The word Mana means “four” in Shona, referring to the four great natural pools that were once oxbow lakes, carved out by the Zambezi River thousands of years ago as it shifted its course northwards. Today, Mana Pools National Park – set in northern Zimbabwe along the southern banks of the Zambezi – is a landscape of remarkable beauty. Lush forests of mahogany, wild fig, ebony, mopane, and towering baobabs stretch down to the rugged escarpment, creating a sanctuary unlike any other.

Arguably the park’s most magical phenomenon is the ethereal Blue Forest. Here, a near-constant haze of light creates an otherworldly aura around the acacias and the elephants that graze beneath them. Depending on the angle of the sun, the early morning light filtering through the canopy also interacts with the elephants’ high browse line, casting a golden atmosphere that silhouettes wildlife in breathtaking relief.