The Epic adventure (Mana Pools)

2012.04.24

The camp at Mana pools. The camping area is not fenced and the first night lions walked through the camp and went to ground behind the ablution block from where they serenaded us. We used the cars to give us some protection. The second night a hyena entered the camp and stood behind my tent (the one on the ground) and ate some left over bones. I stood next to my tent about 30 m away watching him.

The view from my tent. Note the hippos

Zebra for you

one of the four pools. This one is called long pool. Me standing closest to the water edge to get the perfect shots of hippo and croc.

and the shot

Mana Pools is a wildlife conservation area in northern Zimbabwe constituting a National Park. It is a region of the lower Zambezi River in Zimbabwe where the flood plain turns into a broad expanse of lakes after each rainy season. As the lakes gradually dry up and recede, the region attracts many large animals in search of water, making it one of Africa's most renowned game-viewing regions.

Mana means ‘four’ in Shona, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. These 2,500 square kilometres of river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs, is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa. It was saved from a hydro-electric scheme in the early eighties which would have seen the flooding of this subsequent World Heritage site. It has the country’s biggest concentration of hippopotamuses and crocodiles and large dry season mammal populations of elephant and buffalo.

I'm glad you survived taking that photo!! I'm afraid that no photo would be worth it to me sleeping where lions would walk through the camp!

DancingDolphin · 2012-04-24: 01:47

Oh you lucky man... how exciting... isn't it amazing how we can feel safe (well.... sort of safe) with lions and hyenas mooching around when in a tent, where there is only a thin sheet of ripstop nylon between you and them, there is something liberating about sleeping out there amongst them with no barriers. The hippo shot was well worth the danger of dodging the crocs to get it,,, well done you!

Annbramwell · 2012-04-24: 02:54

Absolutely stunning set well-done my friend !

Dropblue · 2012-04-24: 06:49

Wow what an experience nice captures of the hippos

mystic1 · 2012-04-24: 08:30

what an adventure, I'm so jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!

urmysunshine · 2012-04-24: 10:40

Wow!! Incredible. Were you nervous? Were you able to sleep? We've used the cars camping to add protection from bears before but LIONS?? I would have been terrified.

liveandletlive · 2012-04-24: 15:23

Your tent is the best hotel on earth,,,what a view,,we need to remake the film, isntead of a room with a view we will make " A tent with a view" :))))))))
I'm jealous, so jealous but so happy to be able to see this,,, I really can´t imagine how it is possible to sleep knowing lions are around or hyenas,,, I sleep everywhere but there I think I would lock myself inside a car to sleep....
Well about the zebra,,,,what to say,,,look how elegant they always are,,can't resist to the stripped look,,,,ty :)))
And yes you got it,,you got the best shot of hippos,,I'm sure they are showing her teeth underwater there lol,,,,
Hats off Pete,,,,it is being great to live this adventure with you even if only through photos...ty!!!!

TIM927 · 2012-04-24: 16:36

Thanks all.
It was epic indeed
stay tuned for more

slowpete · 2012-04-25: 00:51