Day Eight

• Bschaknowski's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Serengeti National Park

Trip Start Nov 02, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Nov 16, 2008 Next
Entry

  Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

So we did actually wake up at 3:45 this morning, and yes, it was awful.  They did bring us tea (for me) and coffee (for Jenn) in our tent so we could make some effort to wake up as we dressed.  To be honest, we both woke with no problem but boy were we in slow motion.
 
The drive to the balloon site was a bout an hour and forty five minutes and was uneventful with two exceptions. The first was a gigantic hippo that bolted across the road as we were crossing a stream back into the water.  Apparently the exit the pools in the evenings and eat and he, frightened by us, decided it was time to get back in the water.  All we saw was a huge brown and pink streak go flying by - who knew they could run that fast.
 
The second was when a small animal ran under the front tire of the landcruiser as we sped down the dirt road.  Now this doesn't sound like much but it's a big fine here.  The balloon company driver stopped and apologized.  Jenn was sad, I told him that it wasn't his fault and that we wouldn't say a word (well, except for putting it on a blog for the world to see).  He was very grateful - I also told him that it would make a nice treat for one of the predators later that day... Jenn was not amused, I laughed for a few minutes. 
 
We arrived at the balloon launch site a little after six, got our briefing and were off.  We were told we were in the third biggest hot air balloon in the world and that it held 16 people (ours had 14 in it).  Funny, I thought, as the one right next to us with twelve looked the same size.  Anyway, we had a nice hour-long flight ascending and descending to catch the varying directions of the wind at the different elevations.  We did not see any migrating herds as they had all moved however we saw some zebra, fox, wildebeest, gazelle, hyena and many birds.  It was very peaceful and we enjoyed it immensely.
 
We landed in a field of sorts in the middle of the Serengeti - that was a little surreal as we had seen a jackal chasing a zebra (who realized he was much bigger and, in turn, started chasing the jackal) about 30 meters fro where we touched down.  The chase vehicles (is that what they are called?  I have no idea) showed up immediately and began to serve us champagne after a very long and drawn out speech by an American pilot on the history of the hot air balloon and its connection to champagne.  Jenn and I were more interested in the present day champagne and had several glasses.
 
We then boarded the balloon company landcruisers which would take us to this ridiculously ornate English breakfast set up under an acacia tree in the middle of the Serengeti.  During the ride, we actually spotted several lionesses relaxing on the coulpe (no idea how to spell it - it's a big rock and tree formation that is in the middle of nothingness) and then, more amazingly, two lionesses perched high in a tree with four cubs at its base.  Wait until we get these pics up, they are crazy!
 
W had our little breakfast and more champagne and they handed us our balloon certificates (clearly those will be framed and go up on the wall in a place of prominence at home... hahhaha) and drove us back to a lodge where Patrick, one of our guides, was waiting to drive us back to the group who were already out on a game drive.  It was about 10:30 at this time.
 
We half went looking for them, half had our own private tour - and what a tour it was!  We saw an adult male lion with a lioness, two cheetah's perched atop a termite mound, a leopard high in a tree and his kill (a gazelle) up in the tree with him and more lionesses.  We hat one hell of a cat day!  Jenn saw another leopard when I had dozed off in the back of the truck.
 
We met up with the others for a late lunch and decided to head back to camp.  That was around 2:30 and we arrived back in camp just before 4.  We have spent the last hour relaxing, enjoying some Tusker, and trying to get caught up on our blog!  Pics will come soon as I will likely need to try to recharge my battery tonight or tomorrow when we drive to our next, and last, camp.
 
It has started to rain which may ruin the campfire fun tonight after dinner but who knows - the weather here is just like upstate NY... raining and awful one minute, sunny and beautiful the next.  If you ask the guides what the weather will be like tomorrow, they respond "could be nice, could be not so nice".
 
Anyway, we are still having a wonderful time.  I have, on occasion, checked the blackberry and I can say that while I am enjoying it here, I miss my work very much and I am excited to return.  I do not think Jenn feels the same way and perhaps thinks I am a little off - oh well... she knew what she was getting into years ago!
 
Best,
 
BJ & Jenn

Post your own travel photos for friends and family Pictures

ballooning	lions in tree	more ballooning	still ballooning
wildebeest head

Slideshow Print this entry Share Dar es Salaam hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry