The Magnificent Sightings of Mana Pools National Park – on Foot and from Vehicle – Part II
What sets Mana Pools apart from other National Parks, is that you can also view the animals on foot. We had many fantastic encounters and can't wait to show and tell you about them. Read on!
Here is the second part of our stories from Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe.
In this part, we tell you about all the fantastic animal sightings we experienced on our visit.
And don’t forget to watch the video included while we were on foot in the bush! 😃
We hope you enjoy these!
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Mana Pools is a Special Place: Spending Time on Foot!
One thing that sets Mana Pools apart from other National Parks we’ve visited in Africa is that you can come out of your vehicle on sightings and photograph the animals on foot!
This is an incredible asset compared to other parks, where alighting from your vehicle is strictly forbidden.
It gives you a totally different feeling to your photography when you can come out of your car and look for other, low-angle perspectives to your shots!
This was one of the things we loved most in Mana Pools, and we don’t wonder why so many photographers speak highly of this park. Now we are also part of that group, for sure.
Of course, you must practice common sense and respect the animals’ space by always keeping a safe distance – they are still wild animals.
So, with great freedom comes also a great responsibility.
Did some people not always keep a sensible distance from the animals while on foot? Yes, they did not, unfortunately. But mostly, we saw people behaving accordingly.
You can also even go for a bush walk, and many times, we saw empty cars parked at the side of the road, and people had gone walking.
Hiring a ranger (with a rifle) for a walk was $10/per hour. You will also have to obtain a walking permit from the main camp’s office, which costs $15/per day per person. And – of course – sign an indemnity form. ;)
However, you can even go on an unguided walk if you have some experience with the bush!
Just be careful, keep your eyes open, and observe your surroundings! There are many dangerous animals around, and we do not recommend venturing into the bush alone if you don’t have any experience!
You can walk only in the floodplain areas, not in the thick bushes (for obvious security reasons). One of the favorite places to start a walking safari seemed to be around the Chitwe Pool along the river road to Nyamepi Camp (as it is called in OSMand Maps; -15.73476, 29.34910).
This is a beautiful area with the characteristic forest views of Mana Pools, and it’s a relatively open area so that you can see quite far. And the light filters beautifully through the tree’s foliage in the morning! So, this was also from where we took our own walking safari one morning.
Here is a short video about our independent walking safari in Mana Pools one morning.
We wore our camera harnesses (Special thanks for these go to Suvi! :), hats, water, phones (and a knife and pepper spray for some protection, as naturally we do not carry guns as the guides and Game Rangers do), and off we walked into the bush in one morning.
It was an exhilarating experience to be on foot again in the bush! And it was the first time we were on a walk alone without an armed ranger/guide with us. Even though we did not see any elephants or other bigger game, only some warthogs, waterbucks, impalas, elands, and a hippo, it was worth the sweat and effort.
We only did a roughly 45-minute walk as the sun started to warm up already and then returned to our car with one more exhilarating experience richer.
Later in the day, we also had a chance to photograph elephants at the Chitwe mud pool on foot.
IMPORTANT: Being on foot in the presence of wild animals requires knowledge about their behavior and possible warning signs, especially regarding elephants!
So, please, do NOT do it if you don’t have this experience and knowledge! It may potentially be hazardous for you.
But with some behavioral knowledge and common sense, you can have unique experiences on foot in Mana Pools!
We have quite a lot of knowledge and experience about wild animals and their behavior, which we have acquired during our four years in Africa. However, we still are extremely careful and sensible in the presence of wild animals and do not take unnecessary risks!
Our safety and the safety of the animals should always come first and foremost!
Incredible Sightings in Mana Pools: Spending Time with the Wild Dogs and Other Animals on Foot
One of the best sightings we had while in Mana Pools were the sightings of the wild dogs (also sometimes called the painted dogs or the painted wolves)!
We found them on two separate occasions, and on both times, we were either utterly alone at the sighting or with only one other car. And that alone is such a luxury that seldom happens!
On both occasions, we found the wild dog pack in the Nyamatusi Concession area, adjacent to Mana Pools’ area. If you want to go there, you must obtain a written permit to drive there from the main office in Nyamepi camp, but the permit is free.
The wild dog pack had been in the area for several days when we arrived in Mana Pools, and they were only moving in a relatively small area. So, it was not so hard to find them. However, it was not easy, as they blended perfectly with their surroundings.
But when we found them, they provided great sightings and experiences!
This wild dog photo is also available as a 4K desktop background/screensaver from our Buy Me a Coffee -page! Or, if you already are a paid subscriber, you will find it on your Extra Resources page! :)
On both occasions, we also got out of our vehicle and had the opportunity to photograph the wild dog pack on foot and document their exciting behaviors.
And all this without a congestion of cars around! Only us or us and one other vehicle. So, the wild dogs did not get so disturbed by our presence, and we got a lot of freedom to search for different angles to photograph and observe the pack from a respectful distance.
They also still had very young members in the pack, and it was fascinating to observe the behavior and playing of the pups. On the first sighting of them, we spent almost two hours with the pack and only had to leave when the sun had already set and the pack prepared to go hunting.
It’s not allowed to drive in Mana Pools after dark (nor would it be safe), so you must be back in camp after dark. It was a pity to leave, but we had already got some fantastic shots of the wild dogs!
The Famous “Standing Elephants” of Mana Pools
We spent six (6) nights in Mana Pools, and all the time, we tried our best to see one of these famous “standing elephants” reaching for the foliage high up in the trees and, while doing it, standing on their hind legs.
Unfortunately, we did not succeed this time, but we still got some great footage of reaching elephants and one bull elephant standing on three legs. ;D
We also learned that only six (6) collared bull elephants express this extraordinary behavior, and only 4 of them regularly. So, with so few individuals doing this, it’s not easy to see. You must have some luck to be in the right place at the right time.
Later, we found out that there may also be one collared cow that does it, too.
We did see at least two of these rare elephant bulls, but they did not perform this standing behavior while we saw them. But well, you can’t win all the time, and now we have one more reason to return to Mana Pools someday.
We would have returned anyway, but it’s another reason to the list. ;)
In the next chapter from Mana Pools, we will tell you more about our exclusive visit to the amazing Chitake Springs!
Meanwhile, Stay Wild,
PS. The Holidays are approaching again. If you’d like to get some cool t-shirts, caps, or wildlife prints for yourself or your loved ones, stop by our wildlife shop on our website:
The Recommendations Corner
Here, we recommend things and gear that we either use ourselves and have proved to be great, or we have some other personal experience.
This time, we can wholeheartedly recommend these awesome Cotton Carrier Camera Harnesses!
These have been absolute game-changers for us when we venture out into the bush to photograph wildlife. As you saw in the video in this post, where Piritta is wearing just this camera harness in Mana Pools!
Having your camera securely attached to a harness that leaves your hands free is a significant advantage! 😃
Your shoulders will thank you, too, as your muscles won’t get as stiff as they do with all traditional camera straps. ;)
And hey, Christmas is also coming again! ;) This could be the perfect gift for the photographer in your life!