What a beautiful day! Sun is shining and turquoise water is sparkling! We got to the first site just as a squall hit and it started to POUR! It seems to do that, short ocean squalls each day. Not to worry, we'll be wet anyway! This site was pretty rough, but Sam, our guide for the day, was terrific and found all kinds of sea creatures we would have missed. We saw a squid, some rays and starfish among other reef varieties. We headed to a small cay for snacks and drinks. Back onto the dive boat and off into the deep blue ocean. Suddenly patches of turquoise appeared then we stopped in the center of a pristine white sand double ringed reef. I have never seen anything so awesome! With 100ft. visibility there were hundreds of coral formations in brilliant purple, green, crystal, yellow and red colors and reef fish to match. It was unbelievably beautiful! The best snorkeling we had ever done! We hated to leave that spot, but Hamanasi and our afternoon river Kayak trip was waiting.
It was just a short van trip to the Little Sittee River. We opted to canoe rather than kayak so we could take more pictures and video without having to worry about getting our cameras wet. We seem to do lots of splashing in kayaks. Unfortunately the waterfront guys forgot to bring the canoe paddles. Our guide, Pedro, sent them back for the paddles and they returned with two six foot hand-carved mahogany paddles that had Hamanasi burned into the wood. They must have weighed 20 pounds each! I suspected that they had been adorning the walls of the dive shop. We struggled with them for 2 1/2 hours but managed to see 2 crocs and lots of iguanas and birds. It's a nice little river cruise, but I think next time I'll leave the cameras and take a kayak.
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.