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Safari
is Swahili
for journey. In today's eco-tourism context, to safari means to
travel while looking for wild animals.
On this trip, we engaged in four
modes of safari: the standard four wheel drive vehicle, the less common walking safari, a
dolphin boating safari, and this hot
air balloon safari above the Serengeti. Although a crucial and growing
part of the economy, tourism in Tanzania is still relatively underdeveloped.
Tanzania endeavours to manage the impacts of safari tourism, in part by limiting
development and keeping
prices high.
The
ground crew waves as we float gently up.
Along
with safari, a recurring theme of the trip was early rising.
We had a 5 am wake up call to catch the pre-dawn balloon launch.
Another day saw us awake
at 6 am for a nature hike.
Most ridiculous was getting up in the middle of the night on Mt. Meru.
Spice scampers up for a better view.
Our pilot said it is the largest leisure hot air balloon currently in
use. The passenger basket certainly was bigger than balloons
I've flown in back home.