JOHN’S CAMP – MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK

John’s Camp is a small, tented semi-permanent camp is set on the banks of the Zambezi River nested amongst canopies or trichelia and mahogany trees within the Mana Pools National Park.

The area around the camp is a natural wilderness and you can walk with elephants on the floodplains, dine amidst herds of buffalo, sit and watch prides of lion, walk to see wild dogs, enjoy sundowners with hippos on the banks of the Zambezi River and bird watch over 400 species of birds.

This simple but comfortable camp has just 6 ensuite Meru style tents, a common dining area and a star gazing sleep-out platform for the more adventurous to spend the night under the stars.

LOCATION

John’s Camp is located in the Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Access is via a light aircraft flight which takes 1 hour 10 minutes from Harare and 2 hours and 15 minutes from Victoria Falls. You are met at the airstrip and transferred to camp via a game drive which takes around 45 minutes from either Mana Main or Mana West airstrips.

CAMP

Accommodation is in 6 Meru style canvas tents under a double fly sheet with comfortable beds and ensuite bathroom facilities, flush loo and overhanging safari-style bucket showers. Inside the tent is a lit changing area with a running water basin.

With privacy in mind, the tents are generously spaced out along the floodplain adjacent to the Zambezi River. 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.

Dinner is often served alfresco under the stars in front of the camp and when I visited we dined with a herd of buffalo watching us curiously from behind the bushes.

220 volt inverted from 12 volt solar electricity is available in the kitchen at all times for charging etc and there is solar lighting in tents and paraffin and candlelight in the dining area.

ACTIVITIES AND WILDLIFE

Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, is situated in the heart of a natural valley on a unique flood plain, rich and diverse in flora, fauna and wildlife. It is home to 4 of the big 5 – excluding only Rhino – and it is the only National Park in the world where you are allowed to freely walk with wild animals and get to experience Africa as it should be – on foot!

Game drives – are conducted in Toyota Landcruisers with 3 rows and an overhead shade for comfort. Everyone has a window seat – only two guests per row. Note: strictly no off roading. Guides are armed so can walk guess out of the vehicle to get closer to a sighting if it is a distance off the road.

Walking – all walks are led by professional, armed and licensed guides who are passionate and knowledgeable.

Fly Camping /Star Deck – enjoy a night under the stars sleeping in a mosquito net dome tent away from the main camp or spending the night under the wild and magical African skies on the fully furnished star-deck.

Bush lunch – a delicious meal prepared in the main camp is set up in a remote and beautiful part of the park overlooking either the Zambezi River, one of the many inland pans, or a scenic spot on the floodplain.

Land Based Fishing – catch a variety of species from tiger fish to the tasty tilapia (bream).

All tiger fish are strictly catch and release and we have a bag limit of 5 tilapia per day.

GIVING BACK

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 neighbouring 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. We are guided by our Responsible Tourism Policy along with annually prepared responsible tourism plans that detail all of our activities.

JOHNS CAMP IS CLOSED FROM 16 NOVEMBER THROUGH TO THE END OF APRIL EVERY YEAR

THE CAMP WELCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 12 YEARS AND OLDER. THIS CAN BE WAIVED IF THE CAMP IS BOOKED ON A PRIVATE BASIS