Snapshots from the River: Pontoon Safari Style

Hippos chilling at sunset in the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

Hello, hippo!

An African Fish Eagle, the national bird of Zimbabwe, on the Zambezi.

The beautiful sunset from the middle the Zambezi River.

Love, love, love the roots on this tree.  Made me think of this awesome tree in Senegal.

Our sweet ride: the pontoon.

On the return to Ruckomechi Safari Lodge, we did a night time safari.

They shine the light on the animals, searching for a reflection of eyes, resulting in a strange psychedelic effect like on this impala.

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Elephants on Parade

An elephant in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

(They get close. Sometimes so close I start to squirm a little.)

When elephants meet, they greet each other by wrapping their trunks around each other's trunk.

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Reading and minding my own business....

During a visit to Ruckomechi Safari Camp in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, I was minding my own business,

soaking up the warmth of the sun at my tent and enjoying some reading.

When who should visit me?  This beautiful elephant. 

At first, he stayed away, eating near the beautiful Zambezi River.

Then he came closer and sauntered past.

I never thought I'd say an elephant's tush is my favorite photo in a post..but this is.

And he stopped to eat some more and I realized quickly he was so much more interesting than my book.

And then perfectly across the river, a hippo yawned.

I felt incredibly blessed to find such solitude and such beauty around me.

That's my tent on the left, as seen from the Zambezi, where I was minding my own business.

A vulture!  This really has nothing to do with the post, I just thought it was a cool photo from my walking safari....

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Three of the Big Five

While on safari in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, I was lucky enough to see three of the big five!

One: this impressive male lion.

Two: this huge hippopotamus in the Zambezi River.

Three: this huge herd of African Buffalo.

So amazing...and my heart beat a bit faster the closer they got to us.

Even with their beauty, you can see how they are the kings.

We didn't see a leopard sadly..but one was spotted while we were there. So close!

(African Buffalo skull...)

Two hippos on a small island in the middle of the Zambezi River.

We weren't lucky enough to see the fifth of the big five: the rhino.  

They apparently don't come to that part of Zimbabwe anymore and those that used to had been poached.

(Why are these the big five?  They are the most dangerous animals to hunt.  

In particular, they are the ones that will charge you vice run from you when threatened.)

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He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.

A mighty male lion in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

His lioness.

They were breath taking and one of the highlights of the visit to Ruckomechi Camp.

I've a friend whose son loves, loves, loves animals.  He always asks for videos of anything I see in Africa.
Thus far, I've videoed everything from lizards in Senegal to elephants in Zimbabwe.

And now! My chance to video lions for him, beautiful lions.  He'd be so stoked.  I was so stoked.

And then....we soon rapidly learned that the video I made may not be appropriate for a 4 year old.

I defer to his mom, but here's what happened (thanks for warning us, safari guide!):

Apparently this pair had been mating for just under a week and during the day would mate approximately every 15 minutes for about a minute.  It was insane.  And, how to say it? Progressively more rough each time.  And loud.  Very loud.  I felt his roar after each session reverberate through me.

And to be honest, while he's here roaring, she never quite appeared to have enjoyed any of it. 

Mating males are more aggressive than normal and very territorial.

Which makes it easy to understand why our guides are always armed on safaris in Zimbabwe.

Bonus points if you recognized the quote from this post's title!!

It's from C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:

"[Aslan will] be coming and going" he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down--and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.” 

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Take My Breath Away: Mana Pools Style

Oh, be still my heart!  Mana Pools, I believe I have fallen in love with you.

Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

The beautiful sunset over the Zambezi River and its lovely baobab trees.

Preparing for the very Zimbabwe custom of a sundowner at sunset.

Mana Pools with the Zambezi and the mountains of Zambia's Rift Valley in the background just left me speechless.

How can a morning not be perfect when you have a walking safari through this landscape?!

This sunset on the Zambezi River reminded me of this sunset in Senegal.

The tree swing at Ruckomechi Camp in Mana Pools.

The rays of the setting sun on the Zambezi River.

Ruckomechi has this tucked away spot to take a bath while the elephants saunter past.

Those of you (lucky enough?) to know me, know I have a ridiculous obsession with taking jumping photos

where ever my adventures take me.  Voila!  My jump for joy at sunset at the Zambezi!

(Thank you, friend, for humoring me and taking the photo.)

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Ruckomechi Camp!

After arriving in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park, we stayed at the Ruckomechi Camp.

And our "tent" was wonderfully relaxing (when the hippos weren't startling us outside!!).

Here's the tent I stayed in (please ignore my forgotten to hide bag on the floor...)

I loved, loved, loved the rock walls.

The tent overlooked the open floodplains of the stunning Zambezi River and the mountains of Zambia's Rift Valley.

The personal facilities.  Word of the wise: either know your traveling partner really well
or be willing to get to know them really well (advice for basically all of Africa!!!!)
...because standards of privacy (such as no doors...) aren't always what you're used to when you visit new places!

The lounging area with its wonderful relaxed air.  Ruckomechi/Mana Pools is by far my favorite place I've visited in Zimbabwe thus far!

A perfect spot to watch the Zambezi River as elephants wander past with the Rift Valley mountains in the background.  Divine.

The paths leading to the tents.  More than a few times I found elephants hanging out here.

And while this skull really has nothing to do with the camp itself, it was too cool not to share.

For more information on Ruckomechi Camp.

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