Abercrombie and Kent

I cannot speak too highly of Abercrombie and Kent. My wife and I spent most of August in Africa – in Kenya, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, then back to Australia to Perth and south-western Australia .

I am a photographer and I wanted to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara, Victoria Falls in Zambia, the Okavango delta in Botswana and Cape town in South Africa.

It was a difficulty itinerary and it took a lot of work for a lot of people over several months to make it work.

The top honcho was Faye Dowling  from Melbourne – she battled through flights, accommodation reservations and other issues – back and forth with us, made all the more difficult because we were in Europe, Australia and New Zealand while it was all going on. Finally, she had it nailed.

Then, right at the end, on the weekend before our departure, when the wheels came off our Perth agenda and Faye was away (not her fault, by the way), Patrick Clementson jumped into the breach, with emails and phone calls flashing back and forth. Good guy, Patrick, and I speak highly of him.

It is difficult to find bad things to say about A&K. I think they use too much paper but if that’s the only criticism, then hey, it’s small potatoes.

The best part was that dreadful A&K sign. I’ve spent a lifetime in the world of media, and it breaks many of the rules. It’s not pretty, but it really works and that’s what’s important. It was an absolute joy to see the sign in the arrivals halls of the airports. Many a time we heaved a sigh of relief to see that yellow sign and the smiling face behind it.

The guides took over in the arrivals hall, leaving the airport, carparks, everything. And a package of information about what we’d be doing at this location. The itinerary was planned down to the last detail with things we wanted to do, not some kind of one-size-fits-all package.

Now what about this: They even tip the bellboy at the hotel when you arrive. They explained to us that most travellers wouldn’t have local currency, so the A&K guide does it.

And when you leave, at the airport, they don’t just abandon you at the door or even at the check in counter. Your guide will walk with you to the check in desk, see you all done, then watch you through security and immigration until you are safely inside the terminal.

The photo shows Wanda meetings us at Perth airport. The sign stands out here, but in an African airport, with maybe a hundred (I am not joking) people with signs in the arrival hall, and you see the yellow sign, it is a huge comfort.

Everything was so smooth I called it the Teflon organisation – nothing sticks. We found out it takes more than a year of training and education to become an A&K guide.

We had nearly 20 flights, involving six countries – Australia, New Zealand,Kenya, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. (It sounds like a lot, but many of the flights were light aircraft from an airport to a camp; they still had to be organised, however.)

The A&K people know their market, they have worked hard to understand what people like us (retired) need in the details and they make sure they deliver.

The accommodation they chose for us was the very best – high quality. I remember the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town. Right at the marina, walking distance to everything and the people were incredible. It has become my new favourite hotel in the world.

I must mention the Richardson Hotel in Perth. I had lost my power cable for my laptop and asked where I could buy one. Nope, they said. We’ll do that for you. Sent someone out to buy the cable and charged me only the price of the item. Talk about service!

A couple of other things. Somehow (I suspect Faye had a hand in this) everyone knew it was my birthday and a few days later, our wedding anniversary. At the Cape Grace hotel, a silver tray of chocolates arrived with “happy birthday” written in chocolate.

Earlier, at the Olonana resort in the Masai Mara, Kenya, there was a celebration of my birthday int he main dining room. All the staff came out in a conga line, chanting, with the head chef carrying a cake, complete with candles. I felt obliged to make a speech at the end of it. All the guests had a piece of the cake and later came up to me offering birthday congratulations. So that’s A&K for you.

We had brushes with several A&K people, but special thanks to the following A&K people:

Fiona in Nairobi, who did battle with a bush airline that wanted to charge us excess baggage for my cameras.

Yvonne in Johannesberg, who rocketed us through the airport when our arriving flight was late and we were at risk of missing the departing flight.

Peter Rowe in Cape Town. A great feller and most interesting conversationalist. That’s him in the other picture with my wife, Karen. We were at lunch in wine country and they brought out enough food to feed ten people.

Wanda in Perth – the smiling lady behind the sign.

And to the people behind the scenes.

A&K are very personal in matching your trip to your wants and needs. They’re not for backpackers, they don’t have great big buses with fifty people, but if you’re getting on a bit, like I am, and you want comfort, nice people and everything to work with no wheels coming off, then do what we’ll do from now on – A&K.