Mana Pools is a world heritage site on the banks of the Zambesi in north-eastern Zimbabwe. The area is rich with game as it not only has the fertile flood plain of the Zambesi which provides grazing for the animals but also some long, deep pools which are refilled by the rains each year and which are a great habitat for hippos, crocs and wading birds as well as providing drinking for game.
The reserve has a large elephant population as well as big herds of buffalo, lion and elusive leopards and cheetah. African wild dogs are found here and there is a large bird population.
We stay with Stretch Ferreira at his camp of six tents run by his company, Goliath Safaris. Stretch has guided in the reserve for many years and knows most of the old bull elephants. The great difference about safaris here is that you can go on foot amongst the wildlife. We walk in the bush and may quietly approach and sit with elephant as well as sneaking up to wild dog and buffalo herds and tracking lion. And if that is not exciting enough you can take a canoe on the river and float downstream steering around pods of hippos. Just don't fall in like our friends did.