From National Geographic Dreams to Real-Life Wildlife Adventures

By Patti Palmer

Words can never fully express the wonder and joy of our recent adventures with SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, but I will try…

With a great deal of excitement and a little trepidation, we were met by our guides at the airport in Labuan Bajo and taken to the pier, where we climbed into a small dinghy to tender to the Ombak Putih, our home for the next nine days. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was excited by the prospect of adventure and grand wildlife encounters!

How I Fell in Love with Nature and Adventure

As a 70-year-old woman, I grew up long before the world was easily accessible through electronic media. My biggest source of information and inspiration while growing up was our amazing collection of National Geographic magazines, which I absolutely devoured.

From Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in Tanzania to Dian Fossey’s incredible efforts with the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, and the awe-inspiring marine life documented by Jacques Cousteau as he revealed the wonders of the underwater world, I was completely hooked!

I was also blessed with a grandfather who was far ahead of his time. He travelled extensively throughout the world in the 1960s and 70s, long before it became “the thing to do.” He had a grand sense of adventure and frequently stepped off the beaten path into thrilling experiences, bringing them all home to us through slides and films recorded during his journeys.

I always knew that I needed to travel!

Taking the “Outside the Box” Journey

Upon retirement, my husband and I began planning our adventures in the hope of seeing as much of this amazing world as possible.

In 2014, I fulfilled my first major dream when we climbed Mount Virunga in Rwanda and spent time with the mountain gorillas there, followed by a safari through Kenya and Tanzania, including a visit to Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee refuge and an incredible hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti at dawn.

Since then, we have been fortunate enough to enjoy many amazing experiences, such as joining the Sing Sing performances and flying into remote villages in Papua New Guinea; viewing the wonders of the giant Moai statues on Easter Island; riding camels in Egypt in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza; revelling in the wonders of Patagonia by land and sea; climbing to the top of the incredible Machu Picchu in Peru; flying over the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal; and experiencing the wonders of Borneo, including the gentle orangutans, huge bat caves, and pygmy elephants, along with many other stunning adventures around the world.

The more “outside the box” the journey, the better!

From the Land to the Sea

This spring, we were fortunate to travel with SeaTrek Sailing Adventures on the “Whale Sharks, Coral and Dragons” voyage.

From the moment we first met Tinae and Jemy, our tour leaders for this journey, we knew we were in the best of hands. Between those two incredible individuals and the amazing crew, we always felt well cared for and completely safe. By the end of the first day aboard the Ombak Putih, it already felt like home!

The ship itself was beautiful, and every need we could possibly imagine was carefully explained and thoughtfully accommodated. We were always well informed about each day’s itinerary, including anything we might need to bring or prepare. We were also provided with a wealth of fascinating information about the nature, culture, and wildlife of the places we would encounter each day.

Snorkeling in the Wonderful Underwater World of Komodo

The snorkeling was absolutely incredible! My husband and I have snorkeled around the world, and in Komodo National Park we found our new favourite spot.

Tinae and Jemy were so kind and ensured that everyone, even those who had never snorkeled before, experienced a safe and wonderful encounter with nature.

During our daily snorkeling excursions, we encountered stunning coral reefs; a multitude of brightly coloured fish and eels of all shapes and sizes; sea turtles by the dozens; octopuses; rays; sharks; and most incredible of all, the whale sharks!

Our morning with these magnificent creatures will forever remain one of my most impactful memories. Tinae, our guide, was exceptional at helping us navigate the experience safely while ensuring we got the absolute most from this once-in-a-lifetime encounter. This day will forever be remembered as one of my very best.

The Beautiful and Kindhearted People We Met

Along with our daily snorkeling expeditions, we were given the opportunity to visit several local villages, soak up the Indonesian culture, and interact with its beautiful people.

And of course, we also came face to face with the fearsome Komodo dragons as we trekked into “the wild” with park rangers, complete with unforgettable dragon photo opportunities.

Not only did Tinae and Jemy, along with the best crew ever, take excellent care of our group during our stay aboard the Ombak Putih, but they also generously agreed to send us updates, photos, and videos from our voyage.

There are no words adequate to express our delight in this wonderful experience and our gratitude for the great care and compassion shown by the amazing staff at SeaTrek Sailing Adventures.

I highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking adventure or wishing to experience the wonders of this beautiful world we are so fortunate to inhabit.

Well done, SeaTrek!