We got up before dawn was even a consideration. We ate a quick breakfast and loaded ourselves up in a truck with canvas-flap sides. It was surprisingly not-warm in the morning, and I was wearing shorts. Maybe not the best choice but certainly fashionable.

We drove out to the plains windward of the hotel where they were starting to prepare the balloon. We were encouraged not to stray too far away as one never knew what might be lurking in the darkness. We weren't scared, we were just huddling together for warmth. The Balloon fit 12 people in four compartments, plus the pilot in the middle. Apparently it is a good idea to be fairly well packed inside so that you don't get thrown around during landing.

Our capable pilot was from Calgary and had been ballooning most of his life. He was harnessed into the balloon since if he fell out we were all in trouble. He was also the only one wearing ear-plugs. For some reason I imagined gently gliding over the plains, silently watching the animals from above. Perhaps it was the two 26 million BTU burners that were on at least half of the time to keep the balloon aloft that made it somewhat less than silent? On the plus side it was nice and toasty in the balloon!

We all climbed into the balloon and lay on our backs. Once we were all in the pilot gave it some gas and the balloon lifted upright. The handlers held us in place until we were ready to go and then we were off. We traveled right past our hotel and then watched as the sun rose. We also saw a couple of other balloons (one pictured at left) which had taken off at about the same time from different parts of the park.

As I mentioned, it was not exactly a silent ride. The animals tended to run away, even more so than when you approached in a van. it was still very pleasant though. Drifting there above the plains, seeing everything from a new perspective.

We saw herds of zebra and wildebeest. It was interesting to see their long shadows. We also saw a serval as it bounded through the grass. I got a much better picture of this one than the one I had seen briefly in the dark at Sweetwaters. That does not mean that I got a particularly good photo, simply that I got a couple of shots which were recognizable as a spotted cat. We were told that we would be given a two minute warning where we should put cameras away and get into our crash positions. Literally. You put everything beneath your seat, sit on the bench with your head back against the basket and kinda hope for the best.

We were told that there were three types of landings. The first (preferred) is where the basket lands upright, plants itself there and then gently tips over as the balloon descends. This is what is known as the 'hypothetical' landing. You get about 3 of these a year and generally only when there are light winds. Let's just say that this was not the type of landing we had. The second type is where the basket lands upright and is dragged for a while and then comes to rest on its side. The third is where the basket jumps and hops a few time in a rather violent manner. We were closer to this third type. Apparently we ran over a termite mound. This might have been the point at which a brained myself on the side of the basket and felt like I got a concussion.

One of the amusing things about ballooning is that you never really know where you are going to end up. Winds shift and move at varying speeds at varying altitudes. You could end up miles from where you expected to be and far from any roads. Meanwhile, the truck that dropped you off has to come find you and travel on the ground faster than you are traveling in the air, as it must go on a roundabout course following what passes for roads. While you are waiting for the truck, lurching around in a stupor from a recent concussion, who knows what could happen to you? Fortunately, the truck showed up within a couple of minutes of our touchdown and we were wisked away to breakfast.

We ate out on the open plains. There was champaign and OJ and eggs made to order, crepes, fruit, rolls and various sausages and the like. There were no animals close by but there were a few wildebeest herds off in the distance. Of course I got a most excellent balloon certificate.

When we got back we took a mini-morning game drive down to the hippo ponds. There were literally tons of hippos. Big ones, not quite as big ones, young and old. About half were in the water, lying up against the bank. Others were submerged except for the tops of their heads and snouts. Others were lying on the shore in the sun. A few even standing, although even those seemed to mostly be asleep. Every once-in-awhile one who give a big yawn. And I mean a big yawn. In addition to the hippos there were a couple of crocodiles down stream. The hippos did not seem to notice them. I suspect that the crocs are not much of a match for a hippo. After we had our fill of hippos (read: "I had used up another roll or two of film on hippos") we headed over to see what the wildebeest and zebra were up to.

We were about to witness classic group behavior.All of the wildebeest and zebra were on the far side of the river. They had to, at some point cross over to our side to get to the yummy grass and continue their journey. They all wanted to come over, or at least get a drink of that nice cool water. But noone wanted to be the first. And so it went. A zebra or gnu (wildebeest) would start to venture a little ways down the slope. A few others would follow close behind. The 'leader' would chicken out and head back up, followed by the rest. Then another would go down a bit farther. Again followed by a number of others. Again he or she would chicken out. Finally one made it down to the water and started drinking and the others followed. Then one who had finished drinking would try to get back to the top but was prevented by the others coming down. Feeling trapped it would panic and everyone else would panic and they would all run back up the hill. Then it would start all over again.

After watching this whole drama unfold a couple of times one of the many buses went a ways upstream to watch the crocodile. This bus was followed by another and another until most of the buses had moved on. But we really wanted to see the gnu and zebra crossing, so one by one we all came back. After another period of limited activity a bus took off for home and lunch. Then another and another and finally the whole group. Man mimics nature.

OK, so you are thinking that we had a pretty full and exciting day, right? Well you don't know the half of it, literally. We are only just getting to lunch at this point. Yesterday was a big disappointment, other than the morning lion and lioness. Today made up for it and then some. After lunch we headed out for the afternoon game drive. It started with some adorable little hyena (as opposed to this fellow to the right). We saw some really small, almost cute hyena cubs along with mothers, fathers and assorted others. Next we came across a few ostrich. We also saw a dozen elephants all together. They were quite a site with the huge matriarch, mothers and little (?) babies. There were assorted birds including secretary birds and hornbills.

Eventually we had to head back. We then saw another group of hyena and then it began to rain. Now the last time it rained it had the wonderful effect of getting water into the river at Samburu for the first time in four months right before we got there. Well this rain, which only lasted a short while, had the wonderful effect of producing the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It started to our left and slowly arched across the sky until it came down on our right, a complete arc. But that was not all, because a second complete arc, although fainter, appeared outside of the first. It was truly magical. A perfect end to a perfect day.

I think we had dinner or something when we got back, but who cared after the awesome game drives we had in the Mara? So we packed and got ready for the trip back to Nairobi in the morning.

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