Name: 4 Day Chitake Spring Safari in Mana Pools National Park
Brand: Natureways Safaris
Price: 1800 USD
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

11:30

You will stay in a mobile camp throughout this safari. The camp is set up and taken down by the staff to ensure that guests spend as much time as possible doing safari activities or simply enjoying their surroundings. The team will take care of all the guests’ needs and camp chores. During the mobile safari, the camp will be taken down and all equipment and guest luggage will be transferred to the next campsite by vehicle.

All camping equipment is supplied. This is a true bush camp, but offering a little rustic luxury service. There is no electricity or plumbing and there are no permanent structures. It is a taste of the way a safari used to be, a truly authentic, African bush experience. Camps are eco-friendly, designed to be erected and dismantled within hours, leaving no trace on the environment.

Natureways has custom-built tents to guarantee your comfort. It is a spacious walk-in style tent supplied with en-suite toilet facilities for night-use and comfortable beds with fresh linen. Stationary camp tents are mosquito-proof with mosquito gauze rooves so guests can lie in bed and enjoy the night sky. All tents have fly sheets to ensure no one gets wet if it does rain! It also provides shade should one want an afternoon sleep.

The camps are fully equipped with a mobile kitchen run by an experienced bush cook, bar facilities, and a dining area with full waiter service. Further, the camps have no permanent ablution facilities. However, camps are served by the luxury of long drop toilets and, for night-use, all tents have en-suite chemical toilets. You can also revel in a luxurious hot shower underneath the star-studded expanse of the African sky.

Program

General information

This safari is a fully backed-up safari. It means that clients can sit back and relax while everything is taken care of.
Natureways Safaris takes a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 people (special arrangements can be made for larger groups upon request).
The minimum age limit is 14 years, there is no maximum age limit but common sense should be used.
No previous canoeing experience is necessary but guests are required to be reasonably fit and healthy.
There is no maximum luggage weight, as luggage will be transferred by vehicle from camp to camp.
Natureways Safaris cannot guarantee plenty of game while on safari, particularly during the green (rainy) season.

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly by air-charter into Mana Pools National Park or drive into Nyamepi, a Mana main camp where you will be met by your guide with ice-cold drinks. You will then embark on a 1.5-hour drive through Jesse bush and mopane scrub to Camp Chitake arriving in time for lunch. You may, by then, already have met a few of your new neighbors such as an elephant, kudu, zebra, impala, and many birds!

A mobile tented camp will have been set up by the camp staff. It is equipped with walk-in mosquito-proofed tents with en-suite chemical toilet, external long-drop toilets, hot showers, and a dining area next to the fire where iced drinks and sumptuous bush-prepared meals will be served.

The chef will have prepared a delicious lunch to give you strength for the first afternoon’s walk, a familiarization walk to see the lay of the land. Then, go back to camp for sundowners, a hot (or cold if you prefer) shower, and a fine dinner.

Day 2

There will be an early wake-up, just as dawn breaks. Hot water for freshening up will be placed in raised basins outside each tent, while tea, freshly brewed coffee and muffins or home-made biscuits are already waiting by the campfire. The day’s itinerary depends on what guests have agreed to with the guide, perhaps an early morning walk to watch the sunrise. These walks are customized to each group with regards to preferences, fitness level, and interests.

Walking options may include exploring the course of the Chitake River as it flows to the Ruckomechi river, hiking upstream towards the escarpment or visiting other waterholes in the woodlands. Alternatively, you may visit the dinosaur fossils or discover the inside of a hollow baobab that is the old lair of a leopard (and still has bones inside it).

Guests will return to the camp for lunch and may set off on another walk afterward or simply sit back and enjoy the African bush. Then, go back to camp for the night where, once again, a great meal, hot shower, cold drinks, and friendly staff are waiting.

Day 3

After early rising, there is the option of heading out immediately or of having breakfast before setting out on a whole day of hiking. Alternatively, stay near the spring to sit and watch for game.

