The months leading up to the holidays we watched as the animals of Mana scraped away at the bare earth, desperately searching for a missed blade of grass or pod, and we couldn’t help but see the parallel as we scraped around in our handbags for the phone number of the bread or beer contact we just knew we had written somewhere! The skies above were pregnant with expectation as the clouds built up each afternoon and like the animals and trees we had sore necks from looking up to the heavens for some relief. The desperate and dry months had indeed set in, but like everything else in life, nothing is forever and soon the rains set in and with them fresh hope.
As always, Zimbabweans, whether two or four legged, leaf-bearing or child-bearing are resilient creatures and 2007 definitely left us with stories to one day bore our grandchildren with. The very imperfections of Africa makes it the perfect habitat for those who thrive on a challenge or an adventure and one thing we do know for sure, is that 2008 will certainly bring plenty of both. This is why the adventurous continue to visit and it is why those of us living here are happy to continue taking on the challenges.
By all accounts Mana has had good rains of late. Although not on the scale of the 2006/7 season, there has certainly been sufficient to make the animals’ hearts smile and the rivers swell. The floodplain is at present a carpet of brilliant green. Nursery herds of impala provide bright splashes of orange and the zebra have been washed so clean by the rain, that they resemble tourist minivans! The old elephant bulls are caked black from their regular mud showers. Baby monkeys and baboons ride jauntily on their mothers’ backs, surveying their new surrounds with a wary eye. Green grass holds many delights, but also unpleasant surprises for little primates!Â
The alpha female of the wild dog packs will soon start deciding on which den to use this year. It is always exciting to see the new additions to the pack when the season starts. As the season gets under way, the green grass and pools of water will start to disappear, and so the river and the winter-podding albida’s will lure the animals back in large numbers. Although Mana is beautiful in the wet, it has its own very unique beauty and splendour when dry. Visibility and vista are so much clearer and of course a dry tent, walk and game drive is an added bonus! We look forward to crisp winter mornings spent warming your hands over a mopane fire which must surely be one of Africa’s more special delights. When this is followed by a walk and chat with the animals, there can be no finer start to your day.
In stressful times, there is no surer food for the soul than a few nights far from the madding crowds and the time-consuming technology of urban living.’
Exerts taken from Goliath Safaris Newsletters www.goliathsafaris.co.zw
Photos courtesy of Wayne Esselmont
Mana remains a stunning holiday option and fuel and accommodation as well as food supplies can be arranged by the Venues4Africa.com throughout. For all your accommodation needs or general enquiries about Mana the Venues4Africa.com team are standing by to assist. Please email Rian on rian@venues4africa.com for more.
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