Tailormade Safaris

“MAY” IS OUR FALL

Fri, 29 May 2015 09:22:22 +0000

Temperatures are dropping and leaves are beginning to fall in preparation for winter. The color contrasts in the Jessie are unbelievable, especially towards sunset.The zebras have finally made their return to the flood plains of Mana pools as the water further inland dries up. The wild dogs in the Vundu area have not disappointed us and we have spent many magical moments with a pack of (23) twenty three. Lion sightings are now improving though still a bit spaced out, however they continue to serenade us through the night with their contact and territorial roars. Boswell the iconic bull of Mana pools has been sighted a couple of times and we have walked alongside him with the hope of seeing him perform his two legged stand up act, but this was not to be. The waters of Zambezi are getting clearer as the floods coming down Kafuwe and Chongwe rivers subside giving the Zambezi a dark mysterious tint. A four meter crocodile has been frequenting the inlet at Mucheni 4 but quick to take to the water when approached. A young female leopard was a welcome visitor in our camp at Mucheni (1) one just before dinner on the 5^th of May and she was very relaxed as she graced us with her beauty and poise. Our early morning drives are starting a bit later now as the nights get longer. The first herds of buffaloes for this season have been sighted in the croton area. Elephants swimming to the islands have become a common occurrence and makes for a lovely setting at sunset. We looking forward to having a clearer view of the under bush as fall continues to take its toll leaving most of the trees bare giving us amazing 270 degrees views of this glorious place that is Mana Pools.

Mana Pools in Emerald Season.

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 01:46:41 +0000

Mana Pools in the Green Season – A February safari diary from Tailormade Safaris Zimbabwe is one of Africa’s most diverse destinations with the combination of wildlife, beauty and scenery. Today I writeto share on one of the most outstanding parks in the country, declared aworld heritage site by UNESCO;Mana Pools National Park in the emerald season. This park offers the most incredible, close to nature experiences year round but very few have experienced it in the green and rainy season due to accessibility challenges as a result of the wet alluvial floodplain. Our drive into the park was different to all other drives as the baobab trees which usually resemble sleeping giants were alive, fully leafed and carrying large fruit that one day will make a great seasonal meal for primates and elephants and in distant baobabs for the local population. The character of the Zambezi river changes, the air filled with scents of fresh flowers and a clean atmosphere. The vegetation is lush and green with thick bushes providing hiding places for predators, birds and insects and plenty to eat for the herbivores. We were privileged to get into the park 2 days after some rains so one can imagine how beautiful and alive the vegetation was and how the ground was strewn with tracks. The Acacia trees that characterise the floodplain are in a contrasting phase to the rest of the plants, having shed their leaves for the rains. The just sprouting leaves created the most amazing backdrop for any sightings of the migrant birds, most of which were showing off their breeding plumage. Ideal as leopard siesta spots the branches of the Zambezi fig spread over this colourful undergrowth to characterize the skyline. The seasonal water pans allow for wildlife to be more spread out in the park compared to the drier months. At the end of the day the green season is not about the quantity of animals but about the quality and richness of the experience, the birdlife, insect life and vegetation. It is truly “Nature at Play”.Moving through these rich sceneries were healthy looking impala, zebra with all their newborn foals, waterbuck, hippo, elephant and buffalo. The sight of the African spoonbill, the wooly necked storks, flocks of cattle egrets, white fronted bee eaters, Egyptian geese (and their young), the Herons catching a ride on the backs of hippos to catch breakfast made our mornings on the stops at the famous Mana pools memorable. Crocodiles from the size of about 50cm to 4metres in length patrolled the water bodies enjoying a massive feast all on the plentiful fish found in these seasonal waters. Even though we were searching for the rare and elusive leopard, Humphrey who was guiding put a puzzle of unusual baboon and waterbuck behavior leading to the discovery of a thriving lion pride of 7 lionesses and one ginger maned male. They seemed to be involved in a vocal political interaction and tracking them through the tall grass following that low growl thrilled us wild. This is the adventure of “a walk in the park” in Africa. On the last of our 3 night stay we experienced a thunderstorm as if to remind us of the season. The evening characterized by starry nights skies, sounds of snorting hippos and roaring lions, were replaced by dark cloud, whistling wind, the roar of thunder and a lightning show that would compete with New Year celebrations in Paris followed by rain through the night. This however did not stop us from exploring the park the next morning. We were almost done and on our way out of the park when we spotted a pack of 9 wild dogs hunting through the Nkupe floodplain. This exercise was a lengthy array of leaps and bounds due to the height of the grass but this did not dissuade 2 hyena from following closely, looking forward to a meal. Alas, we didn’t get to see the kill but it was great to have seen the dogs in action! We look forward to going back to the bush again over Easter, to experience more of the tail end of the emerald season, sharing more secrets of Mana Pools with the guests we will be hosting this year and creating journeys of a lifetime.

