Article by Rudo Nhamoinesu |Images Tamuka Nyoni & Machaba Safaris
Being avid travellers means that sometimes we think we have seen it all, but the Zimbabwean bush always has a way of surprising us! On a recent trip to Mana Pools, we experienced this surprise through the Machaba Safaris camps that offered a varied perspective to the National Park through their distinct locations, thrilled to be on safari we started our adventures at the first of the camps- Ingwe Pan and finished off our 4 nights of adventure at their recently opened camp Mana River Camp. Machaba Safaris prides itself in offering an explorative safari that is unique and memorable, they have positioned their camps to offer this and a different outlook on the bush. Ingwe Pan, an intimate inland camp is situated on a private concession 30 minutes from the flood plains and the Zambezi River and a mere 30 minutes from the airstrip. The camp is set within mixed biodiverse woodland of Mopane, Jesse bush, and Riverine forests overlooking the Ingwe Pan, from which its name is derived. The pan offers an incredible view and is often teeming with water birds and various wildlife frequent it, on our initial arrival a few elephants were having an afternoon drink, the beauty of this is you can sit by the pan morning and afternoon and watch the wildlife if you choose to stay in camp- you are assured of action either way! As the heat becomes intense, these pans will be some of the very few water sources, and the density of the wildlife will increase as the wildlife moves inland to frequent these pans, game viewing in the dry season is incredible, you are assured of a different story at each of the different pans that surround the camp!
Machaba Safaris believe in maintaining a green footprint, this Eco luxury camp is no exception. They have perfectly combined sophistication, comfort, and simple elegance with environmental consciousness. The camp is fully solar powered, with no permanent structural fixtures, and a natural cooling system is applied in all areas with the help of fans. There are 8 rooms with a total capacity of 16 pax, each room built on slightly raised decks with a stunning view of the pan. Building on the theme of classical safari, the camp has been tastefully designed with a combination of natural organic earth-toned hues, with different design elements that create a subtle and tasteful design that incorporates light coloured woods, and woven rugs and safari-style furniture. The camp layout of the rooms has a strong emphasis on guests’ privacy and allows guests to have their own private experience of Ingwe, taking in each moment with no interruptions. Each room comes with a king-size bed dressed in soft luxurious linen, a workstation, a dressing area and a bathroom with double vanity sinks, and the option of an indoor or outdoor shower. Comfortable with a sprinkle of safari luxury in the bush! Waking up each to the sunrise felt magical, the cool mornings, birds calling, the sun ushering a new day with its rays slowly lighting up the landscape, light reflecting on the pan creating a picture-perfect memory while filling you with so much gratitude- a different experience for me, waking up to this version of Mana. The camp’s main area is kept cool by the grand Sycamore Fig Tree which also happens to be the Machaba Logo, many stories were told under its widespread branches as we were served our breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner which was always scrumptious. Evenings before or after dinner were spent around the fire, reflecting on the outstanding days on safari. The team at Ingwe Pan from the moment we arrived, showed us exceptional hospitality that made us feel part of the family; Howard our waiter was great at keeping us hydrated with our choice of beverage, and making sure we enjoyed our meals, while Abiot the manager shared tales of the leopard sightings at camp that always had us drawn in, wishing one would make an appearance during our stay! In a push towards wildlife tourism and education, the camp offers game drives and guided walks as a way of exploring the bush which affords guests an up close and unedited interaction with nature and its offerings. While at Ingwe, our pro guide was the very skilled Edwin whose passion for the bush is unapparelled and this showed through every minute of our bush adventures with him.
Our game drives around the concession and beyond comprised of great sightings, part of our many highlights being firstly a group of lionesses resting by the airstrip mostly unbothered by our presence, and then several playful baby elephants rolling around in the mud – an absolutely beautiful sight to behold. We also had very informative explanations of the vegetation and biodiversity- one of our interesting lessons was on plant hormones which then led to topics such as the abscission of leaves, a process of shedding leaves by trees to retain moisture, or how the Abscisic acids cause the colour changes in the leaves. This is just an example of how much more you can learn about the bush! No 2 game drives are the same if you have an incredible guide. The birdlife here is incredible, Edwin took us to the different pans around camp, while at each one he patiently pointed out the diverse bird populations found within this area, of note, was the Hadada Ibis, Grey flycatcher, Masked Weavers, White-browed sparrow weaver. If you are interested in an ornithologically focused trip, then a visit to Ingwe and its surrounding pans will be one for your books! We would round off our evening game with a sundowner at different spots each day, here Edwin would serve freshly prepared snacks against the backdrop of the African sunset. Drinks in hand as we watched the sun go down, soaking in the ambiance and the gorgeous colours reminding us of the beauty offered by the African bush. It is safe to say, this inland camp proved to be an adventurous destination. From the great hospitality to the comfortable and luxurious lodgings, the passion of the guide and the great location made this trip worthwhile! As the sunset on our second night, we were full of excitement as we prepared ourselves for our next adventure- Mana River Camp.