Balloon ride
Jul 14th, 2011, 03:27 PM
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Balloon ride
We have the option to take a balloon ride in the Masai Mara or Amboseli in September. Which would be the best one to take (not that either would be a bad choice...)? Thanks for the help!
Jul 14th, 2011, 05:52 PM
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Definitely the Mara as the migration will be in swing during September and you'll have a better opportunity to see many animals from the air.
I visited the Mara in mid August last summer and it was spectacular as we saw lions, zebra, elephant, hippos, wildebeest and one quick leopard sighting going into bushes. You're never guaranteed any sightings but it was beautiful to be above the Mara River. I was also in Amboselli last year and loved it but it didn't compare to the Mara in the number of sightings. Enjoy.
I visited the Mara in mid August last summer and it was spectacular as we saw lions, zebra, elephant, hippos, wildebeest and one quick leopard sighting going into bushes. You're never guaranteed any sightings but it was beautiful to be above the Mara River. I was also in Amboselli last year and loved it but it didn't compare to the Mara in the number of sightings. Enjoy.
Jul 14th, 2011, 05:58 PM
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If you are asking for the best option of the two I'd agree the Mara.
If you are wondering about doing the balloon or not doing it, consider some of these discussions along with nycjv's enthusiastic endorsement.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34566261
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34832767
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35012457
If you are wondering about doing the balloon or not doing it, consider some of these discussions along with nycjv's enthusiastic endorsement.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34566261
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=34832767
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...4&tid=35012457
Jul 14th, 2011, 06:18 PM
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Thank you for the feedback and the other links- they were very interesting. My husband is afraid to do it (doesn't like heights or freefalling) but I am game. Not going too high might be a good thing as you would be closer to the animals. A balloon ride is on my bucket list. Rather than skydiving...
Jul 14th, 2011, 07:08 PM
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This is Lynda from the middle post that Atravelyn posted - just had to jump in and say that I enjoyed it so much the first time, we went again in 2009 & still enjoyed it as much! We were higher up than in 2006, but still not a scary height.
And yes, I'd do it a third time! We did the Mara both times (Governor's Camp)
And yes, I'd do it a third time! We did the Mara both times (Governor's Camp)
Jul 14th, 2011, 07:16 PM
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I have done both -balloon ride and skydiving ( twice) - but none of the times in Africa.
Both are experiences I rated very high -between the two the balloon ride gets the thumbs up- I can still close my eyes and remember being at 4000 ft (!!) much above the clouds, with a blue sky above and the sun creating a brilliant shadow of the balloon on the clouds! And the view of many many lakes, trees, mountains in Lake District once we got lower.
I landed thrice in farming fields (on goat poo everywhere), was shooed to take off again and finally landed in the back garden of somebody's holiday cottage!
However, I decided not to repeat this experience in Africa after all the feedback was mixed and I felt there was a good chance this would be a lot more touristy plus risk disturbing the animals. At Lake District it was this amazing pristine quiet that I loved, just me and a friend and the 1 balloon guy.
Also for the price you pay for 1 balloon ride in a group of 8 to 16 in Africa, you can pretty much have a private experience in many many places.
Both are experiences I rated very high -between the two the balloon ride gets the thumbs up- I can still close my eyes and remember being at 4000 ft (!!) much above the clouds, with a blue sky above and the sun creating a brilliant shadow of the balloon on the clouds! And the view of many many lakes, trees, mountains in Lake District once we got lower.
I landed thrice in farming fields (on goat poo everywhere), was shooed to take off again and finally landed in the back garden of somebody's holiday cottage!
However, I decided not to repeat this experience in Africa after all the feedback was mixed and I felt there was a good chance this would be a lot more touristy plus risk disturbing the animals. At Lake District it was this amazing pristine quiet that I loved, just me and a friend and the 1 balloon guy.
Also for the price you pay for 1 balloon ride in a group of 8 to 16 in Africa, you can pretty much have a private experience in many many places.
Jul 15th, 2011, 06:28 AM
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Skydiving--perish the thought. But I'm not a risk taker.
I don't recall any funny tummy feelings in the balloon, similar to what one might feel on a roller coaster. It was not scary at all, if that makes your husband feel better.
You can certainly split up that morning of the balloon ride and your husband can do a traditional game drive, while you soar overhead. But let your agent, your guide, the camp/lodge management know very early on because it is usually assumed that your one guide will stick with the vehicle occupants, whether that is picking you up from the balloon or taking you on a drive.
The easiest place to allow one person to do a balloon and the other to do a drive would be to stay at a camp/lodge where the balloons depart. That way you don't have to be driven to the launch site.
Little Governors has balloons. That would be my top choice because the route is along the river so even if there is not a lot of wildlife action, there is a pretty setting and you can see the huge hippo imprints. Mara Serena does a balloon ride--and I would think you'd see the river from that location.
When deciding what date to book, allow yourself a "rain date" if possible. Often the balloon is the grand finale highlight of the safari so it is put at the very end. But if there is a problem, then you have no second chance.
On my last trip at Serena, there were a whole lot of disappointed guests who could not do the balloon trip due to technical difficulties one morning. Weather also plays a role and with weather becoming less predictable, give yourself more than one shot at the balloon if it is something you really want to do.
I don't recall any funny tummy feelings in the balloon, similar to what one might feel on a roller coaster. It was not scary at all, if that makes your husband feel better.
You can certainly split up that morning of the balloon ride and your husband can do a traditional game drive, while you soar overhead. But let your agent, your guide, the camp/lodge management know very early on because it is usually assumed that your one guide will stick with the vehicle occupants, whether that is picking you up from the balloon or taking you on a drive.
The easiest place to allow one person to do a balloon and the other to do a drive would be to stay at a camp/lodge where the balloons depart. That way you don't have to be driven to the launch site.
Little Governors has balloons. That would be my top choice because the route is along the river so even if there is not a lot of wildlife action, there is a pretty setting and you can see the huge hippo imprints. Mara Serena does a balloon ride--and I would think you'd see the river from that location.
When deciding what date to book, allow yourself a "rain date" if possible. Often the balloon is the grand finale highlight of the safari so it is put at the very end. But if there is a problem, then you have no second chance.
On my last trip at Serena, there were a whole lot of disappointed guests who could not do the balloon trip due to technical difficulties one morning. Weather also plays a role and with weather becoming less predictable, give yourself more than one shot at the balloon if it is something you really want to do.
Sep 4th, 2011, 06:04 AM
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Maybe a bit late but let me add my thoughts on the Mara balloon ride. I did it January and we started before dawn. I wore a jumper but once up with the sun out it was quite warm. The landing was fine even with a few grand of camera equipment.
I would however need a good reason to do it again. why:
1. There weren't a huge amount of animals to be seen although that was more to do with the time of year.
2. I did not feel comfortable when we went over a heard of elephants (we were quite high) but they still seemed to get agitated. I don't expect elephants to poo on my rug when they visit me so I hope I don't poo on theirs when visiting them.
3. There were 15 other people in the basket and they never shut up, now I am sure I was unlucky but five minutes just to savour the quiet would have been nice.
Otherwise it was ok.
I would however need a good reason to do it again. why:
1. There weren't a huge amount of animals to be seen although that was more to do with the time of year.
2. I did not feel comfortable when we went over a heard of elephants (we were quite high) but they still seemed to get agitated. I don't expect elephants to poo on my rug when they visit me so I hope I don't poo on theirs when visiting them.
3. There were 15 other people in the basket and they never shut up, now I am sure I was unlucky but five minutes just to savour the quiet would have been nice.
Otherwise it was ok.
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