Hong Kong Skyline from Star FerryWe arrived in Hong Kong late in the evening. I was exhausted and ready for a hot shower and a cold beer. My travel partners, my friend Mason and his cousin McKenzie, were equally beat, nodding off a little during our taxi ride from the airport. We rolled the red Toyota cab windows down and let the late-night bustle wash over us; the city was muggy and crowded-in, everything built upward instead of outward. Our hostel for the evening was hard to find at first, but we eventually found our way up several floors of a nondescript building, where the last member of our group was waiting. After a quick change of clothes and ditching our luggage, we descended back down into the city where we had our choice of hole-in-the-wall establishments serving local brews to the few people left wandering the streets.
We didn’t make it too much further into the night before all of us started wishing for our bunks. I crashed hard, overwhelmed already from the excitement of finally landing in Asia.
The next morning, we had a clear goal in mind: dim sum. Specifically, from the world’s cheapest Michelin star restaurant, Hong Kong’s Tim Ho Wan. I fell in love immediately with the doughy, smoky-sweet pork buns, shrimp-filled dumplings, even the sweetly-sauced chicken feet. I couldn’t remember tasting better comfort food, but it was only the first of many unbelievable meals to come.
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.
