Mada Hotels Safari Camps and Balloon Safaris, Africa

Mada Hotels offers the ultimate safari experience, with camps across East Africa and balloon safari flights over some of Africa’s most famous parks and reserves.

By National Geographic Traveller The Collection
Published 6 Jun 2017, 16:23 BST

Mada Hotels offers the ultimate safari experience, with camps across East Africa and balloon safari flights over some of Africa’s most famous parks and reserves. Mada brings luxury to the wild, both on the ground and in the air.

Fig Tree Camp, Kenya

One of the original Maasai Mara safari camps — home to the famous wildebeest migration, and big cat capital — Fig Tree Camp is located on the banks of the Talek River, offering both chalet and tent accommodation

From the safari tents — each with a double and single bed — to the garden chalets and superior tents, the accommodation offers spectacular river views and supreme luxury. The camp’s central location in the park allows for easy game-viewing throughout the year and expert guides are on hand to help ensure the very best bush experience. Fig Tree Camp prides itself on providing a great mix of classic safari and luxurious comfort, offering a range of services from birdwatching to champagne
bush dinners

Kilima Safari Camp, Kenya

In the shadow of Africa’s highest mountain, every one of the tents at Kilima Safari Camp has verandah views of both Mount Kilimanjaro and the camp’s private water holes — a favourite drinking spot for elephants, come evening. Kilima Safari Camp is spread over a large conservation area within Amboseli National Park and has many special features, including a three-storey viewing tower, perfect for catching the sunrise over Kilimanjaro, and a massage gazebo in which guests can relax after a long day on safari. The camp also features a swimming pool, curio shop video room and lecture facilities, while a fleet of 4WD vehicles with expert drivers is also at guests’ disposal

Balloon Camp, Tanzania

Perched near the top of a hill, the boutique Balloon Camp — made up of just 10 luxury safari tents — offers spectacular views of Tarangire National Park. Its small size allows for dedicated personal service. The area is famed for its beautiful landscapes, dotted with herds of elephant and ancient baobab trees. The camp offers easy access to game drive trails along the banks of Tarangire River and the Silale swamp, which is rich in birdlife and a choice spot for game to cool off during hot afternoons. The camp has a plunge pool set high in the rocks, offering arguably one of the best views in Africa.

Adventures Aloft Balloon Safaris

A balloon flight on its own is a special experience; being able to do it over some of Africa’s most famous parks is perhaps the ultimate safari highlight. Adventures Aloft Balloon Safaris operates in the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Tarangire

Each flight lasts about an hour and is unique, offering an eagle’s view of untamed Africa. On landing, the Mada team are there to serve up a five-star breakfast, complete with flowing bubbly, in true Out of Africa fashion.

Balloon flights over Maasai Mara

Balloon flights here operate out of Fig Tree Camp, with pick-ups available for clients staying in surrounding camps and lodges. Because winds are predominantly southwesterly, the flight path takes passengers over the Talek River, towards the Mara River. There’s no better way to see the plains and the magnificent wildebeest migration than from a wicker basket, 300ft in the air.

Balloon flights over Serengeti

Adventures Aloft Balloon Safari flies from two locations in the famous Serengeti: Togoro and Kogatende. The Togoro base caters for clients staying in central Serengeti, with a flight path that flies from east to west, over hippo pools and a combination of savannah and bush plains. From June to August, much of the wildebeest migration is in this part of the park, making the balloon flight even more special

Kogatende is in the very north of the Serengeti and the balloon flights here have been rated as some of the most scenic in the world. Kogatende, often referred to as ‘the Switzerland of Serengeti’, has the majestic Mara River flowing right through it. Flying over the Mara gives passengers a chance to see spectacles from bathing hippos to wildebeest crossings, as well as a wide selection of other wildlife.

Balloon flights over Tarangire

Tarangire is home to Africa’s largest elephant population, and balloon flights here follow the Tarangire River, offering clients a majestic view of this fantastic park. The landscape and game in Tarangire are unique, with wildlife blending beautifully with the huge baobab trees and wild palms. Balloon flights typically take off at 06.30 and passengers are invited to watch as the balloon is inflated. The hour-long flight passes over the spectacular, wildlife-rich Tarangire Game Reserve. On landing, the balloon crew serves a champagne breakfast to celebrate a magical morning

Need to know

Key facilities

• Fig Tree Camp, Maasai Mara
• Kilima Safari Camp, Amboseli
• Kilifi Bay Beach Resort and Baobab Sea Lodge, Kilifi
• Balloon Camp, Tarangire
• Jinja Nile Resort, Uganda
• Hotel La Mada, Nairobi
• Hunters Lodge, Kibokos

Key activities

• Balloon safaris in Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Tarangire
• Expert safari guides in all game lodges
• Spa services in lodges and resorts

Contact

T: +254 721 701014 / +254 722 202564
E: sales@madahotels.com
madahotels.com

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