Journal14 February 2026
Where the ticket money goes
Sixteen percent of every balloon fare lands directly in community-managed conservancy accounts. Here is exactly what that funded last year.
A hot air balloon flight over the Maasai Mara is not a neutral thing. It uses protected land, is supervised by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and lands on grazing that someone, somewhere, is responsible for. The question is whether the economics reflect that.
The breakdown
Sixteen percent of every ticket price goes directly into conservancy accounts — Mara North Conservancy, Olare Motorogi, and the Mara Triangle partner funds. Eleven percent more goes to reserve entry fees. Seven percent covers landowner compensation on private conservancies. The rest pays salaries, fuel, insurance, and equipment.
In 2025, the conservancy portion of our revenue funded: six boreholes in Koiyaki Lemek, anti-poaching patrols covering 37,000 hectares for ten months, the employment of 19 community rangers, and a primary school roof replacement in Ol Kinyei.
Tourism is not an unqualified good. But properly structured tourism — where money stays — is among the most effective conservation mechanisms we have.
We publish our numbers annually. The next breakdown will be posted to this journal in April 2026, audited by KPMG East Africa. Ask questions — we'll answer them.