Overview of John’s Camp

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.

Highlights & Activities

What's on offer whilst on this itinerary?
  • Panoramic, game-rich location on the Zambezi floodplains
  • Game drives and safari walks with expert guides in Mana Pools National Park
  • Excellent bird watching especially during the summer Green Season
  • Stargazing sleep-out platform for adventurous guests

Bush dining

Game drives

Guided walking safaris

Star gazing

Rooms at John’s Camp

Unwind and relax, in your own private luxury
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    Safari Tent

    Set under trees and generously spaced from each other, each of the six tents at John’s Camp is a large, walk-in accommodation with an outside seating area complete with stunning views. Inside you will find a large double bed or twins (tents can be configured to take an extra bed for a child) as well as plenty of storage space. The solar-powered electric lighting is a convenient and eco-friendly touch.

    Each tent has a bathroom attached where you will find a bucket shower with hot water available whenever you request it, as well as a basin with running water and a flush toilet.

    General Facilities

    At the centre of John’s Camp lie three large tents – a kitchen, a dining room and a lounge – with three accommodation suites on either side. It is a simple camp without unnecessary frills but there are battery-recharging facilities for keen photographers. Outside you will find a campfire and chairs, the best place to swap safari stories at the end of the day.

    Set on the edge of the camp, a pop-up gauze tent sits on a raised sleeping platform, the camp’s alternative venue for a night, complete with the unfettered cosmos above you.

    Bucket showers

    Solar power

    Dining

    John’s Camp has a dining tent but guests usually enjoy the views and cooling breezes of alfresco dining, under a shady tree or the stars. Meals are cooked in camp and complimentary bottled water is provided.

    The day begins early with tea, coffee and a light breakfast – like rusks (a type of baked biscuit) and fruit for example – before your early morning game drive. You return for a hearty mid-morning brunch, often served out in the bush with bacon and eggs cooked to order. Dinner is served after drinks and canapés around the fire and is a more indulgent 3-course affair, perhaps featuring locally caught fish and sourced game meat as well as plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

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