My first experience with swimming occurred when I was just 6 weeks old, and it has been difficult to pry me from the water ever since. Unnaturally comfortable holding my breath, I could spend hours snorkeling along the reefs, hovering just above it in a canoe or kayak, or splashing around in the surf. After one particularly bountiful snorkel off the coast of Isla Monserrat, in which I spent the bulk of my time below my fellow cruisers in deeper reefs, I resurfaced next to the zodiac. Our guide, who had also partaken in the snorkel, commented that I looked so comfortable in the water that he had half-expected me to grow gills and a tail. “I should have been a fish,” I told him. He nodded in agreement.
Throughout the week, I was occasionally lured away from the sea by burros and scenic hikes, but I always found my way back to my snorkel and fins. Whenever I travel, I do my best not to journey too far inland. Whether enjoying the company of whales, dolphins, sea lions, starfish, or moral eels, some of my favourite travel memories have occurred in the water.
"So that the monotonous fall of the waves on the beach, which for the most part beat a measured and soothing tattoo to her thoughts, seemed consolingly to repeat over and over again…" -Virginia Woolf
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.