Project Description
Hwange and Mana Pools Photo Safari
We have teamed up with African Bush Camps to offer an amazing multi-destination safari, visiting Hwange National Park as well as the iconic Mana Pools, in the company of Pangolin Photo Host, William Steel. This 9-day itinerary starts and ends in Victoria Falls, then spend three nights at Somalisa Expeditions Camp in Hwange and another four nights at Nyamatusi In Mana Pools.
Both of these parks offer the opportunity to blend game drives with time outside of the vehicles on foot to get shots that only being at ground level can achieve. As there will be an element of walking on the safari, a moderate level of fitness and mobility will be required to attend.
We thought we would start this photo safari adventure with everyone meeting up Victoria falls for a night before getting on the charter to Hwange. We thought we would start this photo safari adventure with everyone meeting up Victoria falls for a night before getting on the charter to Hwange. It makes sense with a group safari to allow everyone a bit of a buffer for late flights or delays. In addition to that with Victoria Falls being so close to the Chobe we have a couple of Botswana based safaris that can dovetail with these dates for an extended photo safari. In addition to that with Victoria Falls being so close to the Chobe we have a couple of Botswana based safaris that can dovetail with these dates for an extended photo safari.
The group will be staying at the charming Ilala Lodge, which is in a secluded neighbourhood of Victoria falls Town and a short drive from The Falls. We will be having a welcome dinner cruise on The Zambezi River!!
Our first safari stop is Hwange National Park which Is rather an underrated photo destination for reasons that are beyond us. It is teaming with game and like Mana Pools we are able to conduct walking safaris as well as spending time on the vehicles. This will allow for some low level photography opportunities which you can’t get at most other destinations…even in The Okavango!
We will be staying at Somalisa Expeditions Camp which Is owned and managed by African Bush Camps – an excellent safari outfit and a company we thoroughly enjoy working with.
While in Hwange we will have use of two game viewers with William alternating between them on each drive. We will tend to stick quite close together on the drives calling each other in to sightings and walking opportunities. Hwange has excellent elephant and predator sightings as well as plenty of wide open spaces for atmospheric landscapes…so bring a wide angle lens in your camera bag!
We have decided to visit these parks a month after the rains should have ended as we want to have some greenery around…which, we are sure you will agree, makes for much nicer imagery. Well fed happy animals (lots of young around) with verdant backgrounds and plenty of summer migratory bird species still in residence!
Mana Pools (as you will have watched In William’s video) is a very unique photo safari destination. It’s most famous for its “acrobatic elephants” stretching into the trees but its so much more than that.
We will be staying at Nyamatusi Camp which William has chosen for its location and style. It’s a very nice camp indeed but more importantly its close to all the places where William had his best sightings and encounters.
Once again we will have the use of two game viewers with four photographers in each with William rotating between them. Mana pools will probably afford us more “on foot” photo opportunities including some with the resident predators should the conditions allow. We will hope to run into some of the local superstar elephants like Boswell and Fred Astaire but William will also be encouraging you to think wider and taking more atmospheric shots – this is very much his forte!
The mixed and varied landscape of Mana Pools is uniquely recognisable and William will assist you throughout to get all the shots you need and would expect to get here.
As a reminder, a moderate level of fitness and mobility is required to make the most of this safari as the real advantage is being able to get low for the best angles…and on occasion making a strategic retreat to the vehicles!
On the last morning the group will fly back to Victoria Falls to connect with your international flights. Alternatively you could return to The Chobe with William for some water based photo safaris on The Chobe River!
On the final day, you will fly back to Victoria Falls where you can meet your international flight home. Alternatively you can carry on the photo safari by coming over to the Chobe which is less than two hours by road. After Chobe there are options to head further south to The Okavango Delta or even as far as Cape Town. Our dedicated safari planners will be more than happy to suggest all manner of add ons to this incredible safari!
2025 Prices
Date: November 13th to 21st, 2025 | Cost: $10,950 per person sharing | Single: $12,950
Please note: As Mana Pools and Hwange allow you to leave the vehicle and walk in the National Park (with a qualified guide) a reasonable level of fitness and agility will be required to fully participate in this photo safari.
Transfers to/from Victoria Falls Airport.
1 night at Ilala Lodge (dinner bed and breakfast).
Dinner cruise on The Zambezi.
Charter flight from Vic Falls to Hwange to Mana Pools to Vic Falls
3 nights Somalisa Expeditions Camp in Hwange (Full Board).
4 nights Nyamatusi Camp (Full Board).
All meals and selected drinks
Day time image review and editing sessions.
Park fees and tourism levies
Twice daily photo safari activities with William Steel throughout.
Laundry, gratuities and items of a personal nature
Visa fees if required
International flights
Customary tips for guides and camp staff.
Single supplement for solo travellers ($2,000)
The game viewers in Hwange and Mana Pools don’t have bean bag mounts so we suggest a monopod might be a good accessory to bring with you. this will also double up as a handy walking stick and camera support when you are on foot…which is what Hwange and Mana Pools is all about!
Our Reviews
