Mana Pools photographic safari with Villiers Steyn

Lodges visited: Camp Mana + Kavinga Safari Camp

Recommended flight into Harare from Johannesburg
Airlink: JNB - HRE- 4Z100 - (06h20-08h05)
Recommended flight into Johannesburg from Harare
Airlink: HRE -JNB - 4Z107 - (17h05-18h50)

Price Includes:

• Return charter flights - Harare to Mana Pools

• Excess baggage on charter flight

  • Baggage Allowance: The flight to and from Mana Pools will be chartered. All passengers are allowed a TOTAL baggage allowance of 20kgs (15kgs of checked baggage and 5kgs of carry-on baggage)

  • A freight seat has been arranged, thus in addition to the above, each passenger in this group will be allowed an additional 11kgs of excess baggage.

• All airstrip and intercamp road transfers

• 4 nights' accommodation at Camp Mana and 4 nights at Kavinga Safari Camp

• All meals

• Locally available beverages (soft & alcoholic) + Tea & coffee

• Laundry

• All activities - Game drives and bush walks with night drives at Kavinga

• All park fees and conservation levies

• Tourism levies and VAT

• Villiers Steyn and Carl Nicholson guiding fees

• 24/7 Office support

Price Excludes:

• International flights and departure taxes

• Excess baggage fees

• Excess weight charge for persons over 100kg

• Visas

• Travel and medical insurance

• Any extra unspecified activities and transfers

• Items of a personal nature

• Staff gratuities

Itinerary: Arrival in Harare and Journey to Camp Mana

Today you will arrive in Harare - Welcome to Zimbabwe

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you will make your way to the AltAir/GrandAir check-in counter to meet your charter flight to Mana Pools.

Upon arrival at the airstrip, your guide and group leader, Villiers Steyn, will meet you, along with your expert Mana Pools guide, Carl Nicholson.

You will then drive a short distance to camp.

Welcome to Camp Mana: A unique experience in an untamed wilderness

Camp Mana offers the ultimate Zimbabwe safari experience at Mana Pools National Park, which is a prime destination for wildlife enthusiasts, whether it be behind the lens of a camera, from the vantage point in a canoe or on foot.

Accommodation

Camp Mana is an owner run, iconic and intimate, private 12-bed tented camp on the Zambezi River operated by Steve and Debbie Bolnick, who have more than 35 years experience in the Zambezi Valley. Accommodation is in walk-in Meru-style tents with ensuite flush toilets and hot showers. The central feature of the camp is a communal lounge and dining area with sweeping views across the Zambezi River and mountains of the northern escarpment.

The camp offers great views looking out over the river, twin beds, ensuite bathrooms with outdoor showers and flush toilets, a generator, solar, and backup battery, a limited laundry service and an outside seating area. Mosquito nets are also on hand, and all tents are supplied with solar lights. There is also a central solar-powered charging station

Dining & facilities

A main dining area is open-air and river facing, providing you with picturesque views of the Zambezi River, making it the perfect place to unwind after a full day of activities. There is a well-stocked bar and lounge area where you can share stories with Villiers and Carl, relax with a good book, or enjoy a board game or two. Excellent quality food and wine in alfresco eating areas are served at a communal meal table. Meals are adjusted to suit wildlife sightings and your personal preferences

Activities

You will have the highest quality of professional guiding on your safari – hand-picked for their knowledge, skills, commitment to conservation, and friendly personalities! There is a wide range of activities that may be enjoyed in the morning and afternoon and on a flexible schedule:

• Twice daily game drives in a comfortable open-sided 4×4 vehicle

• Guided game walks – Mana Pools is one of Africa’s best parks for walking

• Bird watching both from camp and the surrounding areas

Sense-ational safaris

Your daily safaris will be anything but typical, filled with unforgettable moments in Zimbabwe’s wildlife haven. The approach is simple: when the game vehicle engine goes silent, the real adventure kicks in! Imagine tracking lions on foot, walking among wild dogs, counting elephant eyelashes, and cruising by hippos on the Zambezi River. This is not your average safari; it’s a fully immersive, sensory-overloaded experience.

Every moment at Camp Mana is orchestrated to immerse you in the rhythms of the African wilderness. By 5:30am, your guides ensure the paths are clear, safeguarding against surprise encounters with majestic elephants or lumbering hippos. At 6:00am, the main area beckons with the inviting glow of a crackling fire pit, where a delightful continental breakfast awaits. Fuel up with freshly brewed tea or coffee, setting the stage for the day’s adventures that lie ahead. Activities unfold organically, tailored to your interests and the movements of wildlife within the Zambezi Valley. Morning excursions may encompass exhilarating game drives, game walks to encounter the elusive painted wolves, or intimate encounters with iconic elephants like the legendary bull named Tusker.

