Hate these early starts but vehicle left hotel at 5am for a 1 hour drive to where we jump into the hot air balloons. Would you believe they took off just in front of the lion rocks. It was still dark 20 mins before sunrise balloons still not inflated and the lions were roaring. Quietness of morning and dark made them sound real close. Just as the sun started to rise we took off. It was great we must have been only 5 meters of the ground, just enough to clear the trees for the first 25 mins. Hippos walking around before retreating to the ponds and overnight another couple of thousand Zebras and Wildebeests seemed to arrive. Words cannot describe it. Towards end we climbed to 800 feet.
Flight went an hour and half then bubbles to celebrate.
Then in the middle of the plane a long table was setup with full silver service for a full English breakfast and more bubbles. Absolutely magic.
There was only three of us from our group who went so now joined the rest of the crew to see what we could see. Did not take long, leopard in a tree soon another. Lots of Elephant and antelope of different types then lion in trees. The day was topped off seeing Cheetah and her cubs.
The whole arvo was lots and lots of wild animals as we had hoped.
Big ones still to come is Male lions and Rhino.
Back to hotel about 5pm shattered after a non-stop day. Eat dinner and fell asleep.