Eight nights at Chitake Springs in Mana Pools National Park | September 2023 Trip Report
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 вер 2023
- Travel with Africa Geographic: africageographic.com/travel/a...
Support my Channel: / thesafariexpert
In September 2023 I lead an 8-night photographic safari for Africa Geographic to Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park. We camped in the heart of Mana Pools at a place called Chitake Springs, known for its large pride of lions and massive herds of Cape buffalo that drink at the spring during the dry season.
This trip report will give you a great idea of what to expect from an Africa Geographic safari to Chitake Springs in Mana Pools.
To book a safari with Africa Geographic, send an e-mail to travel@africageographic.com
Enjoy the video!
=================================
Gear I use to film and produce my videos:
=================================
Canon R6 camera: amzn.to/3AXxx6P
Canon 100-500 RF lens: amzn.to/3pT9grZ
Rode videomic Pro: amzn.to/3Kx4qKP
GoPro Hero 10: amzn.to/3RjaXdZ
iPhone 12Pro: amzn.to/3KvGKGs
Macbook Pro 13 inch: amzn.to/3e79adU
Sandisk 2TB Portable SSD hard drive: amzn.to/3R2GWiO
CONTACT ME:
E-mail: info@thesafariexpert.co.za
Website: www.thesafariexpert.co.za/
IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS:
Wildlife Photography for Beginners: bit.ly/WildlifePhotographyCourse
Digital Photography for Beginners: bit.ly/BeginnersPhotographyCourse
Intermediate Photography Level: bit.ly/IntermediatePhotography...
Adobe Lightroom Classic for Beginners: bit.ly/LightroomClassicBeginne...
Selling your photos online: bit.ly/StockPhotographyCourse
How to create a Udemy Online Course: bit.ly/BestsellerUdemyCourseCr...
MUSIC LICENSED FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND: bit.ly/thesafariexpertEpidemic...
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you click on them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote products that I trust and the and the income from these links allow me to keep producing videos.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram: / thesafariexpert
Facebook: / thesafariexpert
My great mate, the Chitake Springs pioneer & legend safari guide himself Steve Pope looks down with a watchful eye upon all those that step foot in Chitake Springs. I spent many eventful (to say the least) safaris with Steve & "his" Chitake lions back in the day & there has never been another that knew lions like Steve did. A special man & a special place. RIP Steve Pope. Gone but never forgotten.
We actually spoke about Steve while we were there, about his campsite near the spring and 'his' lions and buffalo...
Thats great to hear his memory is alive & well !! @@TheSafariExpert A man of very few words but his ability to think like a lion & anticipate their next move was quite extraordinary. I'm based in Melbourne, Australia & have worked in the African wholesale safari industry here in Australia for 35 plus years & I've been out with some of the very best & amazingly good African guides (James Varden being another up at Mana Pools) but Steve was certainly in a class of his own. Keep up the great work Villiers & I enjoy watching your safari sojourns !
Does this guide, Steve Pope, that you talk about, have 4 day concessions on the new and full moon at Chitake? And he only had one eye?
Unfortunately Steve Pope passed away from cancer in 2011 aged 60 years old. He did alot of his safaris over new & full moons. I'm not aware of him having only one eye. I'm guessing whoever does walking safaris in Chitake Springs nowadays would also most probably be around new & full moons as well. @@ardnfast
@dbackx thank you for the reply. I am very saddened to hear of Steve's passing. I thoroughly enjoyed the 4 days and nights I spent with him at Chitake Springs.
Steve had a glass eye after an incident with a sharp knife (his story, not mine) but it certainly didn't diminish his guiding skills 🙏
RIP.
No better place on Earth🙌 Mana Pools always a special place to visit
What an epic experience that must have been Villiers! Thanks for giving us a taste of what it was like over there. Excellent footage and photos, as always. 🔥
Thanks Dawie. It's such a pleasure to be able to share it with passionate people like yourself!
Lovely video as usual. Brings back memories from 2018 when I stayed at Chitake Springs for 3 nights. The thundering of hooves, the dust and the smell of buffaloes is a thing to remember. I also remember having a heart in mouth moment on that trip. We were walking the gorge and as we went around a bend, there were 3 dagga boys drinking from the springs. They looked at us with their beady eyes, smelling the air, trying to make out if we were a threat. That sent a chill down my spine. We retreated slowly. Nights were noisy with screaming elephants, roaring lions and laughing hyenas. Thank you for bring those memories back.
Been a dream of mine to visit Mana Pools - right at the top of the list! Well done on that Buffalo scene 😅🏃🏻♂️
It’s a must-see, Byron! Hehe, that buffalo stampede looked a lot scarier thanks to two small cuts in post 😅
Wonderful experience- where there with Carl end of September this year. Saw lions hunting buffaloes and got charged by a lioness. Will be back ❤
Wow, beautiful bro..I am a huge fan of wildlife photography...I am planning to buy my first camera..Beautiful clicks too 4:25 wow
Top notch stuff! Raising the bar! Definitely one of the most iconic and spectacular places for nature enthusiasts. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
Thanks Andrew. Your video on Chitake was super informative and helped me to know what to expect before I even got there 🙏🏻😎
That was a brilliant trip, thank you Villiers and Carl for all your expertise and understanding of the animal behaviour, and your company of course! I'll definitely be back again, after I have finished editing all my photos! If anyone is thinking of doing this trip - just do it! It's amazing.
Aw, thanks so much for the kind words, Brenda 😍 It was so wonderful to have you on the trip!
Epic episode content out of this world
Thanks for the kind words, Shaun!
flippin awesome Villiers !! ♨
Thanks Stu 🙏🏻😎💪🏻
Brilliant as always. I camped at Mana Pools in the early 80s, nice to see it again.
Thanks so much, Rod! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant vid as always. Loved the buffalo footage the most!!!
Thanks man!
Great video snapshot of your trip. You had wonderful sightings! Makes me want to go back!!
Me too, Jane! 🤪
Hi Villiers, it was so nice meeting you, Carl and your group at Chitake Sprinks. You've made a wonderful film which will be a great remembrance for me as well, being there exactly at the same time than you. Greetings from Lake Kariba now. Lilli and the orange Toyota
Aw, thanks Lilli! 🙏🏻😁 It was wonderful to meet you under the fig tree 🌳
As usual brilliant video! Loved the different perspectives!
Thanks so much!
Did you manage to get some stills shots of the buffalo's in the dust? Dream shot if you did...
Not the ones I had been dreaming of, but next time! ;)
Which country is this mate? Seems beautiful with decent game viewing opportunities
Zimbabwe 🙌🏻🇿🇼
Loved the vid. Is there a way to visit Mana independently on a budget? Camping? (Like, self-sufficient 4x4 and tent camping - not luxury camping). We are looking to go in April.
Yes, definitely. There are public campsites at both Chitake Springs and Nyamepi (down by the river) that can be booked through Zimparks ⛺️
@@TheSafariExpertThanks!
Hi Villiers, where can a person enquire about joining on the next Chitake Springs trip??
Hi Jordan. We have not yet scheduled another trip to Chitake Springs, but I suggest sending an email to travel@africageographic.com and asking that they keep you posted on any future trips to Mana Pools 😎