I had been exposed to the idea of traveling to Belize several years earlier when a friend told me about living there when her father was a missionary. I tucked this idea into the back of my mind and made four other trips before I decided to look into a trip to Belize. My husband had succumbed to esophageal cancer seven months earlier. He had give me money to take a trip whenever I could. I had taken care of him during his four year battle with cancer and was not able to be away from him more than an hour or so the last six months of his illness. He wanted me to take a trip as he knew I loved to travel.
My friend Sarah, and I left the Austin Bergstrom Int. Airport on November 15, 2003. My son, Cody, took us to the airport. Our flight was delayed about 30 minutes while they checked the air filters and found the water was contaminated. Eventually, we were on our way.
We reached Belize City about four PM. We were met by a driver for Pook's Hill (our jungle lodge destination). The last five and a half miles we rode was off the main road and very bumpy so it seemed more like twenty miles. It was dark the last hour or so of our drive. Since there wasn't much light when we arrived (only on the large verandah and a few trail lights), we could not tell much about our surroundings. We were fed a wonderful meal when we arrived. Local girls came in to cook all three meals each day. We had our meals in a long room below the verandah where there were several long tables. Other travelers were there as well. We were served rice, fried plaintain, steamed vegetables, beans, salsa and fried eggplant.
When we finished eating, Sarah and I went to our round thatched roof lodge and found a visitor. Since the door left a crack of about an inch from the ground, a green lizard had made himself at home. We named him George and he stayed with us the entire time we were there. We were tired from the long flight and excitement, not to mention the long drive, and retired early. I was anxious for morning and a chance to see our surroundings and what the day would hold for us.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.