Ballooning over the Mara

The 4am start is immensely worth it as you climb up and over the canopy of trees that follow the Masai Mara River and you look out at miles and miles of beautiful Africa. Everyone so thrilled at what can be seen below, the hippos, buffalo, elephants and much much more.

The balloon being heated up

There is something astounding as you go floating along in stillness of the morning over the vast expanses of the Masai Mara, directed only by the wind. There is a magical sensation as you watch the sun rising and you look over this beautiful untouched piece of paradise where we are so fortunate to live and work.

View of the Mara Triangle as we heat up 

sun starting to pop up over the horizon

sunrise

Then there is the landing which changes from the smooth silence to being bumpy and full of surprises. “Two minutes to landing, hold on and head back” are our instructions. Running through my mind is will we hit a termite mound, is there an Aardvark hole that we may land in, and bones that we may bounce over or will we end up on top of the termite mound? It was the latter but a lot less potholes than what I was expecting.

The winding Mara River

Our balloon shadow over the long tall grass

Gorgeous views

All aboard

and landed!

What an epic way to see the Mara!

Back to the River.

We woke up this morning to find a herd of elephant on our doorstep. A concerted effort by the crew under the direction of long time friend and excellent guide John Moller, a lot of back and forth by Mzee Yusuf and his trusty old truck and some "colourful language" and Serian's Serengeti is once again set up in the northern Serengeti 3 kms west of the Kogatende airstrip. The savannah is rich fully recovered from the large burns of last year and looking like a sea of grass. 

Swaying grass in the Lamai Wedge

The herds are east of us and closing in by the minute the first crossings over  the Mara River heading north happened yesterday and we have been seeing great cats. Leopard, Lion and Cheetah perched on the rocks and anthills surveying the swaying savannah. Some Soldier ants played on the road and then some more appeared on the horizon!

Some Ants!

More Ants?

Several small herds have already headed north into the Masai Mara by way of the sand river closer to the Nyamalumbwas and Bologonja. Two weeks ago we were hearing reports of small herds heading into Keekerok. In the Lamai Wedge which sits below the Mara Triangle we have been seeing large herds of topi and some zebra which have filtered down from the Mara North and Olare Orok conservancies. 

Masha & Chololo with Guy and Aunty Noe

Female Cheetah in the Lamai wedge looking out over the Mara River

 We expect the herds to filter through along the valleys beside us in the next couple of days on their journey north. Lots of grass to munch their way through without a doubt! The hippo have no idea what is in store for them as the mega herds wend their way ever closer. The River looks like such a peaceful space right now!

A couple of little charmers Thomas and Annette

Sundown over the Mara. Let the games begin!

looking North into the familiar landscape of the Mara Triangle