The Balloons lift off at dawn (0615) after coffee and a flight briefing.

The one hour flight will give you a birds eye view, of the best East Africa has to offer, in the magnificent setting of the Great Rift Valley.

A champagne breakfast in the bush after you land, adds to the buzz you will get from the early morning air and the sights and sounds, that only an eagle ever sees.

Early morning is the ideal time to see wild animals on the plains. In the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya it is an experience you will never forget.

The A315 is among the largest operational balloons in the world. At sea level it has a lift capability of over two tons ( 2000kgs), although in Africa they carry only a maximum of 12 passengers and the pilot.

The balloon 'envelope' is made of a nylon based fabric superior to that of a spinnaker sail. The basket is made of woven cane and willow by expert craftsmen in the Royal Workshops for the Blind in Bristol. The design has not been surpassed in over a hundred years of balloon flight as there are few other materials that combine strength with resilience for so little weight.

To pilot a balloon, it is necessary to gain a pilots licence exactly as with other forms of aircraft. There is a set number of hours of instruction and the same theoretical exams to pass as any fixed wing pilot. Also like their fixed wing counterparts, balloon pilots keep logs books, carry out pre-flight checks and monitor the weather conditions for safe flying. In addition, all Balloon Safaris pilots have undergone extensive professional training and worked as commercial balloon pilots around the world.