Never plan ahead on timing of Airlines. The schedule will change the day before.The flight was full with a bumpy ride the last hour. Taking the escalator to the next concourse my carry-on suitcase fell back and caused me to tumble upside down. I quickly reversed my direction and continued on my way. We foraged for pizza during the interim between planes. Our friends, the Brooks, met us at the next gate. It’s raining in Miami. Flight to St. Thomas was uneventful.
The Brooks joined us and others for a 30 min cab ride to Red Hook . $30 per couple. We are on time, 3:30pm, to board the Arabella. The crew greeted us and remembered us from to our cruise in December. We settle in our cabin 16, the largest on board. Debbie becomes captain in place of Sandy and lectures on the proceedings of the trip.
We sail into Caneel Bay, St. John for dinner at the Equator at Sugar Mill overlookinig the bay. The wooden structure is a modern version of an open umbrella with ribs of beams holding up the roof. The ruins of the sugar mills are silhouetted against the sunset. Wonderful meal of selected dishes similar to our first dining experience.
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.