I just returned from an incredible safari in Zimbabwe and had the honor of experiencing two wilderness camps Ruckomechi and Little Makalolo. Ruckomechi is located in Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, and is bordered by the Zambezi River to the north. It offers a stunning view over the river and is regularly visited by elephants. More on that later. In contrast, Little Makalolo is situated in Hwange National Park, located in eastern Zimbabwe. Although this area is also bordered by the Zambezi River to the north, the camp’s location does not have any flowing water. So it was a completely different habitat. As a result, I saw different animals. It was an exciting trip, not only because of the animals, but also because you can never predict what will happen in Africa. This is especially true in the bush, but I don’t want to give too much away here. First things first.
Travelling to Zimbabwe
My first camp was Ruckomechie, located in Mana Pools National Park, as mentioned above. Therefore, my destination airport was RG Mugabe International Airport in Harare. I chose a Lufthansa flight with the route Hamburg – Frankfurt – Johannesburg – Harare. To be honest, there aren’t that many options here. I had to be in Harare by 2 p.m. at the latest, as I wanted to fly to the camp in a small bush plane. The other connections would have required another overnight stay in Johannesburg or Harare.
Everything went smoothly until we landed in Johannesburg, seven minutes late at 9:37 a.m., which is not bad considering the length of the flight. However, my transfer time of one hour and twenty-five minutes was already very tight. So I was a little worried about missing my connecting flight. Nonetheless, I stayed optimistic because the aisles were very empty. There was also only a very short line at passport control. Everything went well until I got to the mandatory security check. There was a long line, which didn’t look promising. But after watching people walk past the line for half an hour, saying they would miss their flight, I decided to do the same. I was the last person to check in at the gate. Immediately afterward, it was closed. I was lucky; otherwise, my 6-night safari would have very quickly turned into a 5-night safari.
First Camp Ruckomechi
The camp is located on the edge of Mana Pools National Park, right along the Zambezi River. It provides a great view not only of the river but also of the landscape on the opposite bank, which is already in Zambia.
The camp has no barriers to keep animals out. Therefore, strict safety protocols are in place to prevent accidents. After dark, you can only go to your tent if you are with a guide. During the day, you must stay alert and keep a safe distance from the animals. Mainly, elephants pass through the camp to drink from the river. However, on the second morning, we also saw a lioness sitting peacefully in the morning sun at the edge of the main area.
Besides the regular excursions, the camp also offers the opportunity to explore the Zambezi by canoe, go fishing, take a boat trip, or go on a walking safari. I took advantage of the latter and a canoe trip.
The nature surrounding the camp is mainly characterized by seasonal rivers, which carry water only during the rainy season, trees, and dense bushes. The Rückomechie River is one such seasonal river, after which the camp is named. In terms of wildlife, the region offers everything a photographer could wish for. From elephants to leopards and lions to hippos and buffalo, you will find it all here. The bird life is also prosperous. Here is a small selection of pictures I took in Mana Pools National Park.
The bush has its own rules
What you always need to remember in the wilderness is that the bush has its own rules. I had initially booked three nights at Ruckomechi and three nights in Little Makalolo. But when it was time to change camps, unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I was already on the plane scheduled to take me from Mana Pools to Hwange in an hour and a half, but when the pilot tried to start it, it simply wouldn’t start. Unfortunately, no technician was available to repair the plane quickly. So I had to stay in Mana Pools for another night. However, Ruckomechi was fully booked, so I got to know the small satellite camp, Little Ruckomechi. However, the bush wouldn’t be the bush if it didn’t make up for such unforeseen events. During the evening drive that I gained thanks to the extra night, I was able to encounter a leopard and observe it at length.
Second Camp Little Makalolo
The next day, we finally continued our journey in a private air taxi. It was just the pilot in a four-seater aircraft and me. I had never flown in a plane this small before. Little Makalolo is deliberately a completely different camp. Instead of being located on a river, it is situated at a waterhole where elephants normally come to drink. I say “normally” because I arrived at Little Makalolo at the beginning of the rainy season, and it had already started to rain. As a result, there were plenty of other places to drink. Unfortunately, I couldn’t use the lookout directly at the waterhole.
The wildlife in Hwange National Park is somewhat distinct. I saw both wild dogs and cheetahs here, which we didn’t see in Mana Pools. As mentioned above, we also experienced rain, and it was plentiful. The wildlife and people in Africa are naturally delighted about this. When we first spotted them, we didn’t see the cheetahs at first. We had stopped because we had seen a herd of zebras. It was only after a minute or two that our guide pointed out that there were cheetahs lying under the tree.
And then we experienced a very special sighting. While driving through the bush, I suddenly spotted some rather large ears and asked the guide to turn back. However, we couldn’t find the ears right away because the small creatures had hidden themselves in the bush. They were bat-eared foxes (I prefer the English name).
Photographic equipment
On this trip, I had the OM-1 and three lenses with me. I took most of the pictures with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 IS PRO. I think around 80%. OM System also lent me the M.Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8 IS PRO. It’s the perfect complement to the 150–400 mm lens because it’s shorter, allowing you to capture more of the surroundings in the picture. It’s also important that it overlaps with the 150–400 mm lens in the focal length range. That way, I didn’t have to change the focal length as often. To round things off, I also had the M.Zuiko Digital ED 8-25 mm PRO in my bag for landscape shots. In my opinion, that’s all you need for a trip like this.
Conclusion
Overall, it was a very memorable trip, and Zimbabwe is definitely a more affordable option compared to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Although the wildlife might not be as varied, it’s still worth experiencing. Have you gone on a safari in Africa? Then tell me in the comments where you traveled and what it was like. I’m always looking for new chances to visit Africa.
