Mana Pools photo safari itinerary 2026
Dates: 21 October to 1 November 2026
This Mana Pools photography safari itinerary is designed for wildlife photographers who want time on foot, time in hides, and unhurried sessions with elephants, wild dogs, big cats and birdlife.
Duration: 11 nights / 12 days
Start and end: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Group size: minimum 4 – maximum 6 guests
Camps: 1 night Victoria Falls, 2 nights Kanga, 5 nights Camp Mana, 3 nights Kavinga
Accommodation and rooming 2026
Single supplement is available on this Mana Pools photo safari where camp layout allows. However, Kavinga Camp does not offer single occupancy due to its tent configuration. For this reason, guests travelling solo will share accommodation at Kavinga.
That said, I will always do my best to pair solo travellers thoughtfully and comfortably, taking gender and preferences into account wherever possible. If you have any concerns about rooming, please contact me before booking so we can discuss the options together.
Day 1 – Arrival in Victoria Falls
21/10
Arrive in Victoria Falls and transfer to your hotel. This first night is intentionally gentle, giving you time to settle after international travel. Depending on arrival times, there may be an option to visit the Falls or another activity. In the evening we meet for a welcome dinner at the Lookout Café and a relaxed briefing about the days ahead.
Day 2 – Fly into Mana Pools, Kanga
22/10
After breakfast we fly into Mana Pools and transfer to Kanga Expeditions. Set on Kanga Pan, the only permanent water source for many kilometres during the dry season. Kanga is famous for close encounters as wildlife comes in to drink. After lunch and time to settle, we head out for our first photographic session, either from camp and the hide or out in the field, depending on conditions.
Day 3 – Kanga: armchair safari, hides and walking opportunities
23/10
A full day at Kanga, designed for unhurried photography. We focus on behaviour and light around the pan, with time in the hide for intimate, eye-level perspectives. When conditions allow, we also explore the surrounding woodland on drives and walks with our professional guide. Evenings often end quietly on the deck, cameras ready, as animals drift in to drink.
Days 4-8 – Camp Mana (5 nights)
24 – 28/10
From Kanga we move to Camp Mana on the Zambezi riverfront. Over five nights we settle into the rhythm of Mana Pools. Early mornings in the albida forests, long sessions with elephants, wild dogs, and birds, and afternoons shaped by light and mood. Because we stay for several days, we are never in a rush. We can return to promising subjects and locations, wait for the best behaviour, and work a scene properly instead of chasing sightings.
Day 9 – Transfer to Kavinga (3 nights)
29/10
We leave the riverfront and travel to Kavinga Camp, perched above the Ruckomechi riverbed with wide escarpment views. Kavinga offers a very different, inland perspective on Mana Pools, and the pumped waterhole below camp often attracts elephants, buffalo, antelope and predators. In the afternoon we head out for our first hide session or a short drive to orient ourselves in the concession.
Day 10 – Kavinga: water-level hide and escarpment light
30/10
A full day at Kavinga Camp in its private concession above the Ruckomechi riverbed. In the cool morning we head out on a walk or drive with our professional guide, focusing on elephants, predators and birdlife. Later we spend time in the famous water-level hide at the pumped waterhole for low-angle, eye-level photography, often with elephants, buffalo and a wide variety of birds. In the late afternoon we return to the hide or head out again to make the most of the warm escarpment light before dinner under the stars.
Day 11 – Kavinga: flexible photography day
31/10
Our final full day is kept flexible, so we can follow what the bush gives us. This might mean a long hide session for close elephant behaviour, a walk for storytelling images at eye level, or a slower drive focused on composition and light. We review photographs between activities and refine what you want to take home from Mana Pools, both in images and in experience.
Day 12 – Departure via Victoria Falls
1/11
After a final morning in the bush, we transfer to the airstrip for our flight back to Victoria Falls, where you connect with your onward travel. If you would like, I can help you add extra nights in Victoria Falls before and/or after the safari.
Booking and logistics for Mana Pools itinerary 2027
For availability and booking, use my safari booking form. If you have questions about travel days or extensions, contact me before you book flights.
Want to combine trips?
If you are considering my Hwange – Chobe photo safari as well, ask me about back-to-back scheduling and logistics so you can comfortably combine both experiences.
Victoria Falls extension
Because this safari starts and ends in Victoria Falls, it is easy to add a few extra days for rest, photography, or simply to let the experience land before flying home. If you would like suggestions and logistics support, please get in touch via my Contact page.
For full details and booking information, visit the main safari page: Mana Pools Photo Safari. See all upcoming trips here: Safaris
If you’d like to support conservation while travelling, you can also read about the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit
To secure your place, please contact me here: Contact
Please read my booking policy before paying a deposit: Booking Terms and Conditions