08/12/2015
I am beyond grateful for the high calibre of humans that my energy attracts. And without further adieu, here Shane speaks about his AFRICAN HONEYMOON experiences organised by Nomadic Minds.
www.nomadicminds.com
Shane: "My wife and I planned our honeymoon to South Africa with the intent of it being the trip of a lifetime. As a young girl, my wife had fallen in love with the notion of a safari life, truly wild animals, the bush, and wide-open expanses. Every bit of Africa had called to
her soul and begged her to go experience a life she was unaware of.
As wandering travelers with a penchant for new experiences, I was all the more ready to be her willing sidekick and embark on a journey that would take us half way across the world and out of our comfort zones. Our typical travel fashion is to work from recommendations from friends and family who have visited before.
Months before our trip, we realized that with no previous experience in Africa, we were a bit ill-equipped to plan the trip ourselves from afar despite endorsements for some wonderful places. We had grandiose ideas of how much we could accomplish in our two weeks there, however we lacked any functioning knowledge of how it would all be tied together. Enter Jess.
We were referred to Jess at the behest of a friend who had shared some worldly travels together and knew she was the stuff of magic. We contacted her and in short order realized that magic was just the beginning of what Jess was able to do.
As with anything new when you can’t be face to face with someone, it can be a challenge to evaluate the intentions and quality of the person with whom you’re dealing. Jess put any hesitations to rest with her ability to communicate and get to the
core of what we were hoping to experience during out trip.
She took the time to get to know us through phone calls and middle of the night Skype sessions, emailed regularly whenever an update was made, and presented all our options in a format that made understanding the complexities of visiting multiple places
and experiences seem manageable and enjoyable.
Leading to the day of our arrival, Jess made sure no stone was left unturned. Ensuring we had all proper visas, travel connections, contact information so we were ready to go the moment we arrived.
Speaking to the entirety of trip would require a novel in and of itself for one to truly grasp the depth to which Jess provided a life changing experience from the moment we arrived to the minute we left. At no point did we want for anything that she couldn’t provide at a moments notice.
Every accommodation was aware of any nutritional choices we made, she consistently arrived 15 minutes early, she was present and available whenever we needed her and quietly at arms reach when we didn’t.
As a specific example, we finished a particular game drive at a wonderful reserve. Jess arrived to transfer us to the next destination 4 hours away. The car was stocked with handmade lunch, fresh pressed juice that morning, snacks, reading materials, games (in case we were bored with the scenery), and blankets and pillows should we require a nap. Three hours into the journey we discovered we had left our passports in the safe at the reserve. Without batting an eye, Jess delivered us to our destination, helped us settle in, and then proceeded to drive back and forth that afternoon to recover our passports by hand. This is the quality of service and attention Jess offers. It was also her birthday, which we learned later.
We cannot recommend her enough for her ability to plan for even the most minute of details, be an open book for the needs and desires of anyone with whom she is working, and handle it all with effortless class and distinction. She is perhaps the most prepared
and knowledgeable planner we have experienced and made our trip unforgettable.
She is also a wealth of cultural and historical knowledge. We had endless questions about wildlife, industry, government and history to which she truly seemed please to inform us about.
If you have decided that South Africa is your destination of choice (and it should be), whether you’re a seasoned traveler or leaving home for the first time, Jess will provide an exceptional experience that accommodates any level of travel your heart desires."