Walking onto the Amalea during the holiday season is walking into a winter wonderland. Strings of lights and garland line the staircases and billow in the windows. Each cabin door is decorated with a wreath and the dining room has lovely holiday lamps with blowing snow and winter scenes.
During the first day onboard, travelers were invited to decorate the Christmas trees with fancy bulbs and garland. A pickle ornament was also hidden on the ship (perhaps a German tradition, but more likely something US German descendants adopted). The finder received a large wrapped gift.
One night, we set out one shoe each outside our door for Father Christmas or Krampus (terribly devilish looking figure said to visit naughty children). We each received a chocolate figure of one or the other.... guess I better start being good as it was Krampus that filled my shoe!
Another day we opted to stay onboard for the afternoon and decorate gingerbread.
On a separate evening, the staff sang Christmas carols and Santa arrived with presents!
Off the ship the towns are getting more and more ready for the holidays with Christmas markets opening each day and lighted streets. Onboard they have also started offering holiday treats such as mulled wine when we return from an excursion.
This is definitely a great way to kick off the holiday season!
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.