We wake up to blue sky again and take a short hike to the other side of the island, where there is a museum. Inside the museum ... mummies! Yes, mummies. While building the dock on Ticonata Island, a room of female mummies was found. They are very well preserved and have been moved to the museum to keep them that way. No one knows too much about them, but there are about 8 all together and they range in age from infants to adults. Why were they placed there? What was the purpose? It all seems very mysterious. Afterward, we get ready to leave Ticonata Island and sail to Amantani Island. Unfortunately, there really isn't much wind today. Not like yesterday! There are 3 of us to each little wooden sailboat and 2 Aymara guides. They ended up rowing almost the entire time - 2-3 hours of straight rowing. Que horible! We say goodbye to our Aymara rowers when we reach Amantani Island. At Amantani, we walk up to greet our host families. Ashley and I head off with the female head of the household and take a quick nap. It's been quite a trip already and I'm tired. After dinner, we hike to the top of the island, huffing and puffing from the altitude, to watch the sunset. We were the only travelers on Ticonata, but this is not the case with Amantani. There are bunches of other tourists on Amantani, all up at the top of the island to watch the sunset. After the sun sets, we go to a quick dancing festival similar to the one on Ticonata. It's cold on Amantani, but the family has plenty of blankets to keep us warm.
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.