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Mana Pools and Its Wildlife Over two thousand square kilometers of pristine wilderness nestled in the heart of the lower Zambezi Valley a wilderness ten times that size.
The river runs on the Northern edge of the Valley pressing up against the Zambian Escarpment with the large flat flood plains on the Zimbabwean south side. With over 450 recorded bird species alone is a testament to the varied habitat, whether it be Mopane forests, Riverine Vegetation, Jesse bush or the Ancient Flood plains. All are home to the varied array of mammals that move freely in this unbounded wilderness. Perhaps it is Mana Pools Elephants that are its greatest asset. Great big bull elephants wander between the water and where they feed checking on the numerous herds of females and their young. The Zambezi river which has traveled a couple of thousand kilometers by the time it passes Mana is wide and lazy. The Zambezi is home to innumerable pods of hippopotamus lounging alongside crocodiles. The grassy islands are home to buffalo and frequented by elephant who swim out to them in search of more succulent vegetation. The flood plains are home to a variety of antelope and the animals that prey upon them, an Eden that has earned the park World Heritage Status
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A Typical day in Mana Pools After an early wake at sunrise we meet and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a light breakfast. We then hop in our open Landrover and depending on the sounds we have heard in the night we would decide which direction to venture. After a short while on the road we are likely to encounter the plains animals such as impala, waterbuck, and eland. These animals are so abundant they are often taken for granted, after a few pictures have been taken then is off after more exciting things. Then as so often the case the roads tell us who has been around during the night, a kind of early morning newspaper. Once we have found suitable tacks its time to get out and track on foot, the lion, elephant, buffalo depending on whose footprints we decide to follow. Safety briefing complete we get underway.
Tracking is a slow process of
following the signs plus there are many little things to see when you
put your feet on the ground. Nor are we successful every time as the animal
we have set after may have gone too
far, or as is often the case, something else may catch our attention,
then it's off in another direction. We approach animals to a safe distance
and this will depend on the terrain, wind direction, particular species
of animal. It might be time now to head back to the Landrover and move
onto another area or particular place we wish to see. |