Wonderful Africa By Fred Krakowiak

Mon, 09 Feb 2015 09:00:32 +0000

The continent of Africa and especially Mana Pools, Zimbabwe has continued to call to me since my first safari with Humphrey Gumpo in 2004 and this past year 2014 being my tenth year anniversary with my friend I again rejoiced in the sanctuary and unscripted experience Humphrey and Africa provides. There is a Zimbabwe proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together – On safari together with Humphrey you will go far over your expectations of what you expected from a safari to the point of having life altering experiences as you encounter face to face the wildlife from elephants or lions or wild dogs to spectacular sightings of kudu and eland. While walking in Africa every detail of nature is significant and you reawaken the senses that you had as a child. Humphrey reintroduces you to the smell of musk as you approach the elephants or the sweet sage that permeates the air and looking to the sky the stars are so close at night you can reach out and touch the southern cross before you eventually end your day falling asleep to the lions roaring into the evening. All of your senses come alive with Humphrey in the wilderness of Africa. One of the more memorable experiences with Humphrey in the bush came about when Humphrey and I were walking back to camp at dusk when a kudu antelope suddenly came bounding through the acacia trees. Wild-eyed with its hind end dappled from fear and exertion, this kudu was clearly running for its life. Scrambling through the trees came a pack of about 18 African wild dogs, mere yards behind their prey. Without exchanging a word, Humphrey and I dropped our backpacks and began running behind the pack as it jumped over fallen trees and dodged rocks in pursuit of the fleeing kudu. We actually were experiencing the chase. This was nature distilled to its essence and is what a safari with Humphrey Gumpo is all about.

Thank You From Tailormade

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 09:07:22 +0000

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste the experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. Eleanor Roosevelt.

What a successful season for Tailormade Safaris being fully booked for the year. Our Team was on their toes 24/7 making sure every safari paint a memory to each and every guest who will be in camp at that specific time and period. Tailormade Safaris is greatly honored to have hosted some of the greatest people who are experts in their fields, Brian Keating an amazing Tour leader well known around the world for his expertise in tour guiding and Greg Du Toit an award winner BBC World News African Wildlife Photographer of the year just to mention a few. Humphrey Gumpo also guided a group of 40+ (Nicodeme) which came in through Inspiration Zimbabwe and 18+ group (keating) which came in through Civilized Adventures. This is an Amazing achievement for us because it shows that we have move from where we were a few years back in terms of growth. We can’t wait to do this again. With great hospitality tactics our team has and the experience that our guides have it made the job a lot easier to handle. We say thank you to each and every one of you who came through to Tailormade Safaris and shared their time and experience the bush was giving, being in the company of a professional guide (Humphrey Gumpo) one can set a foot for hours and get very close to wildlife in our national parks. That’s a bonus. Mana pools flood plains for example as one of our national parks has got a tremendous way of revealing its magic. It is always good to see the reaction of discovery and hear the snorts barks of the antelope and baboons as predators walk the earth in pursuit of their prey. At full speed this agile predator set its focus on a young kudu and caught it with a roll and held it tight. The cheetah did not kill the kudu though suggesting that it may have had a pup in the area and was planning on using this as a training opportunity. This was confirmed at the arrival of another cheetah. So young this cat was, it still has the grey mane that they have in the younger age. The stunning cheetah rested while the baby jumped up and down around the carcass not knowing exactly where to start. After watching such a hunt either you will have tears dropping of your eyes or you will be smiling or even doing both. You will be emotionally moved that’s how Mana pools roll, but us as Tailormade we will be by your side making sure that those with tears in their eyes are smiling again (no mixed emotions please). We will be there every step of the way to create a memory that will last a lifetime. Tailormade we good at that!! For the guests who shared their experience I’d like to ask you to send us a journal and a few photos of your safaris at (info@tailormade-safaris.com) so we share them with those who are willing to come for a safari next year through our website on our GUEST DIARIES section and even on our social media pages listed below. Please don’t hesitate to write on these pages, we kindly ask you for your input because our growth is determined by you. Again I say thank you for coming we really appreciate you, hoping to see you again next year. It is you who make these journeys of a lifetime Tailomade… Like our Facebook page tailormade.saf and follow us on Twitter Tailormade_Saf

