Mana Pools Photo Safaris 2023

Most photographers dream of indulging their passion in Africa at some point in their photographic journey. 

To spend quality time with iconic wildlife and landscape subjects in the company of like-minded people is a rare privilege.  The opportunities provided by this photo safari are even rarer.

Where

We've chosen the exceptionally beautiful and abundant Mana Pools as the location.  This has been a protected non-hunting area since 1952.  The game reserve was established in 1963 and the 287,000 hectare National Park declared in 1975.  The park, along with the adjacent Sapi and Chewore safari areas was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.  The inscription opens with "In this Park on the banks of the Zambezi, great cliffs overhang the river, sandbanks and wide floodplains in a valley little modified by man. The area is home to a remarkable concentration of wild animals including elephants, hippopotamus, leopards, cheetahs and buffaloes. An important concentration of Nile crocodiles is also found in the area."  We have little to add except that we've seen plenty of other species there, including various antelope and their largest predator, lions.

For the authentic African experience, we stay at Camp Mana where all the tents look out across the Zambezi towards the towering escarpment running along the opposite riverbank.  From your tent, you can watch the sun rise over the river. Then, at the other end of the day, you can sit in the lounge to enjoy sundowners.  More likely though, you'll join us on a drive to some special spot we've found for you to photograph these special moments.

What you'll do

Photographers travel and experience things differently.  You know this.  Rather than rushing around the bush with a species checklist, we'd rather linger a little longer with the subject.  Waiting for Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment" or Maisel's "gesture" takes patience.  A photo of a pride of sleeping lions can be a yawn.  But capturing that moment when the old male snarls at his playful cub who just woke him by pouncing on his tail is priceless.

Photographers would rather be out before sunrise to capture the first rays lighting the clouds and then hilltops.  They'd rather capture the sun streaming horizontally through the forest between the horizon and the browse-line.  The bleaching light of the overhead sun is less interesting, unless that is the look you're going for.  And that is an important point about this photo safari.  We're not locked in to a specific style or look or schedule.  The participants set the tone.  If you have a style you want to explore, we'll help you do that.  If you haven't developed your own style yet, we'll help you explore a few.  We'll explore directions and angles that you prefer, or if you're willing, some that you might not have tried.  Indeed, that has been Neville's experience.

On his first few safaris, Neville noticed that most guides placed their vehicle between the sun and the subject.  Just as they've been doing since Kodak.  But he thought that his daughter's (also a professional photographer) best photos were taken towards the sun.  And he knew that Rembrandt lighting, which also works well in wildlife photography, uses side lighting.  Photographers not only want to linger, they want to be in a different place.

In addition to light direction, quality and colour we'll explore some of the other fundamentals of photography such as composition and technique.  We'll talk about the Rule of Thirds and why it isn't a "rule" but good to understand.  We'll talk about shooting modes and challenge the idea that "professionals always shoot in manual mode".  NB: We don't teach you how to operate your camera.  We assume that if you decide you want to try shooting in aperture priority mode with auto ISO, you know how to do that.

When

This is possibly the most unique aspect of this photo safari; you can start any day between 19MAY2023 and 01JUL2023.   You'll then spend five nights in Camp Mana with us.  Then you'll fly back to awesome Victoria Falls for two nights of self-guided fun in this popular tourist destination, perhaps even practicing some new skills or techniques.

The photo safari is neither hierarchical nor linear.  You can join any day.  By the time you leave, you'll have covered all the topics and visited all of the best locations in the Mana Pools area.

Who we are

Your two principal hosts are the camp owner, legendary guide, Steve Bolnick, and the owner of Experiential Travel, awarded photographer Neville Jones.

STEVE BOLNICK

Steve is recognised as one of southern Africa’s outstanding safari guides. He grew up with a deep love for the African bush and has spent the past 30+ years living and guiding in southern Africa.  He has conducted research safaris for the WWF, and has initiated community conservation projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He is a qualified guide trainer and assessor, has hosted Big Screen actors on walking safaris, has featured in a wildlife documentary for Belgian television and was the contributing editor to “The Guide to Exploring Victoria Falls”.

NEVILLE JONES

Neville has been planning and leading safaris, including photography safaris, in Africa since 2007.  He has been on more than 120 safaris in more than a dozen countries.  He has a B.Photo (Photojournalism) and has won many awards in international photography competitions.  His work has hung in galleries in the UK, USA and Australia.  He is highly motivated by sharing the surprising natural beauty and wisdom to be found in Africa.

​Who you are

This photo safari is clearly designed for photographers.  We accommodate all levels of experience, provided that you know how to operate your camera, as previously mentioned.  Your camera can be anything with any type of lens.  We don't say things like "you must have a 500mm lens".  Of course, if you want to fill your frame with an elephant eye, you probably will need that.  But to get a photo of Boswell (a well-known elephant) standing on his hind legs reaching up into the trees with his trunk, 500mm is way too long.  A great photo of him doing that can be made with a phone camera.  Indeed, we have had guests who use their own eyes like photographers use cameras.  They too would rather linger, to learn something about the subject's behaviour.  This photo safari is perfect for them also.

If you're an experienced photographer who just wants to be taken to photogenic places chosen by a photographer, for photographers, then we'd love to have you on board, too.

If your partner wants to join the safari and prefers the cadence of a "normal" safari, then talk us when booking and we'll put them in a different vehicle.  

Additional experiences

Although remote and wild, this part of Africa has many life-changing experiences to offer.  One that we have offered in the past is a two-night walking safari in Chitake Springs.  This is in a very wild part of the park where guests are on foot, observing for example, lions stalking buffalo in the dry river bed near the springs.  This option can only be taken after the stay in Camp Mana.

There are many other options that are readily accessed from Mana Pools, including the equally famous Hwange National Park.  Talk to us about what interests you.

Is it safe?

In a word, yes.  Neville has been taking people on safari in Africa since 2007.  More significantly, Steve has been a professional safari guide for more than 30 years and is a legend in this part of the world.  He is called upon to teach and assess other guides.  There is nothing cavalier about these guys.  They understand the bush and the wildlife and have some very strict rules and procedures to protect you.  Despite this being a photography safari, no photo is worth getting hurt.  We've never had an injury or medical evacuation for any reason.  We plan meticulously and work hard to maintain that record.