Daily Excursions at Camp Denali and North Face Lodge
Camp Denali and North Face Lodge are the sole proprietors in Kantishna with historic rights to guide travelers on hikes inside the Wilderness Zone of Denali National Park. So every day, these properties starts with a briefing of the day’s three excursion options. Each day has a difficult hike, a medium hike and a “foray”. Since there are no trails in Denali – all hiking is off-trail, through the tundra – none of the distances are ever particularly long. The differences between difficult, medium and “foray” trips is in the elevation gain, the terrain covered and length of time spent walking.
Each group is led by an incredible guide, with a passion for the wilderness, the park, the wildlife and mostly a passion for sharing it with travelers. The joy with which they come upon animal tracks, or share a wildlife sighting, or enjoy a particular moment of lighting on a distant mountain, belies just how long they’ve been here. It all seems new and wonderful to them, just as it clearly is to the traveler.
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.