Today is our first day in Africa! We landed late last night after a long journey from Missoula including two missed flights and an unintended layover in Atlanta. Note to self, practice what you preach and get trip insurance! I am also wishing we would have booked our flights through Exito – live and learn.
We had a full day of touring planned for today. We were supposed to do a cycling tour through Soweto, South African’s most populous township (the home of Trevor Noah), visit the Apartheid Museum, as well as do a tour of Lilliesleaf Farm. Since we hadn’t slept in a bed for over 56 hours, we decided to sleep in and cancel the tour of the township.
Our first stop was the Apartheid Museum. The tour guide, also our driver, did not wait until we arrived at the museum to start the tour. He pointed out places of historical and cultural significance the whole way, while simultaneously giving us an abbreviated history of South Africa.
Apartheid Museum (Emily Steinberg)
Upon arrival at the Apartheid Museum we were each given a ticket. The ticket provided entrance to the museum, but we were also assigned a skin color. I was black, my husband was white. We proceeded into the museum and took different halls, based on our assigned skin color. We of course, had quite different experiences. We then met up and continued the tour with our guide. Apartheid Museum (Emily Steinberg)
After the Apartheid Museum, we rushed to Lillie’s Leaf Farm, the property where Nelson Mandela went underground right before his imprisonment. We learned of the work he and his colleagues of the National African Congress executed as well as the details of his capture (not surprisingly aided by the CIA).
By the time we left Lillie’s Leaf Ben and I were both exhausted from the information overload and the emotional rollarcoaster that comes with learning about the human rights abuses that took place not so long ago. We headed back to our hotel in time for the dinner reservation we made at the Peach, which, was absolutely exquisite.
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
2 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
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
