Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya

Interact

Travel Info

Background Info

About This Site

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya

by Anonymous
(Scotland (UK))

I'm uncomfortable with people talking about hot air balloon "safaris" in Kenya.

Going in a hot air balloon over the national parks is known to scare animals. Rhinos have been known to be driven out of the game reserves simply because they were so scared of the hot air balloons going over their heads.

We should protect animals, not harm them. So I want to urge people not to take hot air balloons, and to not recommend them to others!

Comments for
Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 23, 2010
Rating

Thanks Pilot...
by: Arjen (webmaster)

Thanks, pilot, for providing this helpful fact-based perspective. I fully agree and take the opportunity for a late afternoon rant. :-)

The thing with radical environmentalists is that they see humans as NOT BELONGING to nature, while in reality humans are an integral part of nature. If lions are allowed to eat antelopes, and vulcanic mountains to spit out megatonnnes of CO2 in the air, then why wouldn't humans be allowed to do the same? Animals can only survive by harming nature, e.g. killing other animals. We humans cannot survive without causing at least some level of polution. We humans are self-conscious and free (contrary to animals) and this obliges us to act morally and responsibly with nature. At the same time, contrary to an animal who is basically "happy" if he has enough food, humans have higher needs on a soul and spiritual level. This is the other side of the coin of self-consciousness and freedom. Travel and meeting other cultures is one of those higher needs.

Feb 20, 2010
Rating

The pilots view
by: Anonymous

I fly passengers in balloons for a living. While I have never been to Kenya, I have flown in several other locations in Africa in game reserves.

Some basics... The animals are frightened by the noise generated by the burners and to be more specific, the noise of the gas as it escapes the jets before being ignited by the pilot light. It has a very high frequency which we cannot hear and which is not normally found in nature. On the upside, balloons don't have steering wheels and unlike vehicles, cannot persue the animals as they make their escape.

Animals have a learning curve and they grow accustomed to the balloons over time as they grow to realise that the balloons do not persue them and they are not harmed. Much the same way that they do not run away from the game-drive vehicles used by the safari operators once they have realised there is no threat.

While the purist view that animals should be free to roam wild is a nice ideology, there is the simple economic fact that they have to compete with humans for the space they occupy. Game reserves is a compromise that allows humans and animals to live side by side without the conflict of interest. It seems an accepted fact that tourism is a very neccessary part of conservation.

When you consider the big picture - Tourists pay top dollar to visit the parks and and view the animals, the parks employ the locals and they earn an income which means they do not have to hunt (or grow crops) for a living and thus the animals are protected. The well-being of the animals are necessary for the continued employment of the locals and this is the full circle. If you look at the price you pay for a balloon-flight over a game reserve you can appreciate that it is a good revenue earner. On average, one balloon flying in the parks require a staffing complement of approximately 12 - 15 people.

In conclusion I might add that balloons are resticted to operating over very small portions of the parks and that the minimal disturbance they cause is far outweighed by the economic advantages to the local community - animals included.

X Close Editor

Feb 20, 2010
Rating

Submitted by: Anonymous

Title

Comment
I fly passengers in balloons for a living. While I have never been to Kenya, I have flown in several other locations in Africa in game reserves. Some basics... The animals are frightened by the noise generated by the burners and to be more specific, the noise of the gas as it escapes the jets before being ignited by the pilot light. It has a very high frequency which we cannot hear and which is not normally found in nature. On the upside, balloons don't have steering wheels and unlike vehicles, cannot persue the animals as they make their escape. Animals have a learning curve and they grow accustomed to the balloons over time as they grow to realise that the balloons do not persue them and they are not harmed. Much the same way that they do not run away from the game-drive vehicles used by the safari operators once they have realised there is no threat. While the purist view that animals should be free to roam wild is a nice ideology, there is the simple economic fact that they have to compete with humans for the space they occupy. Game reserves is a compromise that allows humans and animals to live side by side without the conflict of interest. It seems an accepted fact that tourism is a very neccessary part of conservation. When you consider the big picture - Tourists pay top dollar to visit the parks and and view the animals, the parks employ the locals and they earn an income which means they do not have to hunt (or grow crops) for a living and thus the animals are protected. The well-being of the animals are necessary for the continued employment of the locals and this is the full circle. If you look at the price you pay for a balloon-flight over a game reserve you can appreciate that it is a good revenue earner. On average, one balloon flying in the parks require a staffing complement of approximately 12 - 15 people. In conclusion I might add that balloons are resticted to operating over very small portions of the parks and that the minimal disturbance they cause is far outweighed by the economic advantages to the local community - animals included.

