After clearing Customs and Immigration your pilot will meet you in the arrivals hall - after the usual airport security clearing you will then set off for Mana Pools in a charter plane, this flight typically takes about 90mins into Mana Pools. The airstrip for Kavinga is close to the camp so you will be into camp quite quickly after landing.
The camp here is set up on the high banks of the Rukomechi River and overlooks a basically dry river bed - however there are permanent sources of water flowing under the sand which are dug down to by elephants, there is also a small pan on the edge of the river kept artificially full. This water is very important in this otherwise dry area and so attracts a constant flow of animals through the day and night.
A highlight here apart from the walking, game drives and night drives is being able to spend time next to the pan at a low level photographic hide - giving you an incredible perspective when animals come in to drink.
We leave the dry interior of the park today and travel by road through the park to the Zambezi River flood plain that has an amazing density of wildlife. The camp is situated right on the edge of the river in the heart of the flood plain.
Your game viewing activities here are either by open game drive vehicles or on foot and often we combine these two to get the best from the area and gives us the most flexibility for game viewing opportunities and photography.
Highlights of game viewing in Mana Pools is being able to spend time with some of the big animals like lions and elephants whilst on foot. It is a wonderful experience walking behind a big elephant bull as he makes his way down the flood plain picking up food as he goes.
The wild dog population in Mana Pools is really healthy and they often are seen hunting along the Mana Pools flood plain because of the concentration of impala as the interior of the park starts to dry - watching these amazing predators hunting along the flood plain is incredible.
Another full day to enjoy this beautiful world heritage site and the challenge some times can be trying to find a spot on the flood plain where you can't see an animal, I haven't succeeded yet!
A game drive transfer further along the flood plain into the private concession area of Rukomechi which is on the Western boundary of the park. Its a beautiful locality and still with top game viewing opportunity.
While here you will have the added advantage of being able to go onto the river by boat and to see this amazing area from a very different perspective and you will be able to night drives as well to try and see some of the more nocturnal animals, like leopard and porcupine.
