Guest Comment by Michelle Bennett
Dear Deeper Africa,
My mom and I never imagined we would have the opportunity to see a cheetah run at top speeds anywhere other than on a National Geographic video. It was amazing to watch. The next morning we were eating breakfast while watching a leopard and her two cubs play at the bottom of a tree. Suddenly a hyena appeared and the leopard grabbed one of the cubs in her mouth and ran with it up the tree. The other cub followed. This interaction too was something we never expected to see. And we would not have been lucky enough to see it without Alphonce's patience and knowledge of animal behavior.
Alphonce also avoided crowds, a practice for which my mom and I were grateful. We didn't spend much time around other safari vehicles and none of our pictures have other vehicles lurking in the corners. If another guide spotted a unique animal, we went to see it. Otherwise, we stuck to the out-of-the-way places that Alphonce seemed to know well. We still saw lots of animals in these places; we just got to do it in a quieter, more natural setting.
The lodges and tented camps my mom and I stayed at were all exceptional. The staff were very nice and welcoming. They always seemed willing to do anything and everything to make our trip more enjoyable. During our last night in Suyan Camp, the staff allowed us to have a private dinner in our tent. We really enjoyed this experience and would highly recommend it to others. The accommodations at all of the lodges and tented camps were very clean and spacious. Any fears my mom and I had about the limited water supply for showers were quickly dispelled. We actually enjoyed the concept of the bucket shower because it made us realize how much water we waste at home. The food at the lodges and tented camps was also wonderful. There was a lot of variety - pasta, chicken, fish, etc. - and we were served lots of fruits and vegetables.
Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience. I know my mom and I will never forget it.
Michelle Bennett
USA