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Oct 24, 2009
Rating

You can't go off roads or outside vehicles since a long time...
by: Arjen Koopman (webmaster)

Ace of Rock,

If you knew Kenya, you would know that by far most parks since long don't allow vehicles to go off the roads (and people are not allowed to leave the vehicles). And I can assure you that very wild animals, who would kill you if you really came near, will just keep standing there if a car came up to e.g. 15 or 30 yards - I've seen it all the time with e.g. elephants and buffaloes. That doesn't mean they aren't "wild" anymore - 99.9% of park visitors pose no threat to them, so why would they flee? They simply kill you if you'd come too near. Other animals (e.g. lions) don't like go get near humans, so they will stay away from the roads. Very simple.

It's the poachers (as far as they still exist, the problem isn't nearly as big as a few decades ago)and a few tribal warriors that will go off the roads and pursue animals for various reasons - they are all local (rural) Kenyans operating outside the tourist business. On the contrary, tourist dollars are a main reason why the parks and the animals are protected and well maintained by the Kenyan government, and poachers etc. are prosecuted.

Best regards,
Arjen Koopman

Oct 15, 2009
Rating

Sarfais
by: Ace of Rock

I think the balloon sarfais should be banned as the animals are chased out the parks and killed as they think the balloons are giant preditors which will eat them. i also think there should be a rule to keep cars and vans on the roads as they are going far to close to the animals and the animals are no longer truly wild, i say that because you can drive right up to them and they just ignore you.

Sep 07, 2009
Rating

Another faux pas........An ideology or just simple stupidity
by: Anonymous

Dear ignorant Scottish man or woman...

So some sheep farmer thinks he can rally up support to a point of stopping baloon flights over the Mara, Amboseli etc... The whole idea is complete bollocks. Good question is, what about the clouds, the eclipses, the aircraft, those migratory flamingos etc. etc...

Trying to make a fashion statement (perhaps ?), I think you ought to come down to Kenya and explain it to the Kenyan people who depend on tourism for a living as it is Kenya's life line... Shame on you because today while you are enjoying your cable tv, a hot shower and a full meal... some paupers in Kenya don't have any of the comforts you are so accustomed to due to the Western smeer campaigns and stupid regulations that have negatively affected this beautiful continent Africa... Let us LIVE.

Aug 31, 2009
Rating

Pro Balloons
by: kimutai

The young rhinos will grow up getting used to having hot air balloons around... People should have fun! Ride on balloons and let the animals get used... It's a natural conditioning process!

Aug 17, 2009
Rating

Domestic Animals and Hot Air Balloons
by: Anonymous

Even my dog in Iowa is scared to death of balloons and shakes when they are within miles of our home. We are the second hot air balloon area in the USA

Jun 09, 2009
Rating

Overrated...
by: Arjen Koopman

hi Lauren,

I answered your points already in my first post down the page... I think the concerns are vastly overrated. A lion or a hunter are both really much scarier to an antelope than a hot air balloon...

Jun 08, 2009
Rating

Hot air Balloons
by: Lauren

my geography teacher said that hot air balloons scare the animals because of the hot air balloons shadow. Because it has been known for many hot air balloons to come over Kenya nearly every day. Does this affect the animals?
Does it scare them in a certain way?
Also my geography teacher has said that hot air balloons also scare the animals by their noise. Such as the gas. Is this true? or false?
Because i'm only believing what i have been told and i'm also trying to proove my brother wrong.

Apr 20, 2009
Rating

Education is important
by: Anonymous

I think that if someone takes a hot air balloon ride and that inspires that person or someone who was shown the photographs to help preserve the animals or their natural habitat then it's worth taking a hot air balloon ride... Are we going to ban airplanes next???

Jan 15, 2009
Rating

reply
by: Anonymous

im the person who created this. i didnt expect for anybody to answer, though i would like to express more of my opinion. the animals desrev to be in a wilderness were no humans are aloowed, for it is there home. but being filmed, and photo'd isnt fair on the animals, becuase they would also want to have their natrull life. being harrassed all day sin't natural. sometimes, over 50 cars are around 2 or 3 single animals. is this really right ?

