This morning we look outside and see the sun shining, and the water is so still it looks like a mirror. The water is so still because we are in Neko Harbour, which is a small bay indenting the shore along the west coast of Antarctica. We are lucking out with a beautiful Antarctic day!
After riding the zodiac to shore, we hike up a path towards a cliff that provides a view of Neko Harbour. On the way, we see a gentoo rookery. This is the first rookery that smells really badly. We take a few pictures, but quickly decide to advance up the hill. The view at the top of the hill is magical, and it is quite warm for our first landing on the Antarctic Peninsula. We take off our jackets and sit down to enjoy the view.
Back on the cruise ship, lunch is outside on the sixth floor. Lunch outside in Antarctica, who would have guessed? While the ship travels to Paradise Bay, we see another humpback whale. The whale is feeding so it repeatedly surfaces. The ship continues, but a little while later we see our sister ship: Le Boreal. The ships' crew exchange resources and the ships' passengers exchange hoots and hollers. It's fun to see another ship, especially after feeling so isolated out in the middle of the ocean.
We enter at Paradise Bay and have another sunny expedition. We take a zodiac excursion around the Bay and Skontorp Cove to look at the interesting tabular icebergs. Some of the icebergs have patterns on them, and the icy glacier cliffs each look unique. We watch some small avalanches. Some of the snow is piled high in the air, perhaps 150 feet. The snowy cliffs give way to some rocky cliffs where blue eyed shags nest.
We arrive at Almirante Brown where there is a gentoo penguin colony near the Argentinean research station. The smell of gentoo guano fills the air, but we enjoy watching the gentoo penguins wander to the shore.
There is a path to the top of a hill where we hike to a great view of the icebergs we visited on the zodiac. Once at the top, we slide down the hill on only our snow pants. We thought we would practice feeling like penguins. Unfortunately, our sliding speed is fairly slow, and we get snow in our pants. Apparently, being a penguin is harder than it looks.
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.