Finally, it rains today. This is supposed to be the end of rainy season and it's been hot and dry for the past 12 days. And when it rains in the highlands, it really rains! We sleep in, relax and eventually decide to take a drive. We head north to Jinotega to check things out. It's really not all that fun walking around towns in the pouring rain and Jinotega is not all that charming, so we head back to Matagalpa and explore there. We poke our heads in local churches and wander the streets. Eventually, we head back to Selva Negra and meet with the owners for a tour of the coffee farm. My head swims with how much the farm does for its workers. Having lived in Guatemala for several years, I'm used to the stories my friends tell of the horrible conditions, lack of clean water, education for their children and basic services. The people that live at Selva Negra have pretty little houses that their obviously proud of, a medical clinic on site, a school, cooking facilities, and more. The coffee workers' kids have tuition paid as far as through college and they have jobs waiting for them back at the farm, some as engineers working with advanced organic farming techniques. The most impressive thing: Karen shows me their trash dump. This is the dump for the entire operation: coffee farm and ecolodge. It consists of a single 55 gallon barrel. She says they take that down to Matagalpa every month or so. Really???? They only produce 55 gallons of waste per month over such a massive operation? I love this place!
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.