![]() The few trees are acacias which are draped with vultures as it is too early for thermals to get them skywards. Serah askes to borrow my video camera and records some footage of the vast migration we see below us. We are all taking photos except for Serah and James who don’t have cameras. Every now and again our pilot gives a blast from the gas cylinder and we shoot up fifty yards. It is amazing to see so many animals from directly above. They stretch out in lines- giraffe, wildebeest, zebras, Tommies, buffalo, impala and waterbuck. The balloon is very quiet and drifting southwards. There are an estimated million and a half wildebeest and 300000 zebra plus thousands of other grazers. The primary animal of the migration is the wildebeest but there are other grazers like the zebra and various other less numerous animals. This ancient route covers about 2000 miles. All these animals are constantly on the move. When the sweet grasses are exhausted, the herds will re-cross the Mara and head south in search of fresh grazing. This is the northern end of the migration where there is still palatable grass. The migration then crosses the Mara River and into Kenya. The game follows the sweet grasses which spring up as the rains move. Rains dry up in the Serengeti in southern Tanzania but the rainfall pattern moves northwards. ![]() The vast majority of animals are migratory. You pass through entrance gates but the animal move freely wherever they want. Although it is a game reserve, there are no fences. We are in Kenya in the Masai Mara reserve. But when we are about 200 yards up, the burner is switched off. The burner is roaring and we rise quickly. There is a strong blast from the burner and the balloon rises over us. She could bounce out of her wheelchair and injure herself. Ali is left out because it is too dangerous for her. The basket can hold at least ten passengers apart from the pilot and his co-pilot. It is six o’clock now and suddenly it is light. This is a slow process as there is a huge volume to fill but slowly it starts to take shape. The hot air is channelled into the massive balloon. Our guide proudly tells us that this is the biggest balloon in the world. Spread out near the basket is a huge, multi-coloured bag. I don’t notice it at first as it not yet lit. The highest point on the frame is the burner. A huge wicker basket with a chromed steel frame attached to it. We jump out of the vehicle and head for the lights.
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