The photo expedition to Mana Pools National Park 2014

Mana Pools National Park was a big goal for me 2014. I had longed to go there since I saw a few of pictures by Morkel Erasmus in an Africa Geographic issue in 2012. It was not only the sheer wilderness that attracted me. But, also the possibility to actually do much of the photography on foot.

So, I didn’t hesitate when I had the possibility to join Zane Engelbrecht on his recon trip there in July last year. We spent seven nights with a group of four safari goers and one first timer. A reasonable sized group even it might have been to big for my taste.

I had the pleasure to meet four of the five iconic animals on foot during the week. Sadly you can’t meet all five there as the Black rhinos has been moved. The reason behind the move is of course the poaching problems that plague Africa.

So what can I say about this recon trip to Zimbabwe?

Well if you really want to know the hype about a place then you need to go there. It is hard to describe the sheer beauty of this raw wilderness. Game walks are in my eye the right way to meet Africa’s wildlife. It add much more to a trip then the inside a safari vehicle ever will do. To smell nature, hear the sound and be able to get close to wild animals on foot is something truly special.

My verdict of Mana Pools National Park

This National Park was for me as a photographer a real gem as it offered proper low angle photography. The downside was that I got more bushes in the way making either foreground or background a little messy at times. Not something that bothered me if I compare it with the experience of walking with animals and the possibilities it gave me as a photographer.

If you are interested in exploring Mana Pools National Park with me? Then look in the workshop section for more info. My aim is to go back with a small group of photographers as that give you a much better experience.

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Photo Album: Mana Pools National Park 2014