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Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Mana Pools is one of the most beautiful National Parks in Zimbabwe. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a unique landscape, impressive open floodplains and forests scattered along the Zambezi shoreline with an extraordinary amount of game including lions, elephants and painted dogs. The BBC filmed the episode of Dynasties featuring painted dogs there. It also has hippos, waterbuck, impala, hyena and a large herd of buffalo and many other species of mammals and birds. The light there is also surreal. We will base our safaris on a vehicle but everytime the opportunity arises we will get off the jeep and track animals on foot. By doing this you will be able to have incredible close encounters with animals that havent been scattered by vehicles. You will come away with an amazing set of images.
- About Mana Pools
- About the flora and fauna
- Hints and tips along the way
We will spend 10 nights in Mana Pools. The first 3 nights will be in a purpose built mobile tented camp at Chitake. This camp is located near to the Chitake Springs, famous for its wildlife and close up encounters with animals. The spring becomes the only water source for miles around and so will be a focus for us to photograph an assortment of animals who visit the springs to quench their thirst.
Lions are well known in this area and we may be lucky enough to see them hunting. Elephants are plenty and they often are playful in the spring. We may also see the elusive leopard. Buffalo herds often visit to drink also. It is an amazing experience to see the herd dropping down the cliffs to the spring.
The next 7 nights are spent at Vundu Lodge, a lovely comfortable camp where we stay in chalets that overlook the Zambezi River just 10 metres away. They have en suite bathrooms, charging facilities, fans and other guest amenities. The main lounge and dining area is open air and elevated. It is a lovely place to unwind and enjoy the good quality food.
From here we will continue our walking safaris and also spend at least one afternoon on a boat safari along the Zambezi river.
- All accomodation
- Full board, drinks and activities
- Transfers from Harare to Mana Pools by a Charter flight
- All entrances fees and permits
- Our own Private Guide
- Laundry at Vindu
- Conversation Levy
- International Flights
- Departure Tax from Harare Airport (USD15.00 per person)
- Travel Insurance
- Hotel bookings before and after the holiday
- Items of a personal nature
Please note: Sometimes the itinerary may change but this will not interfere with game viewing and photography opportunities!
Below is a collection of photos our customers have captured whilst on this photography experience
Click a thumbnail to view larger
Our photographic tour of Zimbabwe started at Chitaki, a specially erected tented camp where we were able to sit with our sundowners, listen to the animals and watch elephants and baboons walk by in the dried up river bed. Nick Murray, the extremely experienced guide and founder of the Vundu Camp, took us out on safaris both in the Land Cruiser and on foot for some amazing experiences.
There is a spring in the river bed which produces a few hundred metres of standing water and on a walking safari we were privileged to see a herd of about 450 buffalos running down the steep, dusty banks of the river and into the water - a spectacular sight added to by the presence of a group of lions who wanted to join in the action but who were overwhelmed by the size of the herd! A real photographic opportunity.
We then went on to Vundu Camp which is beautifully situated by the Zambezi River and stayed in high quality tented accommodation. The catering was excellent. We had a mix of Land Cruiser, walking and boat safaris. Highlights of the walking tours, closely supervised by Nick, were sitting within 20 metres of group of lions and standing the other side of a tree being shaken for its fruits, by Boswell, the largest tusker in Zimbabwe. We were also able to see a group of painted dogs waking up and then setting off for a hunt which resulted in the demise of a baboon. An interesting diversion was a boat trip down the Zambezi to visit the carmine bee-eater colony at close range and again take some great images. Sundowners on the boat were the icing on the cake.
Mana Pools as a location provides some unique photographic opportunities. There is a beautiful grey/blue background especially in the morning light. The trick is to find some interesting tree frames and place an elephant or waterbuck accordingly! We were also able to see elephants in the pools and swampy areas accompanied by egrets of course!
Overall a very special location with some great animal encounters.
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