Mana Pools Zimbabwe Safari – Testimonials
Only a few years ago a photo safari to Africa was a unique experience but now there are many companies offering safaris and especially photo tours. That doesn’t change the magic of the continent or the amazing opportunities for the wildlife photographer but does mean we have to look a little harder for something different.
With over 50 years’ experience photographing in Africa I am always on the lookout for new, exciting and locations. I particularly look for areas where the wildlife is unique and special, where the guides are simply brilliant and where the camps are small and private. All these together create the very best photo opportunities but sadly they are seldom on offer in the many safaris available.
In Mana pools in Zimbabwe the wildlife is unique and the conservancy model keeps the visitor numbers manageable. To get the best from this as in any area in Africa you also need the very best guides. With the best wildlife, without an excellent guide you won’t get the best from the photo opportunities, teaming up with an excellent guide takes the safari experience to a completely different level. The guides in Zimbabwe are legendary, they are without doubt amongst the best in Africa.
Over the years I have had the great good fortune to work with and call friends some of the very best Zimbabwe guides. These are the crème de la crème of safari guides and working with them always leads to an excellent safari experience. With these expert guides we will be able to approach some amazing wildlife on foot something I wouldn’t do with any other guides in Africa.
Quite apart from the wild dogs this area boasts elephant that have learnt to stand on their back legs to reach succulent parts of the area’s trees. In 4WD vehicles and on foot with the expert local guides we can approach these and other wildlife to achieve amazing photographs.
We have our own 4WD vehicles and guides and spend some of our time in true off-road vehicles and some on foot. The game drives and walks range throughout the national park. The area and tespeciallyhe private conservancy near the camp has plenty of the classic Mana Pools scenery – with forested areas, and some of the pools for which the park is noted. With our skilled guides we combine walks and drives with everyone hopping out of the vehicle when an interesting track or animal has been discovered.
There are very few guides in Africa who I would trust with this level of access but this way we can carry all our camera gear with relative ease. Nothing can be guaranteed but we should be lucky enough to approach both wild dog and lion on foot to within a few tens of metres – a truly unique and amazing experience only made possible by the experience and skill of Vundu’s guiding team.
Testimonials and feedback on Natures Photos Safaris.
Tony Ware – After Mana Pools Safari – October 2022
“Hi Bob and Ann, Firstly, for me, that was the best safari of the 5 I have experienced so far!
Being able to get out of the vehicles and walk/be with the wildlife is key. All obviously down to our guides and their knowledge/respect for the wildlife. Not putting the wildlife under pressure is important to me. The wildlife next to the camp was nearly as good as we saw outside. “
