After leaving Missoula and a night of rest in Denver we arrived into Belize early in the afternoon to start our first adventure to Central America! During our hour-or-so ride to our jungle paradise, Pook's Hill, our driver answered our questions about Belize's culture, climate, and wildlife. A bumpy and beautiful drive down ended our last leg of the drive where we learned about the local flora of the Jungle including the sacred Mayan tree, the Ceiba Tree, or Tree of Life. This impressive national tree's branches reach to the sky and the trunk of the younger trees are covered in intimidating spikes.
The national tree of Belize, the Ceiba Tree or 'Tree of Life' (Joe Devine)
Immediately after arriving at Pook's Hill we were immediately greeted by one of the owners or the lodge, Ray, who treated us to a welcome drink and introduced us to the lodge. We familiarized ourselves with our cozy cabanas. The accommodations at Pook's Hill are the perfect rustic escape from modern living, although they do supply electricity via solar arrays and generators as well as hot water which is supplied via burning Cohune nuts, a native renewable resource.
Relaxing at Pook's Hill (Joe Devine)
After exploring the lodge and conversing with the other guests and Ray over dinner we headed to bed for the best night's sleep I have ever had. There is nothing that compares to falling asleep to the sound of the jungle!
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
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
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