Tour Highlights
- Amazing habitat of Zimbabwe's most iconic national park
- Elephants, wild dogs, lions in spectacular habitat
- Walking with best guides in Mana Pools along wild dogs, lions and elephants
- Amazing lighting and photo opportunities
- Watching/photographing wildlife from the ground level and at waterholes
- Canoeing on Zambezi river
- Victoria Falls waterfalls
- Memorable sundowners and countless opportunities to capture unbelievable photos
- All inclusive itinerary with max 3 person per vehicle throughout
Who should consider?
Anyone who is looking to experience a bespoke, wildlife behaviour-focused safari with carefully selected, proven and comfortable accommodation led by a passionate guide.
Enthusiasts of photography who would like to capture breathtaking wildlife moments to share and remember for years to come.
Those who would like to experience the unique, iconic habitat of incredible Mana Pools National Park.
Anyone who would like to experience phenomenal wilderness from a very unique perspective.
What to Expect?
Prior to the visit at Mana Pools we will overnight at the Victoria Falls to admire the might of the Falls and take some iconic photos of that marvellous waterfall.
It is the end of a dry season, so we expect to have game activities at their peak. Acacia forest of Mana Pools should provide necessary cover from the daily sun and animals density should be at its peak.
We plan to spend the maximum amount of time in the field, looking for great sightings, understanding animal behaviour and spending time with wildlife rather than ‘chasing’ species.
We will leave our camp before sunrise, after coffee, and may return for lunch or as needed – flexibility in our schedule will be the key. We will come back well after sunset and a sundowner in the field. It is not a bootcamp, but we also don’t want to miss amazing sightings.
We will track animals, sometimes on foot, ensuring that both, novice and advanced fans of photography will have opportunities to capture amazing pictures and video clips.
We will have opportunity to capture images with a wide angle and long telephoto lenses from the ground level for an optimum intimacy and dramatic effects.
Back in the camp, we will enjoy understated luxury with tasteful food and always helpful staff.
It is a start of a hot weather with sunny days and temperatures of around 35-38 deg C during the day dropping down to 20’s at night.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusion
- All local air transfers from Victoria Falls to Mana Pools and back to Victoria Falls
- Road transfers within Mana Pools park
- Accommodation for 9 nights in Mana Pools on shared basis (limited single supplements available)
- Accommodation for 1 night in Vic Falls at the beginning of the trip and transfer to the airport
- All meals, drinks (incl. alcoholic beverages) and laundry in Mana Pools
- Safari activities - walking, road and water supported by professional local guides
- Two vehicles, exclusive for our group (1 in case of 4 participants)
- Government taxes, VAT where applicable, tourism levies, relevant taxes, park fees
- Professional guiding and photography tutoring by Artur Stankiewicz
- Online support, travel and preparation advice ahead of the trip
Exclusion
- International flights from home to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and return home
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities and tips
Destinations and Wildlife at a Glance
We will sample the best that Zimbabwe has to offer with a visit an iconic National Park – the UNESCO Heritage site of the Mana Pools.
Mana Pools is not only about its amazing wildlife but the remarkably beautiful, riverine habitat. The visit to Mana is about the experience of the bush in immersive ways. It is about morning and afternoon colors in the floodplain forests, and interaction between animal species. Mana Pools is one of the best places in Africa for walking safaris where one has the chance to get up close to big game. Wildlife that we will encounter include elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, possibly cheetahs and African painted dogs, and a variety of regular game. We will also have a chance to see an amazing colony of carmine bee-eaters. Canoeing down the Zambezi river is experience to remember for years. The walking guides in the park are among the best in Africa and we will be among the best.
Your guide
Artur Stankiewicz
Is a seasoned organizer of bespoke nature and wildlife adventures, with a solid knowledge of the African continent and wild animal behaviors that he will share during the trip. He is also a passionate wildlife photographer who’s work has been recognized in many international wildlife photo contests and published in various media. Artur offers photo tutorials during the trip on as required basis which he adjusts to everyone’s needs and desires.
Other guides
Mateusz Piesiak
Mateusz is a very accomplished wildlife photographer based in Poland. Fascinated by nature, he has been documenting unique moments of animals for over 15 years experimenting with light and composition, trying to capture images that inspire.
In his work he spends hours of preparation, observation and learning about animals – to be able to sneak into the world of nature and document unique behaviors, and extraordinary moments that often last only a fraction of a second.
His works have been awarded in numerous competitions, notably the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Siena International Photography Awards, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and published in magazines such as The Guardian, BBC Wildlife Magazine.
For more of Mateusz’s works visit his website www.mateuszpiesiak.pl.
Social media:
-
Instagram: mpwildlife
-
Facebook: Mateusz Piesiak Wildlife Photography
-
TikTok: @mateuszpiesiak
Accommodations and Vehicles
Itinerary
Price list
Gallery
Testimonials
“Our safari in Botswana and Vic Falls was the experience of a lifetime. Our expectations were high, but they were exceeded by a wide margin. Our exposure to the animals and their behaviors was much more intimate and revealing than we could have imagined. The observations of animal behavior and the photo opportunities were unbelievable. The trackers ability to find the animals and keep us in close contact, even when predators were hunting, was more than thrilling; they were experiences for a lifetime. Finally, the hospitality in the camps was excellent; we were made to feel like family. We are ‘hooked’ for more safaris.”
“The Botswana trip was AMAZING! Kim and I were blown away by the magnificence of the animals, and more so by Artur’s knowledge of animal behavior and ability to anticipate when and where the best viewing spots would materialize. We will never look at our pet cats the same way again. Thanks so much for taking care of every little detail, and insuring that our trip was PERFECT! As safari first-timers we were nervous, but after such an exhilarating experience we can’t wait to go again…with Wild Encounter Safaris of course.”
“Artur is an extremely knowledgeable guide who knows the best spots to observe and photograph wildlife in iconic African scenery. He took us to places where sometimes we were the only group to witness leopards climbing out of trees to hunt, lion cubs roughhousing with each other, and cheetahs pursuing antelopes over the grasslands. Migrating wildebeests and zebras surrounded us at times in massive herds that stretched to the horizon. We saw the Big Five, the Ugly Five, and everything in between as Artur tailored each day’s activities to requests from the group, including a visit to the Olduvai Gorge museum of early human fossils and footprints. I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in Serengeti animals and habitats.”
Contact us
We would love to hear from you and answer any question you may have!
Check others safaris
