Caribbean food is similar across most of the islands. Chicken in spicy (Jerk spice for example) or fruit sauces served with vegetable sand rice. Goat, lamb and beef are also common in meals. Fish is a staple especially where the coastline occupies a large portion of the island land mass.
Specialties include Sorrel flowers which are brewed into a bright red drink at Christmas time and Boudin, Creole sausage. A popular dish on the island of Grenada is “oil-down”, a mix of meat, dumplings and green banana, yam and potatoes with coconut added and then cooked until only a little bit of coconut milk remains at the bottom of the pot.
Cocktails are very popular on the Caribbean islands. Many of the drinks served to visitors on Caribbean cruises are very exotic in flavor, for example the mauby is made from tree bark. Caribbean cocktails are usually brightly colored and very strong so they should not be indulged in without due care and attention especially in hot weather. Many islands produce their own beers such as the Hairoun Lager of Saint Vincent.
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.
