Our safari includes an early morning balloon ride, just like when I was in Kenya 20 years ago. I opted out as I’ve already done one, but I have not “storm chased” balloons before. Therefore I became our rubbish event photographer for the morning.

And morning it was, needing to wake up even earlier to make the balloon launch site before sunrise. Let me assure you, the state of the wilderness dirt roads do not improve when you cannot see them. But the sunset was lovely.

There were two support trucks delivering the two balloons to support our 28 brave aviators – the overwhelming majority of which have never ballooned before.

The basket has four compartments, each able to hold four very skinny people. Thinking happy thoughts, both managed to ascend.

I was now solo with a driver as we followed the balloons coasting with the wind. Once I was above the balloons as they dropped into a valley while my vehicle was on a hill crest.

I’m going to stop typing and just post balloon pictures.

Since we were chasing the balloons, I had less positional options. Sometimes I had the sun behind me, to the side or behind the balloons. I could probably match the lighting and make the color more consistent if I had more time, but we had breakfast in the Mara afterwards. And I like their omelets.

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Our current hotel offers its guests “tents” rather than rooms. I have the words in quotes because the tent is on permanent brick foundation with tile floor, electricity and running water, including sink, toilet and shower.

The front “door” uses zippers, which is a bit of a pain. However, you need to make sure the flaps are closed or the monkeys will come in and steal everything. I’m not chancing that with only one day left.

We fly to Nairobi tomorrow morning, get rooms in a hotel and individually taxi to the airport depending on flight times. I should have time at the hotel for another post. See you then.