Thanks Again Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year…

Lubking Safaris

donald — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 09:11:09 +0000

The summer has been and gone. The Mana winter is here with its mild temperatures and overcast days.The amount of predator activity at Mucheni still phenomenal. Guests arrived from Chobe for a first time Mana Experience. Can you remember the first time you came to Mana Pools, what you had heard about it and the feeling of being on those ancient floodplains for the first time?

The first afternoon was spent setting up camera equipment, a new mount on the game drive vehicle, go pro on the bulbar and checking on 5 camera bodies and lenses on a short familiarization drive. Next morning off in the direction of Rukomechi river bed in search of the dogs. The part that we went is characterized by cathedral and scrub mopane with great potential for creating contrast for images. Overcast and quiet. Back in camp and then out for a short afternoon game drive. At sunset went to “play” with a local pod of hippos. Still overcast.

The next morning was to be the game changer. Started off with a middle-aged elephant bull that was reaching almost Mana style into the acacias. The cloud came over again probably slowing down wildlife movements but removing the heat curfew that usually limits cat movement. In that we spotted in some adrenalin grass and saw a lioness moving through, muddy and scarred behind her head. We thought she was coming from a carcass and on her way to collect cubs and bring them back for the feast so we followed her. Always great to see the reaction of discovery and hear the snorts and barks amongst antelope and baboons as lioness seemingly carelessly walks through their midst. Eventually left her in the thick vegetation behind Chisasiko to go back and investigate where she was coming from. Alarm calls indicated the presence of other predators in the area and the stealth appearance of a full pride of 8 lions followed. They did not just arrive in casual walk but in military style stealth with the noses to the wind. They too knew something was amiss. Three of them were however very skinny. The wind then picked up and the lions sat and rested short of where the lioness had emerged from. While they were resting a mother warthog with three piglets almost fell prey as the hungry lions tried their luck.

For us this meant “meals on wheels” so we ordered our lunch to be delivered to us as we were not about to leave this incomplete investigation and the hungry cats.

A herd of elephants joined us for lunch and then took to the water crossing over to lower Trichilia Channel Island. Even though it was 14:00 under the cover of the cloud the pride repositioned and again the same family of warthog almost ran into the jaws of death this time surviving by a whisker as they were almost surrounded. While the lions were resting (again) we took a little drive only to come across a pack of dogs sleeping and minding their business. A classical decision was made by our fearless leader and guide, to leave the dogs for a bit while waiting for the light and photograph zebras on the Nkupe floodplain. This almost saw dismissal by mutiny as on our return the wild dogs had vanished. Classic decision indeed. “Early hunt” they decided. It was under that kind of pressure that the most rushed search for the dogs was conducted only to discover them single file around Lungfish pan. They were on a mission which i thought was associated with locating a suitable spot for a den. They had the very pregnant Aha female on their tails and so pregnant was she………

Kariba Dawning

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 09:05:39 +0000

Lake Kariba a lake amongst the largest man-made lakes in the world and the second largest in Africa with a shoreline that is over 2,000 kilometers long. Kariba is home to numerous species of flora and fauna and is an exciting and unique safari destination. Wildlife viewing from a boat as it coasts amongst the skeleton trees that stand like friendly ghosts along the shores of Lake Kariba creates unique photographic opportunities.

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