Zimbabwe: Mana Pools

Wednesday 27 September: After disembarking from Zambuka we head to Crispy Fresh to pick up our food order while Neil goes to get a tyre replaced. Kariba to Mana Pools is not that far but the sand road is hard going. After check in at the office we make our way to New Ndungu 1, our private campsite for the next 3 nights. It's located on the Zambezi River but the bush is quite thick, so we don't have clear views out over the river. I think I prefer it to the Mucheni sites though; no neighbours nearby. After much debate ,our laager style camp is set up and Menon and Randolph go in search of the long drop which requires repair, cleaning and debugging. By sunset we have a functional loo and GnTs in hand, so everyone can relax and be happy.

 

Thursday 28 September :Game is more sparse than we remember from previous trips but we do see lots of elephant, buffalo, zebra and antelope. And eventually the wild dogs. I am not sure how much game management Zim Parks can afford anymore and our encounters with the foreign NGOs and private safari operators leave me feeling they are anything from dubious to downright dodgy. The birds and the bush are amazing though and we even have a pair of resident ground hornbills in our vicinity.

Friday 29 September : Game drive, brunch and wine, rest, game drive and sundowners, dinner and wine.. life's tough in Africa. Don't get stuck in the mud at crocodile infested pools, though!

 

 

Saturday 30 September : It's time to pack up and make another early start. Just as well because the sand road takes it's toll on the trailer's shocks. Nothing a surgeon and an accountant can't jimmy though. 

 

And then it's time to say goodbye to to half our party. New friendships have been made and old bonds have been strengthened, and that's real reason we love to travel...
We ( just the Hilux and the Fortuna now ) continue to Lake Chivero outside Harare to overnight at Jacana Yacht Club. Another long day behind us.