Jan 07, 2009
Rating

It All Depends On The Where, When And How...
by: Arjen Koopman (webmaster)

Hello Anonymous,

Whether animals are actually harmed by hot air balloons is a topic for debate, to the best of my knowledge. If there's harm, it obviously depends on the circumstances: the where, when and how. For example, people who claim that animals are in fact harmed, say that the balloon's shadow over the ground is the big scare for animals. But almost all hot air balloons take place during and right after sunrise, when there are no real shadows to speak of. If certain types of animals are in fact harmed, then hot air balloon rides could simply take place in areas where such animals aren't present. KWS (Kenyan Wildlife Service) has very good knowledge about this.

Furthermore, clouds and other natural phenomena also create shadows, and no one seems to see any problems in that. Animals have the power to adapt. E.g. elephants and buffaloes in Kenya have grown accustomed to tourists - they stay totally relaxed when a slow-driving vehicle approaches them up to sometimes 30 meters. Why couldn't they accustom to the sight of a hot air balloon? Remember, it's only the sight that's the big problem according to environmentalist. I'm sure traveling by airplane to Kenya is doing equal or more harm to the natural environment than a balloon ride, so if you'd like to protect nature, then you shouldn't travel to Kenya at all (assuming you're not canoeing from Scotland to Africa).

This point is important as some environmentalists seem to take an extra purist stance when it comes to Africa. They try to put limits on Africa that they don't advocate for the developed part of the world. I never heard any environmentalist complain about hot air balloons in Europe. Apparently, they think Africa is in an ideal "pure" state and it should remain that way. In reality, Africa is a continent in a deprived state, where millions of people still struggle to survive. Tourism is one of the biggest sources of income for Kenya, as well as many other African countries, and tourism could ensure an acceptable living standard for many Kenyans. I know there's more to tourism than hot air balloon safaris, but your point can be extended to many areas of tourism in Kenya. People in Kenya have a right to survive just like animals do (sic), and constant handouts and foreign aid are not the answer - regular economic development including tourism is.

Anyone, feel free to join the debate, but please, no nastiness here (as was in the original post). There's enough of that already in the world.

X Close Editor

Jan 07, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Arjen Koopman (webmaster)

Title

Comment
Hello Anonymous, Whether animals are actually harmed by hot air balloons is a topic for debate, to the best of my knowledge. If there's harm, it obviously depends on the circumstances: the where, when and how. For example, people who claim that animals are in fact harmed, say that the balloon's shadow over the ground is the big scare for animals. But almost all hot air balloons take place during and right after sunrise, when there are no real shadows to speak of. If certain types of animals are in fact harmed, then hot air balloon rides could simply take place in areas where such animals aren't present. KWS (Kenyan Wildlife Service) has very good knowledge about this. Furthermore, clouds and other natural phenomena also create shadows, and no one seems to see any problems in that. Animals have the power to adapt. E.g. elephants and buffaloes in Kenya have grown accustomed to tourists - they stay totally relaxed when a slow-driving vehicle approaches them up to sometimes 30 meters. Why couldn't they accustom to the sight of a hot air balloon? Remember, it's only the sight that's the big problem according to environmentalist. I'm sure traveling by airplane to Kenya is doing equal or more harm to the natural environment than a balloon ride, so if you'd like to protect nature, then you shouldn't travel to Kenya at all (assuming you're not canoeing from Scotland to Africa). This point is important as some environmentalists seem to take an extra purist stance when it comes to Africa. They try to put limits on Africa that they don't advocate for the developed part of the world. I never heard any environmentalist complain about hot air balloons in Europe. Apparently, they think Africa is in an ideal "pure" state and it should remain that way. In reality, Africa is a continent in a deprived state, where millions of people still struggle to survive. Tourism is one of the biggest sources of income for Kenya, as well as many other African countries, and tourism could ensure an acceptable living standard for many Kenyans. I know there's more to tourism than hot air balloon safaris, but your point can be extended to many areas of tourism in Kenya. People in Kenya have a right to survive just like animals do (sic), and constant handouts and foreign aid are not the answer - regular economic development including tourism is. Anyone, feel free to join the debate, but please, no nastiness here (as was in the original post). There's enough of that already in the world.

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Kenya Travel Tips

Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya

Comments for Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya

Comments for
Do Not Take Hot Air Balloon Safaris In Kenya