To a sailor, Cape Horn is the Everest of the Oceans. Steeped in tradition and tragedy, The Cape is undoubtedly the proving ground of shipping and endurance over the years. So to see the Cape on a beautiful March day, was a dramatic moment to say the least. The ship's boats were lowered for what would be the first of countless times. Designed to carry in safety the guest compliment of 100 passengers, the Australis was equipped with four large black inflatables and lifted on and off the ship's stern with two large cranes. Once in the water, the crews held the boats fast to the boarding ladders using the inflatable's outboard motors while the guests were assisted aboard. Chilean seamen are an impressive lot. As the passengers were taken ashore, seals frolicked in the kelp beds.
Boat by boat, grounded on a slippery rock shore, we were again assisted up a steep ramp to a stairway designed also to raise freight to the light station high above.
At this point it is important to write about the company that helped make an unforgettable lifetime experience, Adventure Life, from Montana. An energetic entrepeneur started Adventure Life and moved it quickly to become one of the better travel companies, hailed by publications such as Travel (and others). I found them simply by researching venues to explore Cape horn and southern Chile. From the beginning I could tell that they were a group of enthusiastic, hard working and adventure seekers who also knew about organization in areas of the world which are remote.
I was assigned a travel manager, and we worked together through the myriad details entailed in such a detail oriented trip as we were about to embark on.
From the first contact in Ushuia, Argentina, to the drop-off in Punta Arenas some nine days later we were safely guided through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and provided some of the finest in service we had ever had. Adventure Life went so far as to stay in touch with us with birthday cards ever since, and I cannot imagine a more complete effort and better adventure travel company than them.
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.