Our alarm failed to sound this morning, making for a frantic dash back to the airport. We took a 25-minute flight east into the Amazon Basin, landing in Coca. Coca is a small port town on the banks of the Napo River. We boarded a 45 foot long motorized canoe, and began to speed up the Rio Napo. The Amazon forest encroached onto the silty banks, at this time of year the water lies over 20 feet below the vegetation. We were on our way to Sacha Lodge! We spent two hours in the motorized canoes at nearly 35 knots, and then came ashore on wooden boardwalks that led us two miles into the jungle. The path ended at a small dock in a very narrow swamp, where dugout canoes waited to carry us into the lagoon. As we waited for the guides to load the canoes, a high-pitched chirping noise began to come from the trees. A troop of Spider Monkeys came to greet us! We sat low in the canoes as the guides paddled us into the open water, revealing an expansive black lagoon surrounded by dense forest. At the opposite side, the thatched roofs of the lodge came into view, our home in the Amazon for the next four days! More to come soon...
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.