Neko Harbour is full of the most beautiful icebergs on the planet, I discover as I paddle my kayak around them. We are not allowed to get too close, but it's amazing to see how deep the go down into the water. I think of them as floating relatively high, but they extend deep beneath the water's surface. The weather is good again, so we have a BBQ lunch outside on the deck of the ship. This eventually turns into a dance party with peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate. The food and drink on this ship is beyond good. The head chef tells me that he will go through 1,400 eggs on our voyage. In the afternoon, we have a continental Landing at Waterboat Point. We get the chance to see several penguins sitting on their eggs already - something that normally doesn't happen for another 3-4 weeks. The uncharacteristically warm weather has broken up the ice and allowed the penguins to breed earlier this season. After dinner, I meet up with my skier friends and we chat about the day they had. I miss the skiing, but I'm happy to be able to participate in the regular excursions as well. A group of kayakers takes off for an overnight excursion - their shapes moving along the water in the last remains of the sunlight. It won't get dark until after midnight, so their paths will still be lit for hours.
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.