June 19
Linda and Emerson are going for a balloon ride over the Masai Mara. Advised not to be outside without an escort after dark, we found our escort ready for us outside our cabin promptly at 4:15am, to accompany us to the main lodge! (BTW-we were given a whistle attached to our room key to use if we had any problems at night).
We met up with Allen in the dining area where we enjoyed fresh coffee and sweets. Headlamps were necessary as electricity was not yet on at 4:30am!
We arrive at the launch spot around 6am. Linda watches as they prepare the balloon.
Getting in the basket is easy when it's on its side like this!
Looking back at other balloons as they start to lift off. 6:36
Nearby balloon shows how the gas flames helps balloons rise.
Linda, Emerson and our balloon pilot Paul, an English man who makes his permanent home in Italy.
Herd of cape buffalo.
Sunrise on the horizon.
Emerson and Linda in the glow of the balloon flame.
Pride of lions.
A Lioness.
A lioness.
A lion.
Ballooning over a waterhole with sunrise and sleeping masai warrior mountain range in distance.
Sunrise with 4 balloons.
Balloons over a water hole.
Eles walking.
The "spotted plains" (termite mounds).
Giraffes.
A pair of giraffes running.
Balloon shadow.
View of brunch spot from balloon.
A close up view of a termite mound. These are much flatter in profile than the high mounds we saw earlier in our trip. That's because at this higher altitude they don't need as much chimney effect to cool the mound.
Pre-landing. 7:35
Safely on the ground.
Breakfast tables. 8:06
Champagne anyone?
Why yes! Let's toast!
Now some coffee to go with that nice breakfast!
Dung beatles.
While we were balooning the rest of our group was on morning game drive. We missed seeing this jackel.
Mike Farley photo
We also missed seeing this hyena.
Mike Farley photo
Topi seen on the way to meet up with our OAT group. We're told animals bob their heads up and down to help keep flies from getting into their nose. 9:42
Nasty looking female warthog.
A clear and close up video of a warthog.
A kori bustard walking near warthogs. 10:45
Topi. 10:47
Bird atop tree. 11:06
Ostriches. 11:10
Tommies and a hartebeest.
A Masai giraffe. 11:30
Ladies carrying firewood.
Our guide pulls over and asks if we could try and carry the load. Linda giving it a go. 11:59
The two Lindas! 12:00noon.
Now it's Emerson's turn. It was not a light load and Emerson is a lot bigger than the gals we stopped. 12:03
Lunch plate. 12:43
No skipping dessert, even at lunch!
Relaxing in the afternoon.
A battery and converter in our cabin. The cabins ran completely from the solar panels on top of each cabin.
Afternoon safari with "Cool Alex".
Water buffalo. 3:42
Three giraffes and zebras. 3:49
Grazing elephants. 4:03
Midway in this video we see a baby elephant nursing. 4:06
Giraffe. 4:24
Eles (that is what they're called for short here in Africa!). 4:25
Allen estimates age of this baby ele. He starts by saying 6 months here but revises it down from that (after video cuts off). Because it appears this little ele can fit easily under the mama, Allen says it's more like 3 months of age. 4:29
"For the folks at home" ... how close we got to the Eles. 4:37
Baby Ele struggling to get hold of grass with it's trunk! 4:40
More elephants (sorry...just can't have too many photos of them!). 4:49
Elephants by the side of the road.
A cooling spray.
Elephants and giraffes.
An elephants tail.
Baby food.
Journeying giraffes. 4:58
Linda and Emerson in Land Cruiser. 5pm.
Acacia and clouds. 5:04
Elands and zebras. 5:30
As we head back to our Camp, we encounter cattle on the road. 5:45
Video of cattle heading in for the night.
The water tap for the village. This is the tap that the boys were getting their water from.
Our Masai waiters and staff performing.
Our Masai waiters plus Josh and Allen performing.
Our Masai waiters performing including some leaping.
Goodbye cake from Sentrim Mara folks presented by the Masai!
Our last night in Masai Mara bed.