On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
swiftfox
During the dry season, wildebeest have to cross the Mara River to find fresh grass. Crocodiles wait for them in the river. We saw groups of 50-300 but we saw just one group of 30 cross, and we largely missed it trying to get in position with the other Land Rovers.
This croc is ready for action. And thermoregulating with it’s mouth open.
Ruppell’s griffon vulture in between meals.
Once you get past positioning yourself into the basket, the hot air balloon ride was fun. It reminds me of the film clips of the Apollo-era astronauts getting into the capsule. My bin was the upper right corner.
Blowers pushing air into the balloon. At lift-off the basket gently turns upright.
View of the Mara River.
I believe this is a tawny eagle. Did not get many good photos from the balloon; I’ll have to return for practice.
Well deserved post-flight champagne with breakfast to follow.
The landing site loo.
Final sunset from camp. After the hot air balloon it started to sink in that the adventure was winding down.
Final stop: Zanzibar.
Baud
I’ve always wanted to do a hot air balloon ride.
sab
Crocodiles, vultures, then champagne. And a balloon ride.
I live in Akron Ohio where everyone apires to ride on a Blimp. I only know one person who did. He said it was scary at the landing but overall worth it.
Mrscoachb
I just reviewed the last few posts…what an amazing trip..how did you go about selecting a tour company?
EmbraceYourInnerCrone
Thank you for sharing these, what an amazing experience!
Tenar Arha
Lovely, thank you
the pollyanna from hell
Gloria asked me to confirm in my own voice that I am eager to host primitive camping meet-up or retreat, 10 miles east of Summerville, GA. For a longer stay I hope I could figure out a way to make it less primitive. I have maybe a dozen tent or camper sites on top of two level sections of a dog-leg ridge-line in three acres. Less if you’re not feeling chummy. I have a tiny unfinished gate-house and no services except cell-phone. I tried a hot-spot and it struggled mightily.
The vistas are a little restricted to the taste of a Westerner like me, but soothing enough.
Talk to Gloria if interested. I don’t expect anyone will be, I’m so isolated. I would jump at the chance to meet-up in Chattanooga or Marietta.
I am 74 years old. I spend my me cutting weeds and doing philosophy; now, with new feature of writing!
Geminid
@the pollyanna from hell: That camp sounds like a good idea; sort of an airy airbnb. You might find some interested mountain bikers, especially in the summertime. Plus hikers and/or fishermen/women. I think you are not far from a sizeable chunk of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
This would be a niche market, but there are millions of people in the Atlanta metropolitan area, and that’s not far away either.
I hope to travel to Atlanta next year to visit friends. I usually take I-85 through Charlotte, but the western route through Knoxville and down I-75 is almost as good. I may look you up then.
the pollyanna from hell
@Geminid:
Yes!
(time. not “me”)
Hoodie
@Baud: That would be an interesting balloon ride, although I’d be a bit nervous about landing in the wrong place. There’s nothing like the views you can get from a balloon. You’re moving at the speed of the wind, so it’s really quiet except for intermittent blasts from the burners.
Had some interesting experiences with hot air ballooning back when I was in my late teens. A family friend was an eccentric surgeon who flew a hot air balloons, among other things (e.g., gliders, small planes, gyrocopters). My dad and I would act as his ground crew, helping launch launch his balloon, keeping in touch with him by radio to see where the winds were taking him and pulling a trailer to load up the basket and the envelope after he landed. We competed in several hot air ballooning events, including a couple of years at the international championships in Iowa. This involved several memorable moments, including having a parachutist jump out of his balloon, flying over the Iowa State Fair at 5000 feet and repairing a rip in the balloon envelope using the sewing machine of a farm family in whose field he had landed (they kindly invited us to a farm lunch). He actually competed in a professional ballooning circuit sponsored by Kool cigarettes. The first event was outside of NYC. The tournament included a promotional gig at Battery Park before the actual races outside of the city. We were supposed to fly the balloon on a tether, but it was too windy and rainy to do even that. My dad had brought along various camping gear including a stove and cookware so, when we all got hungry and bored sitting around doing nothing, we wandered into Chinatown in search of ground beef to make burgers. He some how managed to miscommunicate with a Chinese-speaking butcher and ended up buying 5 pounds of ground pork, so we ended up eating pork burgers. IIRC, the professional balloon racing circuit folded up a year or so after that.
Gloria DryGarden
Incredible sunset photo!
the Pollyanna from hell has told me he’d be thrilled to have a meetup in Rome, Chattanooga, or Marietta, or points in between. You’re welcome to ask for my email, to be in touch with him, for either meetup, or camping visit.
since meeting up in person is a great way to share ideas and brainstorm plans, I hope lots of jackals in many regions are having in person connections. Maybe there are ways we can help each other.
ps, since this is a nature travel thread, the trees on Polly’s land are 80 feet tall. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a tall tree. There are scenic state parks near him , and national forest not far. I gather it’s all scenic and lush, all around there.
eclare
How fun! “Loo With a View.”
Geminid
@Geminid:
@the pollyanna from hell: I forgot birdwatchers. They’re pretty well-networked, so if you can get a few to come out you can get good word-of-mouth publicity.
The same goes for mountain bikers, hikers and fisherman. They have a multitude of internet forums and those are places where you could spread the word.
Emily68
Every time I read the headline I think you’re in Tarzana instead of Tanzania.
Geminid
@Gloria DryGarden: I have friend in Atlanta who said that portion of the Chattahoochee National Forest has some of the wildest lands in all of Georgia. It’s in the corner of the state diagonally opposite and 400.miles away from the Okenfenokee Swamp, which is a much flatter wilderness.
Geminid
@Geminid:
@the pollyanna from hell: I forgot kayakers! I bet the Chattooga River is a popular kayaking destination.
One good thing about the outdoor recreation crowd is they would tend to come back tired and go to bed early. Although, I’ve heard birdwatchers can get pretty wild.
way2blue
When in Maasai Mara, our camp was on the Mara River—with a cluster of hippos below. We could see the hot air balloons in the distance toward the hills. Not for me, but I can see how fun it would be to drift over the landscape. Thanks for sharing.
the pollyanna from hell
@Geminid:
I’m trying to attract the birds first. Even reverse population decline.
Geminid
@the pollyanna from hell: You can do a lot in that respect on 3.5 acres, with plantings, birdhouses etc. There might be a good place for an owl house.
I’ve considered planting a patch of Red Hot Poker plants where I live in order to attract Baltimore Orioles. It’s not a native plant, but I hear the Orioles like them anyway.
the pollyanna from hell
@Geminid: “on 3.5 acres”
3.0 only, but maxed out forest crowding in every neighbor. Thanks for the tips.
swiftfox
@Mrscoachb: I was somewhat familiar with Hunt’s Photo via the internet and their table at the SE Arizona Birding Festival. Hunt’s is in Boston. Their 2025 safari trip is sold out. Thomson’s Safari handled safari logistics. They are now owned by Natural Habitat Adventures.
swiftfox
@Mrscoachb: I was somewhat familiar with Hunt’s Photo via the internet and their table at the SE Arizona Birding Festival. Hunt’s is Boston. Their 2025 safari trip is sold out. Thomson’s Safari handled safari logistics. They are now owned by Natural Habitat Adventures. The safari guides, all local Tanzanians, were excellent.