At Camp Mana, the ambience is relaxed, and the pace is dictated by your photographic group—a haven where relaxation and wonder merge seamlessly. By midday, retreat to camp for a sumptuous lunch buffet featuring an array of crisp salads and freshly baked bread and rolls. Embrace the “Safari Siesta,” an essential respite during the sweltering heat.

Wildlife at Camp

Camp Mana is fortunate to be situated in a particularly game-rich area of the park and it is not uncommon for more wildlife to be seen in the camp than on game drives or walks.

The wild-dog pack featured in David Attenborough’s “Dynasties” pass through the camp frequently and the iconic elephant “Boswell” is a regular visitor. Waterbucks are constantly around the camp and later in the season eland are a constant feature. The local lion pride walks through camp several times per month and every so often makes a kill on the edge of camp. There is an almost daily parade of elephants through the camp and they often spend time around the dining area.

While we encourage guests to take advantage of the game activities, those who choose to remain in camp will appreciate the steady stream of wildlife passing in front and through Camp Mana.

Spend 4 nights at Camp Mana

Transfer to Kavinga Safari Camp

After a final morning activity, it will be time to head back for breakfast, pack up, check out, and bid farewell to the Mana Pools floodplains. You will be collected from Camp Mana and driven to Kavinga Safari Camp. Be sure to keep your camera and binoculars handy as you never know what you might see on route.

Welcome to Kavinga Safari Camp

Kavinga Safari Camp has many adventures opportunities on hand for you to delve right into the wilderness experience. From walking, to tracking, bird-watching or exploring the area with Villiers and Carl, there’s something for everyone. Go on a game drive or spend time in the hide at waterhole level, where you might even get splashed by an elephant. Alternatively, relax in camp with a drink in hand, taking in the stunning views. Kavinga Safari Camp promises a truly unique experience in an untouched wilderness. In this area, you can walk or drive in the Zambezi Valley and learn about this outstanding park and its wildlife.

Villiers and Carl will ensure you get close to the wildlife for the most memorable experiences. Enjoy this exclusive camp with magnificent views and relax with a glass in hand as the animals drink at the waterhole.

Accommodation

The camp consists of 7 comfortable raised tents, built on the edge of the cliff, facing east, with a view of the rising sun above the magnificent Zambezi Valley floor. Each tent has been designed with an emphasis on privacy and is surrounded by insect repellent gauze, allowing the air to circulate, contributing to maximum coolness. Inside each tent are two comfortable beds in flexible arrangements, catering to everyone’s needs, as well as an ensuite bathroom. Your private verandah directly over the edge of the cliff offers a feeling of infinite space.

The hide

Get right among the wildlife in this termite mound-shaped hide. Creatively designed to keep you cool and provide an astonishing 180-degree view of the waterhole from elephant-foot level. During the day, see herds of game and rare birds from this amazing vantage point. After sunset, watch the predators approach and catch a glimpse of elusive nocturnal animals such as porcupine, leopards, honey badgers, or even an aardvark!

The lounge & dining area

The central dining and lounge area has two decks, providing a magnificent vista across the dry riverbed and to the waterhole below. Cosy up on the sofa with a book and your binoculars, or enjoy a cool gin and tonic as the sunset plays with the colours of the valley floor. There is a fire pit to relax by at night, gazing at the stars and watching for nocturnal visitors. Enjoy your delicious dinner with a glass of wine to the sounds of lions calling and hyenas whooping.

Activities

Game drives, night drives, bush walks, birding, game viewing up close in the hide by the pan, and stargazing are the main activities on offer on the concession.

The wildlife at Kavinga

Kavinga is perfectly situated above the banks of the Ruckomechi River in the heart of Mana Pools, close to Chitake Springs. The camp is often visited by predators like lions, wild dogs, and leopards, as well as smaller characters like civets, servals, mongooses, and honey badgers. Plains and forest game alike go to drink from the Kavinga waterhole as they cross the wide dry Rukomechi riverbed. Elephants spend a lot of time here, and in the dry season, they dig into the riverbed to get fresh water running meters below the surface.

Your days will be filled with game drives, hide visits, and walks, searching for great photographic opportunities with Villiers with you every step of the way.

Spend 4 nights at Kavinga Safari Camp

Departure from Kavinga Safari Camp

After a final morning activity and breakfast, it will be time to bid farewell to Mana Pools. You will be collected from Kavinga Safari Camp's airstrip and flown back to Harare International Airport.

TeamAG wishes you a safe flight back home. We trust that you have enjoyed every minute of your travel adventures and hope you return to make more African-inspired memories with us!