Flight delays are a reality of travel. I know this. I’ve worked in the travel industry for over three years. Even knowing this still doesn’t prepare you 100% for when it happens. I was a hot mess before this trip. Adventure Life is growing at an amazing pace, but it made for an epic busy season. I had no time to prepare mentally, physically, or even emotionally for this trip. I even said to my husband at one point, I don’t want to go. People. I said to my husband that I didn’t want to go to ANTARCTICA. I just did not feel ready. However, I mustered up the excitement my sweet friend, Molly and I had been building for over a year and set out. That poor girl, she could tell how little I had prepared or was in the mind set for travel. I set out in front at the Denver airport and walked her to the complete opposite end of the terminal. I had blisters on my feet because I wore the worst socks. I was again, a hot mess. Now, when our flight was delayed, and it looked like we’d miss our flight to Buenos Aires, that didn’t help things. The lady at the front desk was most unhelpful and said that most flights had already been changed. We looked on our account and sure enough, our flights had been re-routed to Miami two days later and we would have missed most of our time in Buenos Aires. Molly and I were understandably disappointed but really didn’t want to start our trip on the wrong foot.
I guess I had already done that by dragging her to the wrong part of the airport. We both put our heads together and tried to come up with positives. Houston…what could we do for a few days in Houston. I called my husband to let him know. He suggested going to the beach…OK. The beach…I hear the food in Texas is great. Too bad we are too far away to visit Chip and Joanna Gaines. It’s hard to keep positive in situations like that. I honestly started praying. I was praying that it would all work out and praying for a good attitude if it didn’t. Ultimately, I knew Molly and I would have a great time together no matter where we were. We boarded the plane to Houston, not knowing what would happen. As soon as we were in the air, the pilot makes an announcement. “Looks like about 30 people are trying to connect to Belize and we’ve asked the plane to wait for them”. Dang it. Lucky people headed to Belize. “No, I’m sorry, I meant Buenos Aires”. Applause and loud cheering (mostly coming from my mouth) erupts in the cabin. I may have shed a tear. We were on our way to Buenos Aires, Big Apple. Folks, flight delays are a reality. You might miss part of your trip or all of it. However, life always works out and you can make the most of it if you try! Also, buy travel insurance. That helps.
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.