On our way to the floe edge this morning, we spotted polar bear tracks and stopped to scan the horizon with our binoculars. The print-maker was far off but we snapped shots until he ambled away.
The sun shone and the water was alive! Tom and Mike hauled out paddles, survival suits, drysuits, snorkels, masks – everything we needed to get up close and personal with whales, narwhals and seals.
We took turns stuffing one another’s heads, hands and feet through the rubber openings of the dry suits and laughed ourselves silly.
My best moment came when two enormous, brownish-grey narwhals surfaced on either side of my kayak. I raised my paddle and laid it across the gunwales, while my heart tried to beat its way out of my chest.
That night, too pumped to go to bed, we headed out with Mike and Tom to hike our neighborhood icebergs where we leapt like ballet dancers off icy outcrops. I didn’t think I’d ever want to sleep…
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
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.