This trip isn't just for Nana. I work full time and have 4 kids. Consequently, there seems to be precious little time to give my kids one on one attention. My solution is to take turns each year taking a special trip with one of my kids so that he/ she has individual mommy time.
Now it was my 6 year old Samantha's turn. For the past year or so, we had been talking about where we might go for her trip. Fortunately, Samantha is super social and easy going. She loved the idea of having Nana come along and going wherever made Nana happy. I knew Samantha would make a great traveling buddy when she didn't hesitate to say she wanted to go to Baja, despite missing her best friend's birthday party, a St. Patrick's Day parade and an Easter bunny breakfast while we were away. As soon as we found out that Nana had her passport, we applied for hers too.
This makes my experience in Baja unlike any other as I can see it from both the perspective of a senior exploring the world for the first time and my ambitious 6 year old willing to try anything. Even the airplane ride was an adventure with Samantha as she looked out the window and commented that the mountains below looked like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.
She tasted every gourmet food that we were served- from Lobster and Marlin Tacos to Mediterranean Chicken Pitas and Fennel Squash Enchiladas. Her willingness to fully dive into the travel experience also extended to every activity. Each day I would ask Samantha what she wanted to do and she always chose the activity she hadn't tried yet. We went hiking through the cactus, kayaking among mobula rays and paddle boarding. As a novice swimmer, she even enthusiastically jumped at the chance to snorkel with whale sharks.
Samantha has been keeping a journal of her trip. One day she told me she couldn't wait to tell her kindergarten class that she had tried a Mexican Chocolate Cookie- they would be so excited. I asked her if she thought they would be excited that she has seen a Blue Whale too, but she hesitated- "I don't know if they would all like that mom". Her photos are even more intriguing. Here are a few of the images Samantha took with her camera on our adventure.
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.