On our return trip to Pook's Hill the next morning, we stopped at Clarissa Falls and ate lunch. Very good! Due to the recent heavy rains the week before our arrival, we were not able to walk to the falls. By the time we arrived at Pook's Hill, we were tired from the drive and got out and stretched our legs and had a delicious cup of hot tea. We had another wonderful meal that evening. It is a good thing that we walked a lot, considering how much we ate.
A couple from England had arrived and they had done the cave trip that we would have to miss. They said it was a great experience, but difficult. There were about 14 people for dinner and the conservation was interesting and loud. I exchanged book titles with one of the young people there. Some of our group had walked to the river before dinner and swum in the Roaring River, which was cold and swift.We were supposed to go to the cave, but Ben thought it best to give the river another day to go down. That was an unfortunate decision for us since it started raining at four in the afternoon and rained all night. To get to the cave, we would have had to cross a creek and go inside the cave and swim 15 or 20 yards to the place where sacrifices had once been made. We could not go because of the heavy rain. This was a disappointment for me, but I had learned to be flexible on my travels.
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
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.