The Suitcase Diaries: I Have To Get Up How Early?

Ok, first off, I know it has taken me ages to get round to writing all of this up, sorry and all that but I’m sure you will all get over it eventually

This last October was C’s 34^th birthday and I thought it would be nice to treat her to something a little different for a change.

Unfortunately owing to work schedules and general ‘life abroad’ logistics the actual day of her Birthday was spent driving from Nelspruit to Pretoria and then organizing a vehicle license once we arrived. However, once we had that out the way we were able settle down for a beer and a braai in the Katswink Bar and get ready to celebrate everything the following day.

The following morning at the ungodly hour of 3.30 AM we were once again up and on the road, although this time the destination was a touch more glamorous than a vehicle licensing office!

The first installment of the days big adventure was to be a Hot Air Balloon ride over the Cradle of Mankind and the Lion & Rhino Nature Reserve. Despite the early start and the bleary eyes this was to be an amazing experience. When we first arrived at the launch site it was a bit touch and go as to whether the weather was going to co-operate or not but after a coffee and a short wait we were given the all clear for lift-off!

It’s hard to describe the experience of the world’s oldest form of air transport. It’s is incredibly smooth and tranquil and gives one a very peaceful feeling as you drift silently through sky. Only periodically interrupted by the roar of the enormous gas jets that feed the hot air in to the balloon in order to keep us in flight.

These bad boys are very noisy, hot and intense when they are fired up but you soon forget about them and go back to enjoying the scenery after they have done their job keeping you afloat a while longer and return to their normal, more quiet, dormant state.

As we drifted gently through the sky we were lucky to see some of Africa's wildlife passing below.

We had been warned by our pilot that the landings can sometimes but a bit, shall we say, 'interesting' if the wind is running and the balloon gets dragged along. In this unlikely event we were to be ready to crouch down inside the basket and hang on to the straps ‘for dear life’ until we came to a final stop. As exciting as it sounds and as interesting a tale it may have made we were fortunate that this was avoided and we settled gently back on the ground with only the slightest of bumps

As is traditional we celebrated the end of the flight (and the fact that we were still alive) with a glass of bubbly or two, not a bad start to the day all in all.