Mount Kilimanjaro Balloon Flight and the first ever Ngorongoro balloon safaris take place!

The first balloon flight over Mount Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Crater is the brainchild of Ultramagic Experience that brings together a group of extraordinary pilots from around the world, to make challenging balloon flights in unique places. This year 2021, they came to Tanzania with two aims to fulfill.

1. Fly over Mount Kilimanjaro (as they did 10 years back in 2011).
2. To be the firsts to fly in the Ngorongoro Conservation area, which includes crossing each side of the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

After the extraordinary experience in these two unique destinations in Tanzania, they will finish with a Zanzibar beach holiday, where they will get to take local flights and relax on the pristine beaches of the Zanzibar Spice islands that are surrounded by the Indian ocean.

Ultramagic Balloons is no stranger to difficult hot air balloon excursions, having completed this journey with Ultramagic 10 years ago in 2011.

To get first-hand information and to follow their experiences, check out their blog that is updated regularly at: www.ultramagicexperience.com

Entering this link you will be able to see the blog where every day we explain how the trip is going, the location of the group, and the flight tracks.

“We humans needed additional oxygen, but the propane flame needed extra oxygen to remain burning,” said the team at 4,000 meters.

The balloon was launched on Monday, 6th Dec 2021 from an area near Marangu which is in the Kilimanjaro Region crossing the entire mountain range and ending up on the western side of Mt Kilimanjaro. It was an unforgettable experience.

The Kilimanjaro Balloon Flight Itinerary: How it all happened

Day 1. Arusha

After landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi early in the morning they drove all the way to Arusha after breakfast and after crossing the Namanga One-Stop Border they were booked into Two Mountains Lodge in Arusha by lunchtime.

In the afternoon they had the first briefing: then dinner overnight as they waited for the hot air balloons to arrive in Arusha the following day.  At the briefing, they discussed the several possible take-off fields for the Kilimanjaro balloon flights.

Day 2: Arusha- Moshi – Marangu

Leaving Arusha early in the morning after breakfast, they made their way towards Marangu via Moshi town, the closest town to Mount Kilimanjaro. Marangu is close to the hot air balloons take-off area. After a nice meal, they proceeded to the take-off site to start preparing the balloons. The gas and the oxygen had already arrived on site, and one container had already arrived while the second container was still underway heading to Moshi – Marangu Area.

Day 3: Preparation for Kilimanjaro balloon Flight

After deciding that the weather would be favourable the following day and the container is on the way. The crew makes final preparations in readiness for the flight the following day after the next day which will be a Monday. The final touches are reserved for the next day with is only a day away from flying the balloons across Mount Kilimanjaro!

Day 4:  Final Preparations

The second container arrives and this day is dedicated to doing the final preparations, refueling the tanks, and setting up the oxygen equipment. The day is beautiful and everybody is in high spirits waiting for the next day to fly the balloons in the sky above the rooftop of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. The weather looks promising so Monday it is!

Day 5: Flying the Balloons over Mount Kilimanjaro.

The day begins very early in the morning at 3 am. After reaching the launch site at 4:45 am ( 0454 hrs) on a cloudy sky. Preparations to fly the balloons get underway but it starts to rain while the balloons are being inflated! The mission has to go on anyway, there is no going back, the sky is clearer above the clouds anyway!

Flying of the balloons and take off begins straight away and my oh my, the first view of the Kilimanjaro from the balloons is breathtaking.

Some pilots have been able to cross the main crater, and all balloons have approached both the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.

The views were stunning, the weather marvelous and warmer than expected, and everyone has enjoyed a safe flight and landing on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The retrieve has taken a little bit longer due to logistic issues but the atmosphere is relaxed as there are no hurries at all at this point. What a success it has been and everyone is very emotional when they all assemble at the meeting point.

Dinner follows later on and celebrations ensue with good Catalan cava (Spanish wine) to celebrate this milestone of flying hot air balloons over the world’s highest free-standing mountain, the Kilimanjaro, successfully.