I launched into this holiday unable to even think about what was going to unfold. A sometimes nervous traveller, I find it overwhelming if I think about the unknown too much. So I went into this experience blind. I had glanced at the itinerary but really couldn’t process it all. It was too much to take in. Before we left my sole focus was on packing, getting the visas we needed and having some foreign cash on us. I had printed out the travel documents provided, but really hadn’t taken in all of the info provided. The holiday package had cost a lot of money and I couldn’t even think about that without becoming anxious. Had we wasted all that money?
Now that I am home again, my mind is filled with the following reflections:
What an AMAZING travel tool the travel key app is. Every single piece of info I needed was at my fingertips.
The work that Destinations Africa and the travel team had put in to make the experience the very best it could be is now obvious.
The degree of coordination between airlines, travel companies, lodges, drivers, hotels and Destinations Africa has really blown my mind. I have never known such a seemless, well coordinated experience, with every moving part excelling to make our experience the best it could be.
Our safari guides, drivers and trackers were so knowledgeable that they deserve an enormous amount of credit for creating the most wonderful memories for us. They must have to deal with some difficult travellers but they were nothing but gracious, enthusiastic, encouraging and most of all fun, and went out of their way to deliver an unforgettable experience.
By day three we had seen the big five. a buffalo lion kill, plus too much to mention all so close it felt like we could reach out and touch it. We started to wonder if perhaps we had overdone the game drive aspect of the holiday and would be ‘safaried out’ before too long. After a month of morning and afternoon game drives, we never once got bored with it. Every single drive we did we saw something new. We still can’t believe that this could be the case. What a remarkable experience.
The standard of accommodation, with the endless attention to every detail was outstanding. Every person we encountered in every lodge was welcoming, helpful, thoughtful and generous with their time. We connected genuinely with the people working in every lodge, and will remember them all fondly.
The food and drinks that we were provided was a one of the many highlights of the trip. The quality of the food (in the most remote locations) was remarkable. The amount of amazing food presented to us was at times overwhelming (we could not eat it all ) and the connections we made with the chef’s, waiters and barmen made it even more special. We have never eaten so well, or so much in our lives.
A sometimes nervous flyer on small planes, the airlines in Africa made us feel safe, welcome and in good hands. I started looking forward to the flights on the smaller planes and found it a wonderful way to see so much of the landscape. A credit to the airlines.
I was not looking forward to paying gratuities. I find it uncomfortable and hard to work out. I stuck to the guide provided, and always paid more than recommended, but I was always wondering if I was undertipping. There is no way to know if you’ve done the right thing as it is done so discretely the only conversations we had about it was with other travellers and even that was in hushed voices. I hope we have done the right thing.
Now that we are home, we’re asked how was the holiday and what was the best bit. Impossible questions to answer. How can we describe our experience with inadequate words like amazing, great or fabulous?
Before we left I thought the cost was outrageous. Now that I’m home, I see where every dollar went and only see value for money.