We have a leisurely morning and enjoy walking on the nature trails at the Lodge and Hope and Andy practice doing their yoga poses on the wooden bridge over the creek---warrior and tree out there in the middle of nowhere. No jelly sandwiches today-the breakfast is fantastic!
We check out and board the boat to return to San Carlos, then to our small flight to Managua to meet our van to San Juan del Sur. They make us each stand on a bathroom scale and announce we are overweight. I am hoping they mean are bags are overweight, not our bodies. As much as we have loved the river and the wildlife, we are ready for a hot shower and some sun.
We talk the van driver into stopping at the Masaya market place where there is every form of craft you can imagine so we can do a little shopping. We resist the urge to buy a hammock and instead settle on several hand- carved wooden bowls. As usual, I vow to learn to speak Spanish when I return home.
When we arrive at Villa de Palermo, we can't believe it. It is beautiful and upscale and we have hot water and air conditioning!
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.