This weekend we also managed to get another day's journal and photos up onto the web site from our Africa trip. One June 21, we were up at 4:30 a.m. for a hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara. It was a huge balloon (the basket held 17 people, including the pilot). We started our ascent before sunrise. The motion was so gentle that we never would have even felt it if our eyes were shut. We watched the sunrise and were then able to see animals in the grass below us. We could see other balloons way off in the distance and the Mara River near the escarpment. The landscape was so vast. After an hour of gentle floating, we landed in the tall grass. The landing was also very gentle, and the basket stayed upright. We climbed out and were met with an authentic English bush breakfast - like you would see in "Out of Africa." We were served champagne and they were serving omelettes to order, crepes, breakfast meats, fruits, etc. We chatted with Masahiro and Haruko from Japan, and Rodolfo and Ana from Portugal while we ate our leisurely breakfast. We also chatted with the pilot, a Kiwi named Milton.
After breakfast, we returned to the Sarova Mara Game Camp, where we were staying. After lunch and a rest, we took a nature walk around the grounds with Kelvin, a Maasai warrior who works at the camp. He taught us about the natural remedies used by the Maasai, and we really learned a lot from him.
We had dinner and really enjoyed chatting with the camp staff. They are so nice and friendly, and always have a smile for everyone.
For more details, see our full journal from this day.
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