There’s a lot more, starting with above average to sometimes scintillating game viewing, given the presence of elephants, lions, leopards, African painted dogs, eland, waterbuck and zebra. Plus of course rafts of hippo in the Zambezi and some fine specimens of Nile crocodiles. Trolling unseen below the surface, an abundance of tiger fish, ready to grab your spoon or lure, should you be up for the challenge to take on these notoriously difficult to catch fighting fish. A hint: the tigers can be closer to the shore than you think, particularly if there’s a nice current visible. A more important hint: don’t venture too close to the edge. The tigers won’t, but the crocs may consider you fair game. 

Mix in foot safaris (Mana Pools is practically synonymous with getting out of the vehicle) and the place is heaven on earth for visitors in search of a classic Africa experience. 

If you’re still considering a summer getaway to Africa this year, you may find that Kenya and Tanzania – and all of the best camps in the private game reserves adjacent to Kruger Park in South Africa – are pretty much ‘sold out.’ You may balk at the eye-wateringly high prices of some of the northern Botswana properties. Don’t give up. Spain is not the answer. There’s still plenty of space available in Mana Pools, so give us a call at 800-513-5222 or email me at bert@fisheaglesafaris.com to talk about a safari which is going to be excellent, and which will cost you half the price of a comparable Botswana trip. Mix in a few days in Hwange National Park (nowhere better for elephants) and you’ll come back with awesome photographs and even better memories and tales to tell. Upping the value even more? Free charter flights from Harare to Mana Pools, from Mana Pools to Hwange and from Hwange to Victoria Falls, provided you add on a couple of nights at Toka Leya, a superb lodge on the Zambezi, just far enough away – upstream – from Victoria Falls. This offer is available from now until 15 Nov 2024. Itineraries need to include a minimum of either six or eight nights in specific safari camps in Zimbabwe. Details available on request.  

Better game viewing earlier in the season 

The greater part of the prime game viewing area in Zimbabwe has experienced well below average rainfall this season which means that dry-season conditions have already set in. Mid- to late May will be like mid-July to early August in a ‘regular’ year. Less vegetation with more animals concentrated around remaining sources of water such as pumped water holes in Hwange and the floodplains of the Zambezi. The dry season is notorious for delivering the best predator activity, particularly with lions but also leopards making use of the opportunity to ambush herbivores when they come to drink. In Hwange and elsewhere there will be throngs of elephants and other mammals including buffalos, giraffes and some rarely seen antelopes like sable and roan, coming to the pumped water holes, pretty much day and night.  

Significant drought conditions later in the season 

Later in the dry season – as drought conditions worsen and food becomes scarce – some of the scenes around the water holes may be intense and even harrowing. Unless there is late rain, many of the large herbivores – notably the elephants – will start to struggle and the weaker ones will succumb as the daily trek between sources of food (woodland forest) and the water holes becomes just too much. In the long run, a reduction in the overall number of elephants in particular, will be beneficial for the environment. Regrettably, it will be a harsh and tough process to witness.   

The vital role played by safari visitors

Prospective visitors can take comfort in knowing that tourism dollars are hugely important in terms of sustaining the wildlife and the communities around the safari areas. As many as one out of every ten jobs in Africa is created and sustained by tourism. On average, one person employed in the Zimbabwe tourism industry supports as many as 10 dependents. The funds generated by tourism support vital wildlife safety nets like pumped water holes in Hwange. Right now, companies like Imvelo Safaris are going flat out re-drilling boreholes to maximize their efficiency and spending money on new pumps and equipment. Money which largely comes from American and other foreign visitors.   

Imvelo Safaris are also drilling three new boreholes at three villages specifically to sustain irrigated vegetable gardens to keep people fed during the coming months. They are also ramping up their school feeding program. Little or no corn in the fields means no fresh corn for breakfast, creating a need for more funds to provide the children with a square meal. In Zimbabwe, the second school term opens at the  beginning of May. Every additional visitor will make a difference. This year, more so than in a long time. Every dollar spent or donated in the Zimbabwe safari destinations this year will provide a vital, much needed boost to the local economy, the people and the wildlife.  

Two other ways in which the people of Zimbabwe can be supported is by making a microloan to a local entrepreneur on Kiva at kiva.org, or by directly supporting the conservation and community efforts of Mark Butcher and his team at Imvelo Safaris. Imvelo’s guests have sponsored a school meal program that has provided over 4 million school meals to dozens of schools in just the past 10 years. They’ve also built teacher cottages, constructed classroom blocks, established a health clinic at Ngamo and annually they arrange a massive ‘Smile and See’ project treating thousands of dental and optical patients free of charge, with the help of a visiting team of dentists and eye doctors. Donations to all Imvelo Trust projects may be made on this site: https://www.hwangecommunityrhino.com/how-to-donate.

Incredible value

A safari of equal quality, using a similar mix of classic category tented camps in Zimbabwe is roughly half the price of a northern Botswana trip of the same duration during high season. With hardly any dropoff in terms of game viewing and diversity of habitats and activities. Not to mention equal or better professional guiding in Zimbabwe and more varied scenery. Victoria Falls being at its best through the end of May and into June, when the river is in high flow stage. The setting of the Mana Pools camps on the southern edge of the Zambezi with the massive river in front and the pretty Zambian escarpment in the background? One of the best in all of Africa. Travel before the end of May and you can take advantage of low shoulder season pricing, with rates at some of the camps being as much as 50% lower than high season prices. Include three free flights (Harare to Mana Pools, Mana Pools to Hwange and Hwange to Victoria Falls) and you’re looking at a savings of up to $1,500 per person.