February 10, 2020
12:00 am

Nine days, two of Zimbabwe's most different landscapes, and a single goal: better photographs. We followed guest and friend Marten Heinrichs from the waterholes of Hwange, where mega-herds of elephants move to and from the water in their hundreds, to the blue forests of Mana Pools, where elephants rise onto their hind legs to reach into the trees. Timed for October, the driest month before the rains, this is what a specialist photographic safari through Zimbabwe looks like, told in the words of Marten, our guide Mike, and the team at African Bush Camps.

Zimbabwe, a photographer’s dream!

February 10, 2020
12:00 am

We recently hosted a photographic safari to Zimbabwe together with guest and friend Marten Heinrichs, on a 9-day adventure to 2 of the best locations in the country, Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park. We teamed up with the African Bush Camps team to write this blog which appears on their website and now on ours.

The words below are a combination of Mike, Marten and the ABC team. Enjoy!

Photos have the ability to evoke emotion in you and solidify experiences. Looking back at your favourite photo of a lion, staring straight into the camera, and it all floods back to you; your heart racing as he holds his gaze with his deep golden eyes, the shiver in your spine as his rumbling roar reverberates your being, you’re in awe of his primal power. You’re taken back to your guide telling you the story of the coalition as you sit around the crackling campfire under the milky way, you smile as you remember the laughs shared around the dinner table reliving the moments of the day.

A safari is a perfect place to hone your photography skills, capture incredible sightings but also create once in a lifetime moments and revisit them again and again and never let them fade away.

The team at sunset in Hwange with buffalo behind them — Dickson, Marten and Mike in Hwange National Park.

Lying flat on the pan to photograph elephants at eye level in Hwange

Marten has been to more than 10 African countries and Mana Pools has been at the top of his list for a while. He wanted to do a specialist photographic safari, which he planned directly with Escape Safari Co. and Mike, and this is what he had to say about his experience: “Both camps offered us incredible moments which I will remember for the rest of my life. We had a warm welcome at both camps, wonderful tents and friendly staff. Everybody took care of us and everybody tried to ensure that our safari was one to remember! Special mention must go to our guide Dickson from Somalisa Expeditions for engaging with us and making it so special!”

Photographing from a sunken hide, level with elephants at the waterhole — Marten photographing elephants from the Somalisa Expeditions deck.

Elephants drinking from the camp pool a few metres away — A constant flow of elephants move past the deck day and night.

“The brand new Nyamatusi Camp is located in the eastern part of Mana Pools National Park, close to the Zambezi River. Every tent has a view of the Zambezi River and the mountains in Zambia on the other side. To go to Mana Pools was a lifelong dream for me, and it certainly lived up to its expectations. I drove through the famous blue forests, I saw the elephants standing on their hind legs, I braved a walking safari and I enjoyed canoeing on the Zambezi River and so much more. One of the best moments was the dinner on a sandbank in the middle of the Zambezi River.” Marten continues.

On foot in the blue forests of Mana Pools.

Mike tells us, “because the safari was planned with photography as the main focus, we arranged to travel in October, the driest month of the year. It’s a time just before the annual rains begin to fall and the bush is dry and open. This lends itself to interesting photographic opportunities and we were spoilt on our safari with some incredible game viewing!”

An African wild dog sitting out in the dry teak woodland of Hwange — One of our favourite images captured by Marten. Image: Marten Heinrichs

A male lion feeding on a buffalo carcass — A difficult scene to watch in Hwange. Image: Marten Heinrichs

“Hwange was a particular highlight, with the presence of enormous “mega-herds” of elephants that constantly move to and from water. Spending the afternoons sitting patiently at some of the waterholes, watching the sunset as hundreds of elephants frolic in the water was a true highlight for both Marten and me.”

A long line of elephants crossing the pan under a wide blue sky — “Mega-herds” of elephants coming down to drink. Image: Marten Heinrichs

An elephant reaching up into the albida canopy at Mana Pools with a calf alongside — The perfect scene in Mana Pools. Image: Marten Heinrichs

A successful safari is often judged by how much wildlife you saw or how great your images were. For us, it is based on the friendships we form and the unique experience we are able to provide on each safari. On this particular safari, we certainly made news friend and we left we heavy hearts after the most incredible escape.