See Africa's wild animals up close from your beautiful balloon, drifting above the endless grasslands of Kenya's Masai Mara.
Kenya - The Balloon Takes Off
You have to rise early, around 4 a.m, in order to meet up with your very own Phileas Fogg. You’ll probably find your balloon being held down by a half a dozen Masai. You climb into the basket, Phileas turns knobs, and twiddles with other bits and pieces; and a blast of hot air shoots up and swells the balloon into a brilliant colourful canopy over your head. A few more blasts and the letting go of guy ropes and the balloon rises softly and swiftly over the heads of the startled animals below.
It’s a great way to see wildlife and it beats bumping along in a land rover any day. For one thing it’s peaceful - apart from the occasional blasts of hot air - and for another you have a fantastic panoramic view of the Masai Mara unfolding beneath you.
Kenya - The Masai People
The situation of the Masai people in relation to the Masai Mara arouses controversy. There is no doubt that their traditional way of life has been forever changed by the onset of tourism, but the Mara is owned by the Masai tribe and is run by the Narok County Council which is mainly Masai elected counsellors and they share in the financial benefits from tourism income.
This is the most popular of Kenya’s game parks. Almost every species of animal that exists in East Africa lives on this great grassy savannah in one of the most remote parts of the country. The place is teeming with herbivores, about 2.5 million of them, as well as a large number of lion, leopard, cheetah and the ubiquitous jackal.
Kenya - A Surreal Experience
The maximum height for a balloon safari is about two thousand feet which is great for all round views of the landscape. For closer inspection of the animals it can descend as low as one foot, near enough to zebras, giraffes and a small herd of elephants for excellent photo opportunities.
Drifting silently above this unspoilt, natural kingdom is somewhat surreal. A hot air balloon gets you to places other means of transport cannot reach and often a balloon safari is included as part of a broader safari trip. Many companies who offer all-in safari trips will organise trips to suit individual requirements. Whatever you choose - don’t miss out on the balloon trip.
More African articles:
The Battlefields of South Africa
Outspan Treetops Adventure - Kenya
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