TAKE YOUR SAFARI EXPERIENCE TO THE SKY WITH ORIGINS SAFARIS

A game drive across the East African savannah is most certainly a highlight, but no safari is truly complete without taking your safari experience to the skies. Gently drifting over the vast plains in a hot air balloon is the perfect way to start or tie up your safari. It is possibly one of the most romantic and evocative wildlife experiences one could have.

The adventure begins just before dawn. You awaken to the nocturnal sounds of the East African bush – the soft calls of birds, the rustling sounds of the trees, the snorts of wildebeest and the distant roars of a lion. It is time to leave camp and head to the launch site.  On your way to the site it is fascinating to see what animals are out and about, as some are more active and present when night falls.

When you arrive at the launch site, you may be luckily to see the balloon, also known as an “envelope”, being inflated. Watching the preparation and inflation of the balloon is an interesting experience in itself and you soon realise just how enormous the balloon actually is.

Once the balloon is fully inflated and everyone is on board you receive a short briefing by the pilot. And then, it is the moment that you have been waiting for… Anticipation grows as your waiting to launch. The burner is turned on once again, and the pink and orange flames light up your surroundings. You start to feel a strange sensation in your stomach as you see the ground slip away.

As you start to ascend, beautiful features appear before your very eyes. Your eyes feast on the golden sun rising above the horizon, across the plains, the rolling hills, the meandering rivers and the game dotted below. While you are sailing high above you gain a greater perspective and appreciation of the landscape, the mesmerizing ecosystem, and the synergistic relationship between flora, fauna and humans. And best of all, you have the finest vantage spot for game viewing. Having a 360 aerial view allows you to spot herds of wildebeests, towers of giraffes, pods of hippos, a memory of elephants and many more grazers and foragers. If you’re lucky, you may even spot predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas and other hunters.

What amazes most first time balloonists is the complete stillness and silence around you (despite the occasional noise from the balloon burners).  For most of the hour you are quietly drifting wherever the current takes you. Sometimes you are high above the plains so that you can see for miles, while at other times you are closer to the ground, giving you a close-up view of the animals below. This provides ample opportunities for photography and filming.

While you are in the air you can see how and why the Masai Mara got its name. The Maasai (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) named the land “Mara” which means “spotted” in Maa, like the coat of a cheetah, the savannah is randomly dotted with hundreds of widely spaced trees, shrubs and cloud shadows that mark the area.

After a spellbinding hour you slowly descend back into the midst of the wilderness where you are warmly welcomed with a customary champagne bush breakfast to toast to your return, and enjoy a sumptuous feast cooked on the balloon burners while you relive your exhilarating experience.

Is that not the perfect way to start your day in paradise?

About Origins Safaris

At Origins Safaris we are passionate about wildlife, cultural heritage, adventure and exploration. We customize each and every safari to your personal requirements and expectations, ensuring an exclusive, unique and authentic experience every time.

Origins Safaris is a family business, founded in 1963 by Don and Margaret Turner. It is managed today by two subsequent generations of the family, and predominantly by Don’s son, Steve. We are so much more than just a travel broker – our years of experience, professionalism and reliability means that we go the all important extra mile, to make sure your dream safari is safe, memorable, educational and most of all great fun. We are renowned for our meticulous safari planning from start to finish, and the highest standards of natural history.

Origins Safaris provide that crucial “sound advice and impeccable service” so seldom found by other companies. We have 50+ years of authentic African safari experience and the know-how to make your trip run as smoothly as possible.  

Let Origins Safaris help you to experience balloon safaris.  Contact us on www.originsafaris.com for more information.