After breakfast, the day began with a short hike through the Annai village to the Pakaraima foothills. This was an easy trail to walk and the birdlife was amazing! Richard pointed out more than 50 species of birds including a hermit hummingbird, lineated woodpecker, yellow oriole, finches euphoria, yellow crowned parrot, and a red shouldered macaw to name a few. If I listed them all it would fill up this journal! The view over the savannah was spectacular and the white tailed hawks flying over only added to the experience. After an amazing morning of bird watching, we returned to the lodge where we witnessed a display of cashew roasting over an open fire - by far the freshest and tastiest cashews I had ever eaten - and with no salt! Then walked around the grounds to find even more birds I hadn't seen. This was a birders paradise!
During lunch, as I saw the beautiful mobiles of hand-carved birds in the lodge, I inquired about local artists that may have bird carvings as I noticed near the entry road to the lodge that there was a small shop. I do collect carvings and tribal masks to remind me of my trips. Being a Sunday, it was closed but arrangements were made to visit the shop. I purchased almost all of the wood carvings including a hummingbird, trogan and jacamar to add to my collection.
Having left the rainforest and given up on my pursuit to spot a jaguar, I still had no sighting of a giant anteater. But there still was time and I was now heading deeper into their territory!
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
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
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.