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3-part Zimbabwe: Join Wild Dog Researcher, Walk Mana Pools, Canoe Zambezi

3-part Zimbabwe: Join Wild Dog Researcher, Walk Mana Pools, Canoe Zambezi

Old Nov 20th, 2015, 05:57 AM
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3-part Zimbabwe: Join Wild Dog Researcher, Walk Mana Pools, Canoe Zambezi

I went late Aug, early Sept.

These 3 activities in Zimbabwe combined for a diverse and exciting safari.

Part was solo--Joining the wild dog researcher and staying at Chishakwe Ranch in Save Valley for 4 nights.
http://safaritalk.net/topic/15316-ch...are-wild-dogs/

Part was with 2 friends--Mana Pools floodplain walk and Chitake walk/sit with Doug MacDonald for 6 nights total.
http://safaritalk.net/topic/15415-ma...rd-atravelynn/

Part was a group participation canoe camping trip, but turned into a solo trip when no one else signed up--Natureways Mopane Canoe trip through Mana Pools, Sapi, and Chewore for 3 nights.
http://safaritalk.net/topic/15504-na...-sapi-chewore/

All parts were booked through Doug MacDonald Safaris to Africa since he was guiding the walking parts. All parts were wonderful.

I'm communicating with Doug on a couple more trips planned and/or guided by him.

The linked reports have all the details and photos. The Mana Pools one is even in haiku form for something different. I highly recommend all 3 parts to anyone considering a nature-based visit to Zimbabwe.

Hope to see you in Zim!
atravelynn is offline  
Old Nov 21st, 2015, 07:29 PM
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atravelynn - you do the most interesting trips and great trip reports. Although I won't go to Zim right now, you certainly make it sound great! Thanks!! Hopefully soon - holding thumbs.
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Old Dec 29th, 2016, 06:10 AM
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I believe I have improved the Part 3 from above, though the original Part 3 was wonderful. The Part 3 canoe safari that I did most recently (end of Sept 2016) was a hybrid private trip using Natureways Mana Pools shoreline itinerary, but with island camping.

Doug Macdonald helped arrange this unique itinerary once again. And again, the canoe trip was 3 days of beautiful, peaceful, serene time on the Zambezi with tremendous wildife and no other people. Very safe, nothing harrowing, no close calls, thanks to the err-on-the-side of caution approach of the guides.

Linked is the whole big report with photos.

http://safaritalk.net/topic/16904-in...amping-safari/

If canoeing the Zambezi on a camping trip ever crossed your mind (or maybe it is a New Years resolution) do consider this exciting soft adventure paddle down the river, no canoe experience needed.
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Old Dec 29th, 2016, 10:59 AM
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We loved our time in Zimbabwe in 2012..the people we met were truly surviving by their wits and creating their own community cooperatives to use and preserve natural resources despite their government. Safari tourism is pretty self-sustaining and we felt every dollar we spent went straight back into the immediate community.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2017, 11:38 PM
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Great report atravelynn. Must have been a fantastic experience.I too was there in October '16 , across the Zambezi at Chongwe River Camp for 3 nights.Fabulous game viewing. Chitake Springs is on my list.Hopefully next year.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 05:30 PM
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Perhaps we saw the same hippos inquest. Maybe I even saw "your" hippos uhoh_busted or their offspring.
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