Before dawn, you cross the still-sleeping savannah, eyes fixed on the glow of the headlights, watching for one last nocturnal predator. The silence is broken only by the whisper of wind through the tall grass.
On arrival at the launch site, the crew is already hard at work. The burners fire up, casting a golden light over the immense canopy as it slowly inflates. The sky barely begins to tinge with pink. The pilot welcomes you for a full briefing on safety instructions and take-off and landing procedures.
The basket, resting on its side, is set upright just before lift-off. This is not a private flight (16 passengers maximum), but the experience remains intimate, perfectly orchestrated.
Around 6:45 am, weather permitting, you rise gently into the air. Up there, between 300 and 600 metres in altitude depending on the wind, the Serengeti stretches out as far as the eye can see. The sun rises slowly, gilding the plains. You watch the wildlife waking: giraffes moving at a slow pace, herds of wildebeest on the move, the silhouettes of elephants in the low light. The pilot comments on the scene and sometimes descends to a lower altitude to give you a better view.
The flight lasts about an hour, at the mercy of the wind. The landing site is chosen in real time by the pilot. Back on the ground, you receive a flight certificate, followed by a glass of champagne, as tradition dictates. Then comes the time for an Out of Africa-style bush breakfast, a refined and unforgettable feast in the heart of nature.