Mana Adventure No 3

[Zim Girl]

@@graceland

 The Mana floodplain is mainly open, flat easy walking.

 

Although we did actually spend quite a bit of time in the jesse bush, both in Mana and Matusadona where the terrain is a lot different.

The reason I am wearing shorts is because it is too hot to wear longs and I just put up with the many scratches I picked up along the way.

Edited December 17, 2018 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

A few ellie shots from the previous evening’s walk. They are not great but I just love the scenery.

 

 

Next morning – some baby ellie pics taken when we were on a mission to look for dogs. These were taken from the vehicle.

 

 

 

We started the morning looking around the back of the Vine Camp concession (which isn’t open yet by the way). No tracks.

 

So we headed out for a long walk and came across these ellies in one of the dried up pans.

 

 

 

The morning was spent driving and walking looking for the dogs, but no luck.

 

Back in camp the ellie from the previous night turned up again and was eyeing up our washing.

 

 

 

Close up of our tent and the shower tent.

 

[Zim Girl]

Our afternoon was to turn out luckier than our morning.

 

We walked from camp for about 800m and found a group of lions chilling out under a tree.

 

 

We carefully made our way towards them and pitched up by another tree around 20 metres away. We settled down and spent a good hour watching them. We had them completely to ourselves the entire time.

 

 

 

During this time they slowly, one by one got up and walked past us and over to a termite mound some distance behind us where there had actually been another female lying down that we hadn’t seen.

 

 

Back with the main group.

 

 

Are you looking at me?

 

 

 

One of the males was being irritated by flies and eventually resorted to climbing the tree to avoid them. Not the best idea as he lost his balance and fell out.

 

 

Sunset by the termite mound

 

 

[wilddog]

VERY special @@Zim Girl. Only in Mana...................................

 

How interesting that Vine Camp is not yet open. Did you find out why?

[Zim Girl]

Early next morning went out looking for dog tracks again, but still no

luck.

So we drove up to Lodge Pool and started a walk from there and then down onto the floodplain.

 

 

 

We saw an ellie having a mud bath.

 

 

Classic Mana scene.

 

 

 

Watched while this pride of lions made a quick exit after being disturbed by an ellie.

 

 

Found some more buffalo.

 

 

 

More ellie action.

 

 

Never a dull moment walking in Mana!

 

[cannedlion]

Lovely photos and fascinating viewing. Thanks for posting.

[Zim Girl]

VERY special @@Zim Girl. Only in Mana...................................

 

How interesting that Vine Camp is not yet open. Did you find out why?

 

@wilddog

apparently it should have opened this September but had been delayed, not sure why.

Once it does open the area we were walking in will become private concession and off limits I believe, although maybe the owners will do as Nick does with Vundu and not enforce it.

[wilddog]

Very interesting; thank you.

[kittykat23uk]

Wonderful!

[graceland]

@@Zim Girl

The Lions - Amazing you can walk so close! Loving all the pics since I now understand walking so much more than ever.

The elies are also a fav of ours to watch as they get quite silly at times.

 

Great stuff; the location is lovely. Is this the Mana Pools that most go to or is it large enough to have separate areas to choose from - for instance how many private groups can it hold without seeming "crowded"?

 

Do different guides have different areas they book privately - i.e. Doug McDonald as opposed to your guide on this trip.

 

Obviously I'm getting interested....esp if i can walk in shorts! I don't know if you saw my husband's longs in my tr, but every pair he wore got ripped to shreds in the wild brush!

[Zim Girl]

These pictures of a group of lions relaxing were taken from the vehicle next morning.

 

 

Back at Mucheni, camp was being packed up for the journey down to Chitake.

 

We were watching one of the big bull elephants enjoying himself in the water.

 

 

He decided to join us.

 

 

But not before a quick dust bath.

 

 

My favourite ellie picture.

 

 

Then he wandered over to see if there was anything he could help with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kittykat23uk]

Wonderful elephant images @@Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

@@Zim Girl

The Lions - Amazing you can walk so close! Loving all the pics since I now understand walking so much more than ever.

The elies are also a fav of ours to watch as they get quite silly at times.

 

Great stuff; the location is lovely. Is this the Mana Pools that most go to or is it large enough to have separate areas to choose from - for instance how many private groups can it hold without seeming "crowded"?

 

Do different guides have different areas they book privately - i.e. Doug McDonald as opposed to your guide on this trip.

 

Obviously I'm getting interested....esp if i can walk in shorts! I don't know if you saw my husband's longs in my tr, but every pair he wore got ripped to shreds in the wild brush!

