Mana Pools Photo Safari

A beautiful broad river, shady trees, blue hued mountains of the rift valley escarpment in the distance, an elephant or two feeding on the camps Albida trees, this is the view from our camp set on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Out on safari the area offers large concentrations of buffalo and elephant, while predators such as lion, wild dog and leopard scour the open flood plains. The true raw Africa and wilderness experience.

Mana Pools is a mere 2,196 square kilometers but is part of a 10,500 square kilometer Parks and Wildlife conservation area that runs from the Kariba Dam in the west to the Mozambique border in the east. This large area is without physical boundaries and the wildlife is free to move throughout the area, making it one of the largest wilderness and conservation areas in Africa.

Mana Pools is the gem of the Zambezi Valley, rugged and beautiful, it is home to a wonderful mix of grassy floodplains, woodlands and riverine forest, as well as the Zambezi River. The mighty river, which is the lifeblood of Mana, flows through Lake Kariba and down the Lower Zambezi Valley, a huge rift in the earth’s surface. The name “Mana” means “four” in the local Shona language. Over the millennia the Zambezi has carved through this valley creating islands, channels and sandbanks. Old river meanders, have formed into these 4 prominent ox-bow lakes (thus the name Mana Pools) surrounded by lush vegetation and tall old forests of mahogany, ebony and Albida trees.

This abundance of water and succulent greenery accounts for the valley’s wealth of big game. This unique world heritage site, not only offers unsurpassed wildness and beauty, but also a wide range of large mammals which with no doubt will provide us with some amazing photographic opportunities in the unique Mana light. As we drive in open ve hicles or walk through the open flood plains and the Elephants favorite Albida forests, in search of that quintessential Mana scene of a massive elephant bull standing on his hind legs reaching to the upper most parts of the large trees, or just sitting at the base of a termite mound with elephants feeding mere feet away from us, we will be awestruck on a daily basis by the scenes. Also the angles and light we will be presented with not to mention the diversity of other wildlife including eland, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, Puku, baboons, monkeys, zebra, warthog and hippo just to name a few of the larger herbivores to be seen regularly on the river terraces as they come out to eat the fallen Albida fruit the elephants left behind. Lions, leopards, spotted hyena, wild dogs and cheetah are the resident predators of the area. For the bird lovers over 400 bird species can be found in the park and we have ample opportunity to photograph them as well.

Zambezi Expeditions: showcases one of the most magnificent settings in Zimbabwe’s iconic Mana Pools National Park. Comfortable yet classic, the camp offers the kind of intimacy with nature that can only be achieved by immersing yourself in the heart of the wild. Fall asleep to the sound of the flowing river and chuckles of hippo and wake-up with the dawn chorus to a spectacular African sunrise.

Safari Highlights

• Photography on foot and vehicles
• Small group safari, only 4 guests
• Iconic scenes of Elephant standing on their back legs feeding on Albida trees
• Numerous other species including Wild Dogs, Lions, Buffalo and an abundance of plains game
• Open game viewers
• True private Wilderness experience

This safari includes

• Flight from Harare to Mana Pools and back again.
• 6 nights Accommodation
• All meals, teas and coffees.
• Local Beers, Wines and Soft Drinks
• Park fees
• Open private photographic vehicle, 3 rows of seats in rear, 1 host seat next to driver
• All game drive and walking activities.
• Services of Tusk Photo host photographer.

This Safari does not include

• Imported liquors and drinks from the bar.
• Gratuities and expenses of a personal nature.
• Costs for Visas (if applicable)
• Telephone Calls
• Travel to and from Harare from your International destination.