Day 78. Mto Wa Mdo. 20/12/12

Up at 05.00 and yet another highlight as the jeep headlights picked out three hippos grazing by the roadside, and then crossing the road in front of us (in all other sightings they have been 99% submerged). Great news - balloon already half up when we arrived at the "launch site", and we were soon soaring up into the clear blue sky. Cannot even begin to describe the flight, so shall concentrate on the breakfast.

Champagne (well, actually cava) was served as soon as we landed (along with mango juice for those who wanted buck's fizz), and then we drove to our breakfast site, with the tables laid out immaculately in the shade of an acacia tree - tablecloths, Sheffield cutlery, china with matching dishes for a variety of marmalades, butter pots, proper coffee pots and teapots, ice buckets for more champagne etc etc. Immaculately dressed waiters in turbaned uniforms, pouring warm water (out of a huge copper ewer into a massive copper bowl) over our hands on arrival (individual towels, of course) with Cousins Imperial Leather soap. And of course a full English breakfast. All surrounded by the wonders of the Serengeti National Park. Yes, it may have cost $500 but they certainly did it in style.

Trying to get my mind on to more mundane matters, as we made our way out of the park, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of yet another huge herd of wildebeest and zebra that seemed to go on for ever.

And then, almost as we were leaving the Park, the final act. And what an act - lion and lioness within a few feet of us "coupling", three times in less than one minute!!!!!!!!!! (As video recorded by Karina).

All in all not a bad day.