Cathy visits her favorite placeA perfect day,weather-wise,for our trip to Tierra del Fuego National Park. We were picked up early by guide, Freddie, from Canal tours. What a great guide! His English was far superior to our Spanish. He was very knowledgeable about the area's ecology. We followed trail up to "Freddie's Balcony", a great spot for a coffee and soup break. Great views of islands and harbor. We walked down to shore line and camp for bar-b-que lunch of chicken, kabobs and red wine (love those wines of Argentina, especially the Malbecs). After lunch, into small boats to paddle around small islands where we were apparantly the afternoon's entertainment for a local sea lion who followed us closely. Returned via Rte.#3 which is the famous Pan-American highway. Dinner at high-end resturant,great fish dinner. After dinner, drinks at Lola's. Cathy was the victim of an equipment malfunction and was locked in bathroom stall. She didn't panic but was forced to crawl out of the stall. John laughed all the way home. Cathy didn't.
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.