In the cooler parts of the year from May to the end of August, you are suggested to do longer walks from camp. As it gets drier and hotter, from September to November, it is preferable to stay near the spring area through the heat of the day. Early and late walks are then more advisable.

Long viewing “sits” can be extremely rewarding as one gets to observe wildlife behaviors not possible when walking. Witnessing the natural daily cycle of activity gives one a greater understanding and appreciation of nature. Some of the mammals you may possibly encounter are impala, baboon, vervet monkey, kudu, Sharpe’s grysbok, elephant, buffalo, zebra, and waterbuck. This third night will again be spent at the Chitake campsite with all the trimmings.

Day 4

Depending on your departure time, or if you are moving on to a canoe trail or an alternative camp, you may either take another early walk before breakfast or have a lie in! After that, there will be a game drive to the airstrip or back to Nyamepi, Mana main camp, where the team will bid you farewell!

Notes

This itinerary is just a guideline and may change due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions.

Walks are dependant on animal and weather conditions at the time and there will be a backup vehicle available if required or if clients do not want to walk the entire distance between camps.

All participants are expected to sign an indemnity form upon arrival in Mana Pools. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the safari.

Guides

Mark Van Zuydam

Mark van Zuydam - Was born in Zimbabwe on the 16th March 1967 and grew up on a Farm in the district of Mazoe, Zimbabwe. From the time his father taught him about fire flies when he was 5 years old he has loved the open space and nature. At 19 he started his career as a learner Canoe Guide, obtaining his River Guides Authority in 1989. He then continued his training under the Tutorship of Professional Guides and Hunters, the likes of Willie de Beer, Steve Edwards of Musango Safari Camp, Gordon Putrill and Andy Hunter to name but a few. He obtained his Full Guides Licence in 1995. He has been Fr

Mark Hadingham

Mark was born in Harare in 1984, and is 37 years young. He left Zimbabwe to study in Australia. He returned to Zimbabwe at the end of 2008 and obtained his learners guides licence. After apprenticing under a PH for several years he obtained his full professional guides licence in 2016. He have been a free-lance guide ever since. He am a keen photographer and adventurer, that believes a safari should be all encompassing and takes note of everything from the smallest spiders to the hugest of baobabs, preferably whilst on foot!

Location

The Chitake Spring is an area of crucial importance to the great variety of wildlife occurring in this southern part of Mana Pools National Park. Water gushes up out of the ground and flows for up to a kilometer along the otherwise dry riverbed of the Chitake River. The Chitake River rises in the Zambezi Escarpment on the very southern boundary of the park and connects with the Ruckomechi river, which in turn snakes across the valley floor to the mighty Zambezi, 70 kilometers away.

Once the rains have begun properly, there is a torrent of water flowing in these systems but it generally dries up by April. As more of the surrounding waterholes dry out, the spring becomes essential to the survival of hundreds of creatures. The high and rugged escarpment is only 8 kilometers away but the game has to come down from the hills for water. The mixed mopane, combretum, and acacia woodlands of the vast valley floor are home to many thirsty animals.

As the dry season progresses, the concentrations of wildlife increase, accompanied by huge flocks of doves, starlings, lovebirds, sparrows, finches, hornbills, and sandgrouse. With such a diverse array of wildlife on the menu, this is the ideal spot for predators such as lion, leopard, hyena, painted hunting dog, mongoose, snakes, and a plethora of birds of prey enjoy the fine dining. Vultures are often seen in large numbers waiting for their next meal.

Of course, the greatest shows are put on by the grey herds of thirsty elephant and black masses of buffalo. Experience the excitement of Chitake by camping right on the edge of the river, exploring its mini sandstone gorge and its wild woodlands. Long walks are taken from the spring area up into the different habitats of the hills or when it is very dry, a hide can be made in bushes near the water to blend into the environment and let everything come to you.

