Only in Africa do you find signs such as this. I presume the proprietor was referring to the common use of fishing lures and that real men wouldn’t dream of using anything but his earthworms, but I didn’t stop to find out. I was on the way to Mana Pools Game Park in the Zambezi Valley and I was keen to get there.
It was another 41/2 hours along the somewhat hazardous main road to Zambia before I finally arrived and could relax a bit. A lot of the heavy traffic has now diverted via the new Kazangula bridge that links Botswana and Zambia above the Victoria Falls but one still needs to be quick-witted for over-bearing heavy trucks and wheel-rim bending potholes.
I arrived at “Stretch” (real name Andy) Ferreira’s camp on the edge of the Zambezi just as he and a guest were heading out for the afternoon game drive. He’s been working in the Zambezi Valley and Mana Pools area for some 30 years and promises close up encounters with a lot of the game. Many of the elephants have been given names and know his voice. Under absolutely NO CIRCUMSTANCES should inexperienced people approach elephants like you see in some of these photos (it’s also illegal to do so without a licenced guide).
Four nights later, refreshed and relaxed, I was ready to brave the road back to Harare.
Waterbuck on the gallop – early evening near the Zambezi River 
A dead tree claws for the sky. They are numerous and an essential part of the ecosystem 
Shapes in dead wood. 
Despite the dry season there is always new growth in the underbrush near the river. 
The Donald (Trump) – so called because he’s always in a bad mood 
The approach is discussed 
Stretch, guides and a guest close to elephants. 
Squirrel in a tree. It’s been a good year for squirrels – they were everywhere 
The group sets out to find lions. On this occasion they did not succeed 
A double-banded sand grouse relies on its exceptional camouflage 
Photo opportunities abound. 
The characteristic large ear of a kudu doe. They are famously shy 
A side-striped jackal in fantastic shape. Probably scrounging off the nearby Parks camp rubbish heap, and numerous gerbils 
Impala doe grazing. Prolific and unusually shy possibly due to the National Parks staff shooting for the pot. 
A hyena goes about its business with total disdain for our presence. One of the few animals that wasn’t shy 
Red-billed hornbill. They also have had a good season and were everywhere 
Helmeted guineafowl at sunset on the Zambezi river. 
It’s the dry season and the grasses have died off but there was still a lot of water around so the game was sparse. 
A bull elephant forages in the Zambezi. The river was unusually high due to a fault at Hwange thermal power station so Kariba hydro power station was using a lot of water. 
“Stretch” Ferreira – owner of Stretch Ferreira Safaris – he has many years experience in the Zambezi Valley 
Baobabs line the road out of Mana Pools 
Mr Baggy Pants – just my name for this elephant. Stretch didn’t know him so we didn’t get close
Zimbabwe Absurdity 
I don’t think Stretch has aged in the 30+ years I’ve known him. He was always incredibly wise and kind to me as a child.
That shot of the waterbuck mid gallop is marvellous. At least your hands had stopped shaking after the 4.5 hour drive! So blessed to get out of town! The wildest thing I’m seeing these days is the driving on Harare’s roads. Soon you may need an armed guide to navigate city roads! Hope your return was with Zen-like calm and that it will last a few weeks.
Had one adrenaline moment on the road by Karoi otherwise it was driving-as-usual.
Hi thanks a lot I love ur articles