Meet Pradeep Durgam, our talented hot air balloon pilot hailing from Finland. With over 400 hours of flight time under his belt, Pradeep is a certified pilot in the USA, Tanzania and UK, and EU (EASA). The experience of a hot air balloon ride as a passenger in Masai Mara, Kenya, sparked his passion to pursue a career in ballooning.
With 4+ years of experience, Pradeep finds joy in flying over the Serengeti and making each flight a memorable experience for his passengers. He achieves this by storytelling, connecting with his passengers, and sharing his best insights about the Serengeti. Pradeep prioritizes the safety of his passengers and is known to accommodate all of his passengers’ needs to make them feel comfortable and safe.
When not soaring above the skies, Pradeep enjoys cooking and trying new dishes. His favorite quote is “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed during hardship.”
Pradeep believes that hot air ballooning has a bright future ahead with a high demand for commercial flights worldwide and he has simple advice for anyone considering a hot air balloon flight: “Just Do It.” Just breathe and enjoy the ride.
It is truly an amazing experience, let's grasp the idea of why Serengeti translates to endless plains. Stunning views, wonderful, fancy breakfast in the bush, and most of all, a great atmosphere created by wonderful people. Special credit to Captain Pradeep for the energy he carries and shares with others!!
We had the best flight, Paddy was our pilot and he was an absolute delight. The night before you have two people come and brief you on your flight the next morning, hot coffee is provided upon arrival as well as a safety briefing. You are airborne by sunrise and it is spectacular, being able to see the animals from this viewpoint was awe-inspiring. I would highly recommend doing this if you are in the area. Thanks again, Paddy!
We highly enjoyed our Hot air balloon with Pradeep aka Paddy! He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The views are simply breathtaking, and such a cool way to see the wild Serengeti! After the balloon ride, we sat down to a gorgeous hot breakfast and were shortly joined by a few baboons (no issues as the staff was very attentive). Highly recommend this tour with the Miracle experience, worth every penny!
We debated about doing the hot air balloon experience due to the cost and having to get up so early, but we are so glad that we did it. It was worth every penny! Chaz picked us up from our lodge and drove us to the take-off site. The flight was amazing! It was as if we were gliding over the Serengeti. Pradeep was our pilot and he was outstanding! His enthusiasm for hot air ballooning was infectious! The bush breakfast afterward was delicious and plentiful. We loved the singing and dancing, too. You also cannot beat a "loo with a view". Best bathroom in the Serengeti. You will not regret this amazing activity!
Bucket List item for sure! A phenomenal experience with Capt Paddy & co. we lucked out with the game and the bush breakfast was scrumptious. Really friendly crew and they made the whole trip incredible!
