Margerie Glacier in tracy ArmI don't know how much more joy I can stand, but am willing to try. After a breakfast of an egg and cheese omelet, bacon and cranberry juice, we began our day. When we went back to our cabin after breakfast, we found a red tag to wear around our neck that had three different activities and times for us to do them. The passengers were divided into groups in order to make this happen. We three were in the red group. Actually, Aspen went with a few others at 6 AM to kayak. It was raining lightly at that time and I opted out. Our first adventure was on the Zegos(outboard driven run-abouts). We three agreed those would be great to have on our lake back home. Aspen and Nora were on one Zego with Aspen driving. Cody and I rode together with Cody driving so I could take pictures. Our Zego was very slow as were most, but one had 20 hp whereas ours had 9.9. It was still fun to zip around the small islands and look for wildlife. After an hour of that, we took RTVs (rough-terrain vehicles) and rode through the temperate rain forest for an hour and a half. We saw bear scat, Western Hemlock trees and Sitka Spruce trees. The Alder trees were very prominent. Macy and Suzanne were our guides with the RTVs. This was a day that the crew got to get out and do the activities with us. Suzanne told us about her experiences helping with sled dogs and the Iditarod. Hank went with us on the Zegos. We had a special treat for lunch about 11:45 We had B-B-Q ribs(I told the chef they were as good, if not better, than any I had ever eaten and I am from Texas, home of the BBQ.) He said he had cooked 30 pounds and this was the first time he had ever run out. There was also slaw, potato salad and another salad, bean soup, veggies and halibut. At 1:30, it was time for the Red group to kayak. There were two people in each kayak. I sat in front of ours and Cody in the back. At first, everyone went off and left us as we could not get our kayak to go anywhere. Jess said our rudder was messed up and once he fixed it, we did just fine except for the fact that Cody kept shifting his weight from side to side and rocked the kayak. Amy also went on the kayaks with us. We saw two black bears and an eagle's nest. When we got back to the ship, there was a black bear about one hundred yards from the ship. He stayed in sight for almost an hour, just grazing very nonchalantly. The water was pristine. Seems we spent a lot of time eating. It was cookie time at 3 and though I usually don't eat cookies, Lamech's butterscotch cookies were too good to resist. We left Hobart Bay at 6:30 and were on our way to Petersburg. On the way, we saw a lighthouse and the ship stayed in one place for a long time so we could watch for whales. There was something other worldly about that evening. We saw whales all around the ship although most did not breach and we all were on deck hoping to see that magnificent fluke. The sounds they made gave me cold chills. Whale watching had been on my bucket list and here I was straining my eyes through binoculars trying to see them. I took about 30 pictures and got mostly dorsal fins and water, but I did mange to get one picture of a whale's fluke.We also saw a couple of porpoises swimming back and forth beneath the ship. Someone on deck would yell,''one o'clock'' or ''10 o'clock'' and all would strain to see. We continued on to Petersburg.
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.
