Sylvia
Berman, CTC, MCC, DS
Sylvia Berman just can't stay away from Africa. It was granparents, parents and grandchildren to Kenya for 10 days. This was an opportunity for everyone to spend quality time together without the parents or granparents being exhausted. Watching the grandchildren was the best part of the trip. It was exciting to have a cheetah jump up on the hood of the vehicle during one of the game drives and to pull up to the Mara River just as the migration started their crossing. The sounds, sights, and abundance of animals were what everyone hopes to see when visitng Africa.
After spending a week in India, with stops in Delhi, Agra (the Taj Mahal) and Jaipur, Bob and Sylvia cruised on the Holland America Prinsendam to South Africa. This provided them with an additonal opportunity to stay in safari lodges that had been bypassed on previous trips. It was more difficult to decide whether the Singita Boulders or the Royal Malewane Lodge was more elegant, provided the best cuisine, accomodations and spa services. Sylvia had a massage at the Royal Malewane while Nyala (a type of antelope) were feeding outside the door. On the game drives each driver/spotter was determined to show the the "big five" every day. The next location would be at Thorny Bush, and again, the staff was outstanding. Even though this is not a five star property, the food, rooms, animal viewing, and attention to detail, made it a marvelous experience. A stay at Thorny Bush is highly recommended if you would rather spend your budgeted dollars on gifts than on your lodging.