“Birds flying high, you know how I feel”
We spent three nights in the Northern Serengeti with three goals: to witness the great wildebeest migration, to ride a hot air balloon, and to spot the elusive leopard. We watched the wildebeest cross the Mara River on our first day. The next, we eagerly set out for the balloon ride, a first for all of us.
“Sun in the sky, you know how I feel”
On launch day, we left our camp before dawn. We reached the staging site at 6:20 a.m., just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. Our hot-air balloon lifted off 15 minutes later. Throughout the one-and-a-half-hour flight, we gently glided over the plains and rivers of the magnificent Serengeti. For my brother who has a fear of heights, this experience was something he never ever thought possible. We shared a teary moment up in the sky.
“Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel”
From above, the magical Serengeti is a thrill to behold. With the sun and breeze on our faces, we marveled over a giraffe chasing the shadow of our balloon and hippos bellowing in the river. The only other sound we heard, aside from our own oohs and aahs, was the whoosh of hot air into the balloon.
“It's a new dawn”
When we landed, our pilot popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate the safe completion of the ride. We were then whisked off to a secret location, where a sit-down English breakfast awaited us. Fruits, bread, eggs, bacon and beans definitely taste better when they’re cooked and eaten in the bush, and served on linen, bone china and Sheffield cutlery in a scene straight out of "Out of Africa."
Was the entire experience expensive?
It takes a lot of people to prepare and safely launch and recover the balloon in such a remote setting. There is the fuel cost and maintenance of the balloon. Additionally, there is a very substantial sum in the form of concession fees for every passenger to Tanzania National Parks to fund conservation efforts.
The price tag: $600 pp
Totally worth it.
“It’s a new day, It's a new life for me, yeah”
On our last night, Lemala surprised us with a sundowner at Pride Rock. The setting and views were so inspiring it simply took our breaths away.
Lions and Leopards and Beests Oh My
Kuria Hills proved to be our best spotting ground for lions, leopards and wildebeests. The kopjes provide a natural hiding and playing ground for the cats. One morning, we chanced upon two lionesses with their cubs. They frolicked and played hide-and-seek while the mothers kept a watchful eye on them and a wary one on us.
On our last morning, guide Robert persuaded us to have an early start to the airport to give us time for a short game drive prior to meeting the plane. It was to be our ultimate game drive. A leopard sighting was reported on the radio and Robert quickly delivered us to a spot right under the tree where a mating pair of leopards – a huge male and a young female in heat - were sharing an antelope carcass. And with that, we ended our safari with indelible memories and photos to last a lifetime.
“Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is the worst of all”