@@graceland

 

All the guides have access to the private operator campsites that are situated along the floodplain. The main operators running mobile camping are Natureways and Bushlife Safaris and Classic Africa Safaris, there are probably others. Bushlife also run a permanent lodge called Vundu Camp and a smaller satellite bush camp called Little Vundu. Little Vundu has a very nice location within the Vundu concession.

Other permanent camps include Wilderness Safaris' Ruckomechi and Stretch Ferreira's Goliath camp.

African Bushcamps run a semi-permanent camp called Zambezi Lifestyles on the river front which could be booked in conjunction with their other permanent lodge in Mana called Kanga camp. They also have a lodge in Hwange called Somalisa.

I think that covers most of the main players.

Natureways, who we went with on this trip, does not own a permanent camp but I would highly recommend if you wanted a mobile only safari. They have 25 years in the business and run a very good operation.

 

The main areas are the floodplain area where the Mucheni campsites (2 of which are operator only) are located. This is fairly central with plenty of elephants.

The Ruckomechi and Vundu concessions sit at one end of the floodplain and the Nyamatusi Wilderness area sits at the other, which is where our first 2 camps were located. Then there is the private Chikwenya concession where Chikwenya lodge is situated.

 

In terms of being crowded, Mana Pools is also a self-drive national park and there are several public campsites. During the busy Aug/Sept/Oct periods the game loops can be busy with vehicles. However, the whole point of going to Mana is to walk, and you will find that when you are out walking it feels pretty much like you have the place to yourself, especially in the wilderness areas.

[Zim Girl]

The Chitake section will be in a few days time as we are off to the Lake District next week for some more walking. (Weather permitting)

 

[graceland]

@ZimGirl, thanks for the concise info. It can get a bit confusing when reading and different areas are thrown out, and in my mind I can't put them in any logical type sense as to where anyone is!

 

A good resource for me if we do decide to try yet another African country. And yes, I am in Mobile Mode these days!

 

In return for our recent safari, I've agreed to go to Chile for some flyfishing. Good kneedeep walking in rivers!!

 

Thank you so much! Have a great walk in the Lake District. A friend of mind did that and loved it. But was rained on every single day.

I would not have come home so perky!

[Paul B]

@@Zim Girl we were guided by Mark last year for 8 days. As luck would have it we were staying with Bushlife Safaris (staying at their mobile camp in Chitake and Vundu Camp) and had him all to ourselves. We had such a wonderful time, he is so calm and quiet while approaching the animals and a wealth of information, Mana is like home for him. You will love Moli but he is so different from Mark. Moli gets so excited, almost giddy like a child.

[Safaridude]

A great start @@Zim Girl!

 

Perhaps I missed it, but what month/dates was your safari?

[Zim Girl]

@@Safaridude

 

9th - 22nd September

[Tdgraves]

Fabulous tr @@Zim Girl, brings back great memories - it's amazing how you can tell from just a photo that it is mana

[graceland]

Nothing like having guests drop in at the campsite.
How thrilling!!

[Sangeeta]

That ele was doing the whole Mana show at close quarters for you:) Super photos.

 

Does anyone have any info about Mvura yet?

[TonyQ]

Excellent report . I love the elephant pictures - and the ones of your visitor are special

Great sightings on foot.

When you are watching the lions + then one by one they walk past and are behind you (that is you are surrounded ) And the sunset means it is getting dark - exciting stuff!

 

The detail you have given of the camps is really helpful as well - it looks like a very interesting option. I think you will be encouraging lots of Safaritalkers, (That is the tricky thing with reading trip reports)

[Zim Girl]

@@TonyQ

 

Yes, that afternoon lion sighting was pretty special. We are glad we stayed such a long time or we would have missed them walking to the other tree. It is hard to describe the feeling you get when a lion stops to look at you as it is passing!

[Jochen]

@@Zim Girl; fantastic! Really loved that series of pics with the bull in camp.

 

More! :-D

[Whyone?]

VERY special @@Zim Girl.....................How interesting that Vine Camp is not yet open. Did you find out why?

We took the decision to ignore the 'strictly no admission' signs (and the scary stories we have heard regarding the reception some people have received at Vine) and swanned in and asked if we could have a look around. The site manager was very friendly and accommodating and gave us a full guided tour and allowed me to take photo's. I will post a new thread here one I am home and settled documenting what I learnt.

 

Sorry @@Zim Girl - I am sat in Dubai airport having missed a flight connection. I am thoroughly enjoying your trip report and it is bringing back many happy recent memories!