We got up even earlier this morning, at 4:30am. Apparently I have to get up even earlier on vacation than when I am on rotation in the PICU... But, the reason for getting up so early this morning was much more exciting than a day in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. We were scheduled to go on a balloon safari!
After a bumpy ride through the park, we arrived at the launching site for our balloon safari. We were supposed to try to be up in the air around sunrise (which is at 6:30); however, we were functioning on "African time," and, therefore, did not take off until around 7:00 or so.
This was not a romantic balloon ride, but instead an enormous balloon with 14 other people plus the pilot, but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. To see the Mara from the air is completely different than seeing the park from the back of a safari vehicle. Whereas the vehicles are restricted to traveling on the roads, the balloon can pretty much go wherever it wants. Though we did not get close-up views of the animals, there was still amazing scenery and a great variety of wildlife on view.
After about an hour in the air, we landed safely (although we took out at least a few termite hills in the process...). Our vehicles were waiting for us, and took us to a delicious breakfast set up in the middle of the bush - complete with champagne! En route to our breakfast, however, we were able to see some wildlife up close, including the Jackson's hartebeest and hyenas who had just killed a baby buffalo and were in the process of eating (interesting, but definitely didn't help my appetite...).
Our champagne breakfast was quite the production and very impressive. And the champagne helped, too! When we first arrived at our breakfast site, we noticed that there was a male elephant in the far distance. As we were eating, the bull walked closer and closer to our breakfast site, attracted by the smells and loud noises.
While this was interesting, it was also a bit scary as elephants can be completely unpredictable and can charge at any time. As the elephant continued our way, our guide instructed us that, if he should tell us to move, we should move as quickly as possible behind a very large truck. Great. The elephant got within 30 meters of our breakfast site before it was scared off by one of the trucks. Crises averted, breakfast resumed.
After breakfast, we took a safari drive back to our guest house (where we saw a pregnant female lion very close)!
We then relaxed for the afternoon. We went out for our final game drive in the Mara around 4:00 (as the animals are very inactive during the early afternoon). Although the evening drive was pretty quiet, we were able to see a male lion in the brush. Just when we were about to leave (as the lion wasn't doing anything), we noticed a female lion nearby; therefore, we stopped to watch for a while.
It seemed that the female lion was in heat and was trying to seduce the male lion. Just when she was about to complete her seduction, three other male lions appeared out of nowhere! It was pretty incredible. Daniel informed us that the male lions would likely fight for the right to the female. We stuck around for a while, but weren't able to see the fight. For the most part, the lions were all just lying down and sleeping in the brush. Boring... Just kidding. It was quite amazing.
As we drove back to our guest house, we were able to catch a beautiful sunset over the Mara. Great way to end our time here!
After a bumpy ride through the park, we arrived at the launching site for our balloon safari. We were supposed to try to be up in the air around sunrise (which is at 6:30); however, we were functioning on "African time," and, therefore, did not take off until around 7:00 or so.
This was not a romantic balloon ride, but instead an enormous balloon with 14 other people plus the pilot, but it was an amazing experience nonetheless. To see the Mara from the air is completely different than seeing the park from the back of a safari vehicle. Whereas the vehicles are restricted to traveling on the roads, the balloon can pretty much go wherever it wants. Though we did not get close-up views of the animals, there was still amazing scenery and a great variety of wildlife on view.
After about an hour in the air, we landed safely (although we took out at least a few termite hills in the process...). Our vehicles were waiting for us, and took us to a delicious breakfast set up in the middle of the bush - complete with champagne! En route to our breakfast, however, we were able to see some wildlife up close, including the Jackson's hartebeest and hyenas who had just killed a baby buffalo and were in the process of eating (interesting, but definitely didn't help my appetite...).
Our champagne breakfast was quite the production and very impressive. And the champagne helped, too! When we first arrived at our breakfast site, we noticed that there was a male elephant in the far distance. As we were eating, the bull walked closer and closer to our breakfast site, attracted by the smells and loud noises.
While this was interesting, it was also a bit scary as elephants can be completely unpredictable and can charge at any time. As the elephant continued our way, our guide instructed us that, if he should tell us to move, we should move as quickly as possible behind a very large truck. Great. The elephant got within 30 meters of our breakfast site before it was scared off by one of the trucks. Crises averted, breakfast resumed.
After breakfast, we took a safari drive back to our guest house (where we saw a pregnant female lion very close)!
We then relaxed for the afternoon. We went out for our final game drive in the Mara around 4:00 (as the animals are very inactive during the early afternoon). Although the evening drive was pretty quiet, we were able to see a male lion in the brush. Just when we were about to leave (as the lion wasn't doing anything), we noticed a female lion nearby; therefore, we stopped to watch for a while.
It seemed that the female lion was in heat and was trying to seduce the male lion. Just when she was about to complete her seduction, three other male lions appeared out of nowhere! It was pretty incredible. Daniel informed us that the male lions would likely fight for the right to the female. We stuck around for a while, but weren't able to see the fight. For the most part, the lions were all just lying down and sleeping in the brush. Boring... Just kidding. It was quite amazing.
As we drove back to our guest house, we were able to catch a beautiful sunset over the Mara. Great way to end our time here!
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