Miracle Experience Balloon Safaris 🐾 Serengeti & Tarangire. Arusha Tanzania HQ — Attraction in Arusha

Had a fantastic balloon ride. Breaking our review into 3 parts:

1. Pre-Ride: Incredible Sunrise and Betuel's Warm Welcome The anticipation began long before sunrise, and our excitement was immediately amplified by the punctual arrival of our driver, Betuel at 5:15am. From the moment he greeted us, his warm smile and genuine enthusiasm were infectious. He ensured we were comfortable and relaxed during the drive, sharing snippets of local knowledge and making us feel truly welcome. We saw a pride of lions on our way in. Upon reaching the launch site, we were greeted with steaming coffee, tea, and delicious cookies – a perfect start to a chilly morning. The pre-flight briefing was thorough and reassuring, instilling confidence in the experienced team. Safety was clearly paramount, but it was delivered with a lightheartedness that kept folks attention. We knew we were in good hands!

2. The Ride: Ascending into a Dreamscape Then came the moment we’d been waiting for: lift-off. The gentle ascent was nothing short of magical and little different as we did a sideways space shuttle lift off. As the balloon gracefully rose, the world unfolded beneath us in breathtaking panoramas. The vast landscape, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun, was a masterpiece of nature. The silence, broken only by the occasional whoosh of the burner, was profound. It felt like floating in a dream. The views were simply incredible, stretching as far as the eye could see. The experience was capped off with a delightful champagne toast – a perfect celebratory touch. And the photos! The team captured the magic of the moment flawlessly. The images were truly stunning, a testament to their skill and the sheer beauty of the experience. We'll treasure them forever.

3. Bush Breakfast: A Delicious Honeymoon Celebration to Remember After our descent, we were treated to a delectable bush breakfast, a feast for the senses. The food was delicious and fresh, a delightful spread of savory and sweet treats enjoyed in the heart of the wilderness. But what truly made the experience unforgettable was the thoughtful and special honeymoon celebration the team had prepared for us. It was such a lovely and unexpected gesture, making us feel incredibly cherished. The entire team went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and happiness, and their attention to detail was exceptional. Betuel, once again, was on hand to ensure our smooth return, his friendly demeanor and genuine care leaving a lasting impression. We even saw him later in the week at a different camp and he went out of his way to say hi. This hot air balloon ride wasn't just an activity; it was a memory we'll hold dear...

I had high expectations for our hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti—but Miracle Balloons went above and beyond in every way. It wasn’t just a beautiful flight—it was one of the most thoughtfully delivered, peaceful, and enriching experiences I’ve ever had.

From the moment we arrived at the launch site before sunrise, the team made us feel genuinely welcome. We were greeted with warm drinks, light snacks, and friendly smiles—even though it was still dark and chilly. The crew was incredibly professional but also personal. They explained everything clearly and calmly, and made sure we were completely comfortable and safe before takeoff.

As the balloon gently rose, I was immediately struck by the stillness and beauty of the landscape. The grasslands below, covered in a soft morning mist, looked like a golden sea—especially the tall red oat grasses swaying in the breeze. Our guide pointed out the different types of vegetation we were flying over, like the striking umbrella acacia trees, standing like natural landmarks, and the occasional baobab, massive and majestic.

The transitions in the landscape were stunning—from dry plains to lush green stretches near water sources. We saw fig trees, palm groves, and even patches of flowering plants growing near rocky outcrops. It was so peaceful, just floating and taking it all in, and the pilot made sure we had time to really absorb the views, not just rush through them.

But what made the whole experience truly special was how attentive and genuine the Miracle Balloons team was. They didn’t treat us like just another group of tourists—they were passionate about showing us the beauty of the land, down to the grasses and trees, not just the wildlife. That kind of attention to detail and care made a big difference.

After landing (which was smooth and safe), we were taken to a lovely bush breakfast, set up under the shade of an acacia. The food was fresh, delicious, and served with such grace—it honestly felt like something out of a movie. The staff remembered our names, checked in on how we were feeling, and shared stories about the region and its ecology.

In the end, I came for the views and adventure, but left feeling deeply moved by the experience. The Serengeti’s plants and scenery were unforgettable—but what truly stood out was the heart and service of the people at Miracle Balloons.

If you’re looking for a safari that’s not just thrilling but thoughtful, beautifully organized, and full of soul, I can’t recommend Miracle...

The driver was over an hour late to pick us up at 5 am, I believe we were picked about 6:15 am, our hotel didn’t have coffee or breakfast service till 6:30am, so we literally waited, they didn’t contact the hotel to tell us anything, we just waited. Driver finally arrived, we drove like crazy to the site, during the drive we were told we are going to be able to go to the bathroom, get instruction, etc. This was our first hot air balloon ride, so it was special, and we didn’t really know what is supposed to happen. We arrived, we were rushed to the basket, no bathroom, no instruction session, we were literally stuffed into the basket and told to go. I at this time didn’t know where my phone was because I had no time to separate or even get an explanation what we can take or can’t. So I forced them to climb out of the basket to go get my phone. I rushed to my other bag, found the phone, went back to basket and told I couldn’t climb in until the basket was up. My partner at this time is in the basket and not sure what is going on, he is not told anything, we paid 1100$ for this and are being treated like this is a stuffed bus ride. So I missed the experience of the basket getting up and both of us missed the whole one hour that they tell us to be their early for explanation of what’s going to happen. Not worth 1100$ we paid, although the actual flight which was just under 1 hour, supposed to be about 1 hr and 15 minutes apparently. So be ware ballon ride is less than 1 hr and then there’s breakfast, the whole cost is 550$ per person is what we paid. Not sure I would want that type of an experience for 550$. I know things happen, but we were never approached by anyone, nor compensated for waiting early morning for over an hour and then being stuffed into basket.

Seeing other reviews: We were told we would have coffees in when we arrived at balloon site but of course nothing for us, so up at 4:30 am, balloon at 7 am, no coffee till we are up in air. We also got NO instruction, briefing.

We were also last ones into the basket, it was full, no room to move and 75% of time we flew backwards although captain said he’ll...