(Extract from THE TIMES newspaper written by travel journalist Jane Knight)
“Too soon, our last full day rolled around and we were awakened at 4am for a balloon safari. We drifted to the click of the wicker basket and the blare of gas over hyenas, a serval, giraffe, wallowing hippo and wildebeest; not perhaps the wall-to-wall carpet of them I’d expected in the migration, but enough.
It was exciting and exhilarating, with every care taken on safety — this was the Rolls-Royce of hot-air balloons. But the early start meant that on our return, we were in need of some wallowing of our own by the pool. Before that, though, there was one more thing to do — it was time to check the remote cameras with Oli again.”
Need to know
Jane Knight was a guest of Expert Africa (020-8232 9777,expertafrica.com), which has five nights at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge from £2,891 per adult and £1,801 per child over the age of 8 sharing with two adults, including flights from London on Kenya Airways, onward flights to Tanzania, transfers, park fees, and full board in the Four Seasons, including most drinks. Game drives cost an extra $150pp half day or $300pp full day in a shared vehicle or $500 per vehicle half day and $1,000 full day. The kids club operates 10-6pm and is complimentary. Serengeti balloon safaris (balloonsafaris.com) cost $500pp plus an $80 transfer.