vary by operator and season — confirm current pricing when you book.
Best Time for a Balloon Safari in Uganda
- June to September and December to February: These drier periods generally offer clearer skies and more stable morning conditions for flying, along with strong overall wildlife visibility in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
- Uganda’s wetter months can bring less predictable weather, so flights are more commonly scheduled and more reliable during the drier windows above.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Most visitors reach Queen Elizabeth National Park either by road from Kampala (roughly 5 to 6 hours) or via a short domestic flight to one of the airstrips serving the park. Balloon safaris are typically arranged through your lodge or tour operator, with early-morning transfers to the launch site included as part of the package.
Final Thoughts
A hot air balloon safari over Queen Elizabeth National Park adds an unexpected, memorable layer to a Uganda safari — sweeping rift valley views, wildlife along the Kazinga Channel, and the Rwenzori Mountains on the horizon, all from a vantage point most visitors never consider. Paired with gorilla trekking in Bwindi and game drives through Queen Elizabeth itself, it rounds out southwestern Uganda’s safari circuit with one more genuinely unique morning in the air.