A day with a choice: hiking from camp up to the base of the Torres (the spires visible from the Eco-Camp when the clouds deigned to lift), or a hike through puma country to see pictographs and possibly some wildlife. Opted for the pictographs, as the weather didn’t look optimal for the hike to the Torres. Furthermore we were told that you don't get much of a view until you actually get all the way up the trail to the final viewpoint, a long uphill haul. Away from the mountains, however, the day was nice…it was a pleasant hike past grazing guanacos (as well as bones of guanacos who had been puma lunch, hmmm), then up a gentle hill; we saw interesting pictographs (1,000 years old?) under a rock outcrop. The guide gave us several possible interpretations of their meaning, one being that a puma had killed some of the natives. Hmmmm again. (And where exactly do these pumas hang out, we wondered, as we looked around). Also saw grey foxes, condors (high above us, looking for dead animals to lunch on...maybe they're in cahoots with the pumas?). The lakes in the lowlands sometimes had pink flamingos in the grassy shallows. It wasn't clear from what the guides said if there were fish in these lakes, but the white shorelines and lack of much vegetation around these bodies of water suggested a high salt content...maybe the flamingos find brine shrimp?
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.