My first hippopotamus sighting in the Serengeti with this lone hippie walking around and the remaining bloat or pod napping in the water. (Oct. 10, 2024)

The bloat or pod of hippos in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)

Hippo for the close-up in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)

The bloat or pod of hippos in the Serengeti. (Oct. 10, 2024)

A close-up of the Dik Diks, considered the smallest antelope. (Oct. 10, 2024)

I had no idea that this small creature called the Dik Dik was such a popular and difficult to spot animal, but Daniela did, my Jeep tour member did. The Dik Diks are among the smallest antelopes. (Oct. 10, 2024)

Me standing my our basket and deflated ballon in the Serengeti. It was a hard but not too jarring landing into a beautiful open area of the Serengeti plains. There were two buffaloes and Wildebeest, neither of which came towards us but our pilot encouraged us all to stay close to the air balloon’ basket. (Oct. 9, 2024)

We arrived after dark at the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park where are tents were all set up and waiting for us so we could head to dinner. I have to be up early in the morning for a 5:00 am pick up time by the Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 8, 2024)

We arrived after dark at the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park where are tents were all set up and waiting for us so we could head to dinner. I have to be up early in the morning for a 5:00 am pick up time by the Serengeti Balloon Safari. (Oct. 8, 2024)

Chowing down in the kitchen area of the Ngiri Public Campsite in the Serengeti National Park. We are sleeping in an unfenced area of the Serengeti where the animals are free to roam. We were cautioned to check out the area with our headlamps to see if a pair of eyes might be staring back. With the bathroom so far away from my tent, I decided to wait until in the morning. (Oct. 8, 2024)

Our cook Jeremy seems to make a delicious meal no matter where he cooks, including this one tonight of a steepish-like chicken with fried potatoes and a cabbage mixture. (Oct. 8, 2024)

Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Flying over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Flying some 3,000 feet over the Serengeti, in a hot air balloon. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Back on the ground. The hot air ballon came down hard, scraping the land and coming to a stop on the plains of the Serengeti. The pilot had the bottom half of the basket get out first and then the top half. As people started getting out, it was easy to get too. (Oct. 9, 2024)

Our empty hot air balloon basket landed in the Serengeti. I was second from the left in the portion of the basket. We each wore belts to keep us attached to the basket. (Oct. 9, 2024)