Chitake can be an extremely intense experience for the true naturalist and someone enjoys the challenge of nature. Walking, you have to concentrate particularly carefully on your surroundings, often remaining silent for hours to let the game close in. For the avid birder, there is no disappointment as, with the combination of dry and wet woodland and open scrub, mountain and plain, there are well over 300 possible bird species to be seen.

A naturalist will discover a plethora of things; bats, rodents, porcupine, honey badgers, bugs, beetles, butterflies, moths, hissing ants, spiders, scorpions, beautiful plants, giant baobabs, tracks, and spoor. This is not a “lodge”. This is not a game drive. Chitake is for people who understand the Africa apart from the one found in a standard travel brochure. It is for the “Africaphile” who likes their wildlife wild!

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Food

All produce is brought in fresh and meals are prepared in camp by one of the experienced bush cooks. All breads and pastries are freshly baked on open campfires. Vegetarian or other dietary preferences can be catered for providing they are warned 4 weeks prior to the safari.

Breakfast: may consist of cereals, yoghurt, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, toast and jams. On the guests last day of safari a full English breakfast will be laid out for guests to enjoy.
Lunch: usually fresh quiche, meat pies, etc. with varied selection freshly baked bread, salads and cheeses.
Dinner: full 3 course meals with various starters, delicious main courses and sumptuous desserts all eaten by candlelight under the stars, accompanied by a bottle of wine (imported).

Drinks

All safaris include a supply of local beers, spirits, imported wines, minerals, cordials, mineral water, tea, and coffee. Drinks are served by the friendly camp staff while you relax. You are recommended to contact Natureways Safaris if you have any drink preferences i.e. if a particular brand of local beer is preferred. You are also free to bring your own beverages and cooler boxes can be set aside for this purpose. There is no limit to a number of beverages you may bring.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea
Alcoholic beverages

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

There is the option of going for an early morning walk or game drive before breakfast or, for the avid fisherman, there is time to pull out a rod.

What's included

Game drives
Walking safaris
Canoeing
All canoeing equipment
Services of a fully qualified professional guide
3 nights' accommodation
Use of all camping equipment
All meals and snacks
All drinks (soft drinks and alcohol)
All transfers from the main camp to Nyamepi or airstrips in open 4x4 vehicles
Complimentary laundry (time permitting)

What's not included

All national park fees (to be paid directly in cash)
Transfers to and from Mana Pools National Park
Any personal expenses

How to get there

Recommended Airports

LUN

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport

141 km

Transfer not provided

VFA

Victoria Falls Airport

446 km

Transfer not provided

HRE

Harare International Airport

265 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by airplane

Many clients charter into Mana Pools using light aircraft - you charter into Mana Main (from either Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), Harare International Airport (HRE), or Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN)) - they will meet you at the airstrip and transfer you by road into camp.

Driving directions from Harare

The drive from Harare to Mana Pools takes approximately 5.5 hours. Drive along the main Harare - Chirundu road.
You will pass the Makuti Garage and Hotel, this is approximately 295 kilometers from Harare, about 3 hours travel time.
Continue past Makuti to Marangora National Parks office.
Stop at the Marongora National Parks office, which is easy to find, on the left-hand side after Makuti, it is signposted.
There, you must ask for a permit to enter the park (you do not have to pay anything at this point).
Present your travel voucher to confirm that you are on a Natureways Safari and give them the dates. You have to have a permit to enter the park.
From Marongora, continue towards Chirundu down the escarpment, through the Tsetse Fly Control Point after which you turn right onto a dirt road to Mana Pools, it is clearly signposted.
At the turning point onto the dirt road, you will come across the first of two security booms (Chimutsi Gate). You will have to show the entry permit you got from Marongora.
After the first boom follow the road until you reach the second boom (Nyakasikana).
From here, you will turn left and continue on to the Warden's Head Office at Nyamepi.
Follow the signs that will take you to the Warden’s Head Office at Nyamepi, where Natureways staff will meet you.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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