WorldTravelReynolds

Oh boy, did 3:45 AM come early. Chuck and I usually treat anything before 8:00 AM as a personal offense, but knowing what was waiting for us made crawling out of bed a little easier.

We gathered for coffee and pastries at 4:30 AM to attempt full human consciousness. Naturally, the hot topic over breakfast was the nocturnal soundtrack outside our tents. Some heard lions roaring (yes, actual lions right outside. I attempted to wake Chuck but decided he needed his sleep!), while others heard baboons and buffalo. Sleeping in luxury while wild predators serenade you right through the canvas? 10/10 experience.

Because Africa loves to keep you on your toes, we ran into a little traffic jam on our way to the launch site. And by traffic jam, I mean 5 or 6 lions casually having breakfast right in the middle of the road. They were completely focused on a half-eaten wildebeest—bloody faces and all, eating like they’d never seen food before! Since the back roof of our jeep was closed, I squeezed into the front seat next to our host Paul (we’re basically besties now) to peek out his open window. It was raw, wild, and totally worth the detour.

Then came the main event: The Hot Air Balloon Ride.

Getting into the basket was an Olympic sport in itself. The crew lays the basket flat on its side, and you have to climb in and lay on top of each other like human tetris (there was a wooden barrier) before they fire up the propane burner. As the hot air inflated the giant canopy and we began to lift off, I was still inwardly debating if this was a brilliant idea or a massive mistake. (I’ll admit, I’ve seen enough balloon accidents to be a little nervous!).

But as we floated into the sky alongside 15 to 20 other colorful balloons, all my fear completely melted away. Looking down at the endless golden savannah with herds of wildlife running below us while the sun painted the sky was a moment of pure magic. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But only in Africa!

Well… except maybe the landing part.

The pilot promised us a “boring landing” if the winds cooperated, while the guys in our group were naturally rooting for a chaotic crash-landing. Team Boring won! We had a smooth, steady touchdown with just a few gentle skips. Getting out of the basket, however, was pure comedy. While the limber ones among us managed to scramble over the rim, others needed a little extra… encouragement. Luckily, three or four giant crew members were on standby, casually scooping people up like bags of flour and placing them gently on the ground. Absolute 5-star service!

After heading back to camp for a much-needed nap and lunch, we set off for a cultural visit to a traditional Maasai Village.

We were welcomed into the village, where all the sons live and work together while the daughters marry into neighboring communities. One of the Chief’s sons gave us a tour. He casually mentioned he has two wives and “many” girlfriends, prompting Chuck to whisper, “Why on earth would anyone double down on that?!” But that was nothing compared to his father, the Chief, who fathered 64 children with 16 wives!

The village was bursting with life—kids, goats, chickens, dogs, and cattle all happily coexisting. At one point, a little boy started playing with some dried up cow dung until his dad gently yelled at him to drop it (turns out toddlers are universal no matter where you go in the world!). Before leaving, we handed out soccer balls, toys, and coloring books to the kids, and they serenaded us with a beautiful farewell song that gave us goosebumps.

We wrapped up the afternoon with another game drive, where the Mara just kept delivering:

• The Stealth Cheetah: We spotted another cheetah far in the distance, slinking through the grass like a secret agent on a high-stakes covert mission.
• The King Himself: Our guide tracked down a massive male lion with a full, breathtaking mane, lounging peacefully in the grass until we rolled up and ruined his quiet time.
• The Cutest Newborn: A proud elephant mama strolling through the bush with her tiny, 3-week-old baby staggering along beside her.

Fun fact: The Giant Giants: While elephants anywhere in Africa are impressive, the bulls of the Maasai Mara are in a league of their own! Thanks to the Mara’s rich, year-round soil and abundant, nutrient-dense grasslands, these elephants grow to be some of the largest on the continent. To keep those massive bodies going, an adult Mara elephant spends up to 16 hours a day eating, scarfing down over 300 pounds of vegetation and drinking up to 50 gallons of water every single day! Watching a whole family herd glide effortlessly through the tall golden grass—with tiny calves tucked safely between the giant legs of their aunts and grandmothers—is easily one of the most heartwarming sights on safari.

Tomorrow is our very last full day in the Maasai Mara before we start making our way home. Time is flying by way too fast, but I pinch myself every single day and thank God for how ridiculously generous He is with His blessings.

Enjoy the slideshow below of more pictures from the day!

May God bless you always—and see you tomorrow for our final day in Masai Mara!

Chuck & Lea Ann