Day 26, 30 July 2012, Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive, returning to Meserani in the evening for last night of truck adventure - Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge - c'est parfait! Leaving behind a substantial hole in the breakfast buffet we departed at 7 am for the Crater floor. Now many people told us how hot Africa would be. And many people have been wrong. We were at 2400m at the lodge and dropped to 1800m in the floor of the crater. We were wearing every warm item w...

Day 25, 29 July 2012, Lobo Wildlife Area to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge (at the crater rim) - Today was a big day - they just don't seem to make small ones in Africa. We had a game drive in the Lobo area before returning to the Visitor's centre in Seronera for lunch (the lodges pack a lunch box for each of the great white hunters). Then it was a hell for leather drive to get out of the gate of the Serengeti N.P. by 3.00 pm. Exactly. A minute longer and there wo...

Day 24 (late), 28 July 2012, Lobo Wildlife Lodge - The rest of day passed in a haze as we were both on a high (pun intended) from the ballooning. We drove to the north of the Serengeti and spent the night at Lobo Wildlife Lodge. This is as reported by intrepid James - he went out to watch the sunset while I had a steaming hot bath. A man-sized baboon spied him and his shoulder bag and decided to let rip with a roar and a spot of territory marking. James declin...

Day 24, 28 July 2012, Serengeti National Park -"Up, up and away, in my beautiful balloon...." The only cure for getting that song out of our heads was to take to the skies on a Serengeti Balloon Safari. Despite revelling in the luxury of the Seronera Wildlife Lodge, we barely slept due to chronic BES ("Ballooning Excitement Syndrome). Questions ran through our heads - How good could it be? Could it possibly be worth US$499 per head? We certainly hoped so when the...

Day 24, 28 July 2012, Seronera Lodge, Serengeti N.P. - Very. Early. We were picked up by the fabulous folks at Serengeti Balloon Safaris at 5.30 am and encountered this lovely lady on the drive to the launch site. Just like any cat - stand up at the side of the road - stretch the front legs, stretch the back legs, amble across road. Moving slowly, looking tired - we think she has been nursing cubs and is a bit over it just quietly. Onwards and upwards for us!...