Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Mana Pools National Park is situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River where you will find John's Camp nestled amongst canopies of Trichelia and Mahogany trees. It is a truly natural wilderness and the only truly wild walking National Park in Africa.
Across the vast floodplain one can walk with the giants - our African Bull elephants, dine amidst herds of buffalo, gaze upon prides of lion, enjoy sundowners with hippos on the banks of the Zambezi River and watch over 400 species of birds.
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Watch the John's Camp video for a short introduction
Six Meru style canvas tents under double fly sheets with large gauze windows make up the compliment of 12 beds. Tents can be converted into a triple to accommodate a child. Each tent has en-suite bathroom facilities with flush loo and overhanging safari-style bucket showers. Inside the tent is a lit changing area complete with a running water basin. With privacy in mind, the tents are generously spaced out along the floodplain adjacent to the Zambezi River.
As your vehicle rounds the bend, you are there, evidenced by the beaming reception that awaits ~ the camp staff, smart in their safari-style kit are resplendent with wide smiles! Privi holding a basket of cool, rosemary-scented towels to refresh and revive your travel-weary spirits. You’ll feel immediately pampered and welcome. A choice of cool drinks waits under the inviting interior of the dining tent. The dining area is centrally located between the tents, positioned in thick shade, and there is a campfire overlooking the floodplain for evening cocktails and snacks before dinner.
Being a small camp, with a maximum of 12 guests, means that our excellent guiding team can tailor your safari to suit you, providing a highly personalized experience. Attention to detail and being an owner-run/managed/hosted camp is our strength when delivering the best service. Our staff are well trained and extremely guest orientated, attending to guests and their duties with care and professionalism. The team are all employed from within the region so as to promote local employment.
Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, is perfectly situated in the heart of a natural valley on a unique flood plane, rich and diverse in flora, fauna and wildlife. It is home to 4 of the Big 5 (excluding only Rhino). It’s the only National Park in the world where you are allowed to freely walk with the wild animals and get to experience Africa as it should be - on foot! Walking safaris are lead by professional, armed and licensed Guides who are passionate and knowledgeable.
Game drives are conducted from Toyota Landcruisers, 9 seater bench arrangements on a 3 tier frame with an overhead shade for comfort, a ‘window’ seat for everyone (2 people per row, max 6 guests per vehicle). Enjoy a delicious bush lunch prepared in the main camp and set up in a remote and beautiful part of the park, overlooking either the Zambezi River, one of the many inland pans, a gully or the majestic floodplain itself. Land based fishing is offered; catch a variety of species from the great African Tiger Fish to the tasty Tilapia (bream). All Tiger are strictly catch and release and we have a bag limit of 5 Tilapia per day.
Guests can be truly wowed with a night under the stars sleeping in a 'mozzi dome' tent, away from the main camp, or spending an evening under the wild and magical African skies on our rustic sleep-out platform.
We can arrange a private tour of the National Park Headquarters where guests can interact with the rangers who work tirelessly to protect and maintain not only wildlife, but also the park itself. Here guests will witness first-hand a remote Parks station working in harmony with nature.
Responsible Tourism
Operating lodges and camps in protected ecosystems in Africa alongside local indigenous communities and wildlife comes with a great deal of responsibility.
Robin Pope Safaris is committed to responsible tourism. We conduct our business in a manner that benefits the environment and wildlife conservation, the people who work for us, and our neighboring communities. In this way our tourism operations, and the presence of our guests, has the capacity to protect natural wildlife areas, alleviate poverty through good employment practices and contribute positively to the local community. We work together with community development, wildlife conservation and responsible tourism specialists to ensure that we operate in accordance with these principles.
Caring for the environment
Robin Pope Safaris takes pro-active steps to ensure that we run in an environmentally responsible manner. This is important in protecting the fragile ecosystems upon which the wildlife and local people rely upon for their survival and in which we operate.
Steps we take:
Wildlife Conservation
Robin Pope Safaris undertakes many activities, and supports a diversity of projects that contribute to the conservation and protection of wildlife. We also ensure that wildlife and their habitats are not disturbed by our operations.
Activities we undertake:
Professionally Trained & Highly Qualified Safari Guides
Our guides are trained to the highest possible standards and all have professional safari guiding qualifications.
Anti-Poaching
In Zambia we financially support the vital anti-poaching activities of Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) in order to keep South Luangwa’s wildlife safe from poachers.
We also support both financially and practically our local Kakumbi Community Resource Board.
In Zimbabwe we support the Zambezi Elephant Fund. This fund works with local authorities, as well as a collaborative group of alliance partners to maintain a strong anti-poaching presence.
Carnivore Research The Luangwa Valley is home to Zambia’s second largest wild dog population, its largest lion population and one of its largest leopard populations.
Conservation Education
Changing ‘hearts and minds’ of community members living alongside wildlife to understand the importance and value of wildlife are crucial in its conservation.
Support of Government Wildlife Bodies
Robin Pope Safaris supports the conservation efforts of the Zambian, Malawian and Zimbabwean governments through the payment of tourism levies and fees, by reporting snared animals to the wildlife authorities, promoting the protection of fish species along Lake Malawi National Park and by assisting their operations with vehicles and resources when needed.
Community benefit
For over 30 years, we have been committed to ensuring that our local communities benefit from our presence through employment. We understand the interdependence between local communities and the wildlife and natural resources that tourism depends upon. As we operate in rural areas that lack other development opportunities, we are in a great position to impact positively on local people’s lives.
Healthcare
Robin Pope Safaris founded the Luangwa Safari Association Medical Fund, which contributes to the upkeep of the government’s rural Kakumbi Health Centre; which provides healthcare for more than 20 000 residents.
Education
Robin Pope Safaris believes that investing in education provision in the local community is one of the best contributions we can make to our neighbours. Education is key to ending the cycle of poverty in rural African communities.
Trade Not Aid
We purchase as many locally available supplies as possible to stimulate local trade. We also contract local craftsmen for new buildings and in the refurbishment of our existing properties and support local artisans by selling their wares in our gift shops.
With our active support, community members from Kawaza Village set up and manage the first authentic cultural village tourism enterprise in Zambia. We encourage trade with Kawaza Village and are their main supplier of guests, marketing them internationally through our website and our tour operator partners and acting as their Booking Agent.
Caring for our staff
To care for our staff, we ensure high standard treatment, fair wages, and good working conditions as well as access to education and training. We employ solely on the basis of merit and employ local staff in all areas of our operations.
Training & Promotion
We have a number of training mechanisms in place for our staff and have a policy of in-house development and promotion from bottom to top.
We always reward good work and encourage our staff to further their education – both through our in-house training courses and externally. We sponsor employees that show high commitment and potential to develop themselves to senior management level.
The following camps compliment John's Camp well, and should be considered when extending an itinerary.
Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe
305 Booty Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Tel: (757) 428 1166 / Fax: (757) 428 0554 / Toll Free: 1 800 322 3867