Safari Day 7 - Masai Mara Balloon Ride

We got our morning wake-up call and coffee served at our tent at 4:30AM as we prepare for our balloon ride. As we drive in the darkness to the balloon launch site at the Fig Tree safari camp (6 miles as the balloon flies) we have two hippos cross the road.

The balloons lift off at daybreak.



There's a light breeze and our balloon drifts westerly toward our camp following the Talek River.



We drift over zebra.



A large herd of Impala.



A bloat (group) of hippos.





A herd of Common Elan



The shadow of our balloon as we pass over some open grassland next to the river.



We pass by a large bloat of hippos as we start looking for a landing site.



"If you can walk away from a landing, it's a good landing."
Chuck Yeager

After about a 16 mile balloon flight we land in the Mara Triangle area on the west side of the Mara River.



After two aborted landing attempts we were told to assume the landing position (A.K.A. Crash Position) and to hang on tight and not let go of the handles until the balloon comes to a full stop. The balloon basket first makes contact with the tops of trees and brush before bouncing along the ground for the next 150 yards. The basket, with passengers, coming to rest on its side.

Some of our skid marks from the basket bouncing along the ground.



Our pilot surveys the area and calls in our location to his support team.



Time to get comfortable and wait for the support team to come get us.





During our wait I found a few wildflowers. This flower is only about 1/4 of an inch across.



After a 45 minute wait the support team arrives.



The support team unloads from the Land Cruisers and starts to prepare the balloon for transport back to camp and we load up for a trip to our breakfast.



Our return to camp requires us to cross the Mara River at the Purungat (Mara) Bridge Gate (latitude:-1.542761 longitude:35.016614). We are only about 1/2 mile from the Tanzanian border.



A crocodile in the Mara River at the Purungat (Mara) Bridge.



We continue our journey to breakfast and camp along Kenyan road E176.



A yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis)



We finally arrive at our breakfast, setup in the open grassland.



The traditional balloon ride champagne breakfast...



How do you like your eggs cooked?



On our route to camp, after breakfast, we find this sleepy hyena in the grass next to the jeep trail.

Safari Day 6 - Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara

After a restful night's sleep at the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort we are up early and prepare to travel to our next safari camp at Masai Mara in southwestern Kenya. This day's breakfast was different; Instead of going to the restaurant for breakfast, we were driven to the golf course overlooking Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot and the Aberdare Mountains.



Our breakfast was served under the trees at the edge of the golf course ...



and a view of Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot.



A full breakfast, including made to order omelets, were available.



Local birds, such as this Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus), watched from the trees.



After breakfast it was time for some pointers from the local golf pros and a few practice shots.



The tips from the pros must have helped. It has been 20+ years since I've hit a gold ball, but I was able to drive the ball straight down the fairway.



A flower at the lodge parking lot.



As we travel from Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara we can see the plumes of steam rising from geothermal power plants in Olkaria.



We leave the main paved roads and travel down dusty dirt roads into the Masai Mara area where members of the Maasai tribe tend their cattle.





Safari balloon rides.



After hours on the road, we arrive at our safari base camp for lunch.





The camp swimming pool.



The camp is located along the Talek River and has a footbridge to cross to the other side. Also note the electrified fence to keep wild animals out of camp.



Our camp tent. This safari camp is run by the same company as our camp at Samburu.



In the early afternoon we are out for a game drive and soon find this spotted hyena not far from camp.



A Masai giraffe, also called Kilimanjaro giraffe, is the largest subspecies of giraffe.



Crossing the Olare Orok River.



A Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri). This is the largest species of hornbill worldwide and can reach a height of 4 feet.



A group of banded mongoose foraging for insects and small reptiles.



As late afternoon/early evening approached we started finding lions.



This pride of lions, consisting of several females, cubs and one male, was resting in the shade of a brushy area.



As evening, and the end of this game drive approach, we again cross the Olare Orok River and head back to our safari camp.



As we return to camp, we find this lioness with two playful cubs.



Not far from the lioness with the cubs, we find this male lion resting next to our jeep trail.



The activity from our Land Cruiser wakes up the lion as we return to camp for the evening.