We flew to Buenos Aires from Moscow with flight change at London, and with an additional stop in San Paulo, Brazil. We started from Moscow Domodedovo airport exactly at time, and reached Heathrow, London well. Fortunately our plane to Buenos Aires was not delayed, and we boarded on time also. We had already prepared for launch, but the captain said we need to wait for a processing against icing. We had been waiting about forty minutes, and another twenty minutes were taken by the process. After that the captain said that the line to departure was very long, and we had to wait again. We were sitting in the plane and watching the runway. Planes were going up and down very often. Suddenly all stopped. Nothing moved in the airport. After a few minutes the captain informed us that the tower had lost control because the radio system was broken, and... of course, we have to wait. It took two hours to fix it. At last it was repaired and we flew away.
The night flight above the Atlantic was heavy. It was 12 hours long, and we have already been sitting in our armchairs for a good three hours before it started. We hoped to walk a little bit in San Paulo, but the stewardess disappointed us. She said, that this stop would be very short and we could not leave the plane.
Our plane reached San Paulo with a three and half hour delay. It was very hot there, and maybe that was the reason people were very slow. We spent two hours instead of the twenty minutes scheduled, watching strange operations with containers. And the whole time we were sitting in the plane.
But all things have an end. We landed in Buenos Aires after this 20 hour flight. We paid only for 15 hours, so additional five were a free present from British Airlines. But we were not happy. We reached our hotel at 5 pm local time, 34 hours after we left our home. Our hotel was small and nice, but the best thing we found there were a shower and bed. Nevertheless, we found the strength to go out and walk until the evening to adapt to local time.
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.