Camp Mana
Camp Mana has a beautiful setting overlooking the floodplains of the Zambezi River in the heart of Mana Pools National Park.
Camp Mana is a small, intimate tented camp which offers the simplicity and close to nature feel of a mobile camp. The camp is owned and run by professional guide Steve Bolnick who heads up the guiding team and leads many of the walk. Steve is passionate about wildlife and conservation and is particularly keen on walking, which is a real focus from this camp. The camp location is beautiful with lovely open views of the Zambezi floodplain. Activities are always very informative and hospitality is wonderfully relaxed. Camp Mana is suited to those seeking a peaceful, exclusive, social and down to earth wilderness experience with plenty of walking. It is not suited for anyone seeking luxury.
Rooms
The camp accommodates up to 12 guests at any one time, with a total of eight tents which can be set up with single, double or twin beds. The walk-in tents are spaced nicely apart under mature trees along the edge of the floodplain. Each tent is simply but comfortably furnished with beds, luggage rack and bedside table, and at the back the en suite bathroom enclosure includes a flush toilet, sink (with water jug) and bucket shower, with hot water provided on request.
Central Areas
The central mess tent is a large shade awning, open at three sides, which contains a small lounge area, dining table and bar. Meals can also be taken outside ‘under the stars’ and sunset drinks are often taken down by the river, even sitting in the shallows.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, is a beautiful wilderness area, in northern Zimbabwe where the floodplains of the mighty Zambezi, wooded with acacia and mahogany trees, stretch out on either side of the river.
During the dry season, the floodplains teem with a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife. Herds of elephant, buffalo, kudu, eland, and waterbuck graze the sweet grasses or browse on the tasty albida pods. Lion and sable rest in the shade of the giant figs. Fringing the floodplains, the thick ‘Jesse’ bush shelters the shy creatures such as leopard, honey badger, nyala and bushbuck. Wild dog roam through the area, and crocodiles bask in the shallows, awaiting their chance of a meal when the animals report to quench their thirst. Hippo are everywhere. There are also plenty of big elephant bulls, a couple of which are very relaxed and can be approached on foot. The birding is superb, with both woodland and floodplain habitats to explore. During the late season (late August onwards), both white fronted and carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the rivers providing a colourful spectacle complete the impressive list of birds to be seen.
Activities
Activities include game drives by day, canoeing on the Zambezi (although we do not recommend canoeing along the Mana Pools shoreline due to safety concerns, as hippo and crocs have been known to be aggressive towards canoes) and fishing; but walking is the stand out activity here. Owner and head guide Steve Bolnick is passionate about walking and the camp is perfect for those who are keen to do a fair amount of walking.
Seasons
Camp Mana is open from April through to November, but game viewing conditions will be best from July to October.
Camp Mana accepts children from the age of 12 years but with no family specific accommodation and big game wandering frequently through camp, the camp will naturally suit those travelling with older children looking for an immersive safari adventure.
Camp Mana is designed with a very light footprint which is respectful of the environment and runs almost entirely on solar power. Guests are provided with bottles to refill when required rather than relying on the use of plastic water bottles.
