While You’re Away … Sightings and Updates from Kariba and Mana Pools

It's been a pretty lonely time in the safari camps, and the only visitors seen are the wild ones, probably wondering where everyone is. But for this time of the year, the visits are usually more frequent, as different species switch their seasonal routes to the dry season. Even in Victoria Falls, the regulars are increasing in numbers – kudu, warthogs, baboons, and sounds of hyenas and lions in the distance, and even leopards!

Tourism in Zimbabwe will be opening up next week (see this post for more info Victoria Falls Zimbabwe Covid-19 update), but here's what you have to look forward to in Kariba and Mana Pools.

Lion hunting crocodile in Matusadona National Park (photo - Changa Safari Camp)

Animals of Zimbabwe

Despite the decline in certain wildlife populations in recent decades, Zimbabwe is still one of the must-go places for safari goers, with some of Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest and favourite national parks. Notable parks include Hwange, Mana Pools, Gonarezhou, as well as special intensive protected areas like Matusadona and Matobo Hills National Parks. Of-course Zimbabwe is home to quite a few more, national parks, and shares borders with countries that also have impressive wildlife populations.

Animals at a waterhole in Hwange National Park

While You're Away ... an update on the Okavango Delta, Boteti River and Chobe River

By now you're probably aware that the "Victoria Falls is dry" drama of late 2019 faded and mother nature responded, almost showing off, filling the Zambezi River, and other magical water bodies in the region. Like most places around the world, certainly in Africa, rivers and lakes are seasonal going with anything between dry or low water periods and spectacular full floods. The Okavango Delta is no exception.

After a year long dry spell, the Okavango Delta started receiving flood waters in April 2020, which slowly trickled through the 15,000 km² World Heritage Site, peaking in July. At the moment, the water levels have already started to recede.