Friday, September 27

Mana Pools, paradise revisited

After a too long a gap of 21 years, I was fortunate enough to revisit Mana Pools Zimbabwe, earlier this month.

Mana Pools is a wild, relatively untouched game reserve situated in the very north of Zimbabwe, on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. It stretches from the sparkling waters and baking sand banks of the Zambezi, across the old flood plains and their ancient shaded pools, through the thickets of jessie bush, tall mopani woodlands, up to the looming hills of the Zambezi Escarpment.

The most special part of the reserve for me, is the river and flood plains. I'm not going to try and describe in any more words what's so special about this small piece of Africa, but let my photos speak for themselves.

My very first visit was in October 1983, the last, before now, in October 1992. In that 10 years I visited the area at least once a year - either on camping trips or canoe trips. For your interest I've included a couple of old photos I took on that first and last visit. In many ways nothing has changed in the intervening 30 years...

1983

Our first camp, right on the river bank. Our equipment was very basic, no cooling, so we ate tinned food and had wind cooled water in our gin and orange.
1992











By 1992 I had a camping fridge but couldn't fit it into my little Mazda - so again cold drinks only as long as our ice lasted!

Most of my other trips to Mana were with friends in their pickup trucks so we had more equipment and cold drinks - a necessity in Mana during the hot dry spring!


2013






In 2013 we had more and bigger vehicles, better equipment, fresh food and cold beers!








2013






My "tent with a view".  Facing the Zambezi River and the hills of Zambia.







1983


2013







Views from our camp......

























and a visitor......

Almost every time I've been to Mana, we have had elephants visit the camp site - mostly to feed on the Acacia Albida pods that fall to the ground at this time of year.......




This ele was hoovering up the albida pods from the ground sheet. He manoevered his way through the gap between the vehicle and table without knocking anything over!







And when not in camp, the game viewing on the flood plains can be quite awesome.........

Cape Buffalo, in 1983

Female waterbuck, 2013

Waterbuck out in the open

Plains Zebra foal

Plains Zebra
Elephant, in a typical floodplain landscape....
and some more favourite landscape pictures........



To wrap up this posting on one of my most favourite places on this planet, here are some pictures taken at Mana Mouth - a great place for bird watching, fishing, sun-bathing, or just watching the sun set with a cold beer in hand........

Looking up river... sadly the heavy smoke haze this year mostly obscured the Zambian hills



Sunbathing in 1983







Sunset in 2013

8 comments:

Gavin said...

Thanks, as always, Sue. Your photos are enticing
Gavin

Jen Standish-White said...

Such evocative memories of sights and sounds of Mana - thank you for sharing with us Sue xxx How heartwarming that in a continent of such change, there is still a timelessness and strength to be found in nature xx
Jen

yacht_ngoma said...

Thank you again for this blog Sue. I can smell the earth, hear the singing....

Gaelyn said...

Wonderful! And now another place to put on my African list of places to visit.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sue .. it's a place I've never been to - too dangerous when I was there ..

Just wonderful to see though - reminds me of other places I've visited .. blissful peace under and in the African bush ...

Cheers Hilary

Coral Wild said...

Thanks Gavin:)

It's impossible not too capture the mood of Africa at Mana Pools, Jen, Sandra - I'm glad I helped bring a little touch of home to you both....

Hilary, Gaelyn - you should both put Mana Pools on your life lists...

Alex Lee said...

What a joy to revel in your pictures, memories and descriptions of such a majestic are of the world that I would have never known had I not known you. Thanks for sharing!

Coral Wild said...

Thank you Alex:) It was a real pleasure to have you and your colleagues on safari and I am glad I can continue to remind you of the wonders of Africa.