Awoke to cows sniffing around outside my tent. The cows were not timid. One stuck its head completely into my tent. Well good morning to you too, Sir.
After breakfast we hiked up another part of the mountain. It was a shorter hike, but still challenging due to all the knobby grass humps. We explored a cliff area with some cool overhangs and shiny obsidian looking rocks everywhere. Clowned around with some more skeletons.
After lunch we packed it up and said farewell to exercise and headed to the Papallacta Hot Springs. The accomodations here were fantastic and the hot spring pools were very well done with natural stones and clay pitchers pouring water. Man it felt good relaxing in that hot water. The views were great too. The resort is in a valley surround by mountains, one of them being snow capped.
After eating at the nice restaurant on site (there's really no reason to leave this place) continued to soak the night away until we became human prunes.
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.