Article: Rudo Nhamoinesu | Pictures: Machaba Safaris & Tamuka Nyoni
Walking through the Acacia forests close to camp, our armed guide James ahead of us, quiet. James had promised us a sighting of a lifetime, one we had been hoping for since our arrival. Our feet followed gently behind, almost afraid to make a sound, our senses heightened taking in the breathtaking beauty and different sounds around us, while the thought of a close encounter had our bodies buzzing. The sparse vegetation allowed us to see at a distance, spotting Zebras, impalas, and an array of birds at each turn. James pointed to 4 large bulls feeding from an Acacia tree a short distance from us, our excitement building up as we got closer, and at a safe distance, we decided to sit and watch as these bulls take turns shaking the tree, for us this moment felt incredibly special, watching the elephants feed unbothered by our presence, and it was only going to get better- the larger of the bulls decided to give us a show- standing on his hind legs to feed on the seedpods. A spectacular scene that we took hundreds of pictures of. This bull, was the famous Boswell whose feeding technique is one for the books! This is the beauty of Mana Pools National Park, the ability to walk on the wild side, comfortable with nature in its true form is magnificent while having an expert guide with intimate knowledge on the side and of course, this sighting happened very close to our camp- Mana River Camp. Mana River Camp is set in a spectacular location overlooking the Zambezi National Park, an intimate tented camp that offers an exclusive safari experience and lodging in 7 well-appointed tents. This classic camp captures the beauty and true essence of a safari stay, from comfortable lodgings, genuine hospitality, and delicious meals to exhilarating adventures in the bush on foot or in a game vehicle. For us, it was as though we entered into a different world, moving from an inland camp- Ingwe Pan which was surrounded by bio-diverse woodland to a river-facing camp. Both camps, under Machaba safaris, strive to ensure guests receive a unique and memorable experience, most times without even leaving the camp!
During our stay, Mana River Camp was a hive of activity, from elephants that often graced us with their presence to the roaring lions every night and the graceful impalas grazing close. Machaba safaris believe in personalised experiences, just as with Ingwe Pan, we had a guide assigned to us, his job- show us his version of the bush, while keeping in mind what our interests were. After settling in and enjoying a scrumptious lunch and high tea we were ready to head out and discover what the Mana bushveld had to offer, starting off with the elephant roadblock! James took us to a few of the pans that surround the camp, our game drives were always full of insightful information on the trees, tracks, and birds, my favourite being the osteology lesson on the hippo skeleton that we found at our sundowner spot. Ending what was an eventful day with new knowledge gained and watching the sky change into gorgeous reds, purples, and oranges before sitting by the fire sharing stories of our day. Each activity was incredibly special during our stay, the camp offers game drives and guided walks as your activity options, early morning game walks are a must, especially in an area so rich such as Mana Pools! Our guide helped us explore the bush away from the confines of the game vehicle, letting our adventurous spirits loose and allowing ourselves to be one with nature and its surrounds -communing with elephants, spotting a few birds, roaming among impalas, and lunching with zebras. Waking up in Mana Pools is spectacular, hearing the incredible sounds around you from the laugh of the spotted hyena at a distance, the hippos grunting after a night of feeding, birds calling to each other warning of any prey around and the gentle cooling breeze blowing, all this combined awakens something so special within you, something you didn’t know you needed. It also helps that the rooms are extra comfortable with all that you may need from a double bed, lighting on the bedside for nighttime readers like myself, a dressing table and stool, a wardrobe, luggage storage space, and a well-equipped bathroom. The tent has mesh windows that let the air flow through keeping you cool and a private veranda for those afternoon sightings from your room. The team at Mana River Camp was absolutely incredible, led by manager Shepherd each aspect of our stay was beautiful and the team went out of their way to ensure we had all we needed! As you plan your December break, why not take that much-deserved getaway and book with Machaba Safaris?
