Sunrise Balloon Safari

11.1.17  Up, Up and Away!  To the sky and to the top of my lodge...

Another 5 AM awakening for our optional sunrise balloon safari high above the Sossusvlei!

Inflating our balloon...

https://youtu.be/we5evjNOhbk

https://youtu.be/jgN0aPHe7os

Our basket with Jackie.

The incredible sunrise over the Namib Desert.

 Tracking our sister balloon...

 The landscape below...

https://youtu.be/wjPr5tOv7gI

 Dennis, our balloon pilot.

 Not only did Dennis stick the smoothest and softest landing 
I've ever experienced in 4 balloon flights; 
he also managed to ascend about 2 ft. and then place the basket onto this trailer 
so the guys could tow it back to base camp!

 Then, as his chosen assistant, I stood next to him 
as he scored the neck of the champagne bottle with his machete 
and slashed the cork to open the bottle!
Then he gave me this cork as a souvenir.

We toast to an awesome morning!

Time for our desert breakfast.


https://youtu.be/JKFTdkHaGBo

After some down time, we spend some on-the-ground time exploring Sesriem Canyon. There are some interesting sights along the way and more sightings of oryx, springbok and ostriches.

 Love this biking sign out in the middle of nowhere. 

Apparently our lodge rents out electric bikes for sightseeing. 

But my problem would be getting lost and having no idea how to get back.

The Sesriem Canyon in a nutshell...

• Natural gorge carved 2-4 million years ago by the Tsauchab River
• 98.5 ft. deep in spots
• .6 mile long
• 3-9 ft. wide

Because it will be our last night at the Kulala Desert Lodge, we have to have another "sundowner" - sigh, if we must...

 Matteis sets up our beer, wine and munchies.

I love this photo of our guides Matteis and Richel, with the setting sun and their beautiful smiles reflecting on the front hood of the jeep.

Tonight after dinner I grabbed my extra pillows, climbed my ladder and fell asleep gazing at the full moon and stars. A fantastic ending to a most wonderful day!