Lying under the canopy of giant trees and overlooking the Zambezi River floodplains, John’s Camp sits at the heart of what is not just a national park but an astonishing World Heritage Site, too. Mana Pools is home to some of Zimbabwe’s most significant big game populations and has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the country’s best off-the-beaten-path safari destinations. It has plenty of water around, meaning that game flocks here year-round, making for a satisfying safari.
Combining well with the thundering magnificence of Victoria Falls, Mana Pools is a fly-in destination and you will be warmly welcomed at the local airstrip by a guide for the road journey to camp. John’s Camp, which is named after a famous local guide, harks back to the classical and simple accommodation found in the golden age of safari. There are just six guest tents with larger mess and lounge tents making up the main camp. Its simplicity and openness (there are no fences around camp to allow animals to wonder through) means that John’s Camp accepts children only from the age of 12 unless the entire camp is booked on a private, exclusive-use basis. Tents are large and well-furnished and come complete with solar lighting, en suite bathrooms and sensational views.
Morning and afternoon drives in search of wildlife are the main focus – elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and hippo are among the signature species found in Mana Pools - but this is a destination where you can also head out on foot with your guide in search of the smaller details. The more adventurous guest might like to try a night out under a gauze dome – safe on a raised platform – and with only the stars above them. Rugged, rustic but very rewarding, John’s Camp will suit seasoned safari-goers looking for personalised comfort in a barely visited wilderness.
