Akagera Hot Air Balloon Flight

Akagera National Park is Rwanda's only savanna reserve, and a sunrise balloon flight is the most peaceful way to see it. Before dawn, guests gather at the launch site, watch the crew inflate the balloon and climb into the basket for a flight that drifts quietly above acacia woodland, open grassland and the papyrus-fringed shores of the lakes. From the air, the park's mosaic of habitats is easy to read, and you may spot giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelope, elephants and hippos moving through the morning light without hearing the engines of a vehicle. The flight lasts about an hour, depending on the wind, and the pilot steers by altitude, finding the air currents that carry the balloon in different directions. After landing, the crew sets up a bush breakfast, and guests usually toast the flight before heading back for a game drive. A balloon flight is best treated as an addition to an Akagera safari stay rather than a day trip from Kigali, because the launch is at first light and the drive from the capital is around two to three hours.

\n\nWhat you will see and feel: the first moments are the quietest, with the burner flaring only occasionally and the landscape slowly emerging from the darkness. As the sun rises, the lakes turn silver and the hills glow. Wildlife is easier to see from a distance than from the ground, although you will see less detail than on a game drive, so combine the two rather than choosing one.

Photography is excellent, particularly in the first hour of sunlight, so bring a camera with a zoom and a warm layer, because the air is cold before sunrise.

\n\nPractical points: wear closed shoes and comfortable clothes that you can move in, and tell the operator about any mobility limits, since climbing into the basket requires a step. There are usually age and weight guidelines, so check them when you book. Bring sunscreen and a hat for the breakfast stop, and a small tip for the crew is appreciated.

Akagera requires a park entry fee that may be charged separately from the flight, so read the inclusions. The park is open year round, and the dry seasons, June to September and December to February, give the clearest mornings and the best wildlife viewing near water.

\n\nChoosing between the air and the ground: a balloon flight and a game drive show you different sides of the same park. The flight gives the wide view, a sense of scale and a quiet, almost meditative start to the day, while the game drive gets you close to the animals and lets the guide explain what they are doing. If you have only one morning, many visitors choose the game drive, but if you can fit both into a two-night stay, the combination is hard to beat for a lasting memory of Rwanda's east.