Reviews of Stretch Ferreira Safaris
Wildlife sightings and reviews
15 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Stretch Ferreira Safaris and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"My dream location for a camp"
There is a large Apple Core tree shading the communal area, and this is full of birds at certain times of day. On either side of the camp the river banks are alive with Carmine Bee Eaters, and there is a resident Vundu fish adjacent to the lounge area which comes to be fed, as well as the local hippo who wanders nearby.
The food offered here is excellent, particularly the evening meals which are served around a large table with all the guests seated formally and lead by Stretch Ferreria.
The tents are well appointed with an excellent hot outdoor shower and have electricity until 9 pm. The only downside is the charging facilities for cameras etc which is more limited, especially if the camp is full and everyone wants to charge their gadgets at the same time. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff here.
The game drives and walks are amazing and are personally led by Stretch and his team, all of whom have excellent knowledge of both animals and birds. We particularly enjoyed the walks led by Stretch, who stopped at nothing to try and find the things we wanted to see. He also leads walks which take you safely and professionally to within feet of elephants etc.
The camp also offers canoe trips down the river which we particularly enjoyed and the fishing is not to be missed either.
We just wish we had had longer." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe
"Goliath Safaris review"
We opted for a charter flight from Lusaka but another group had chosen to drive to Mana pools and regretted it due to delays crossing the border and an unscheduled additional stopover somewhere grim! Stretch recommended flying in despite the extra cost and we would have to agree. He further recommended visiting in May/June as a cooler alternative and we might just do that to see it at its most beautiful. A very intimate experience and a chance to get up very close to some of Stretch's old animal friends. Highly recommended." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 6n in Zimbabwe
"Stretch is the True Elephant Talker"
I saw plenty of other wildlife besides elephants at Goliath Camp including: eland, zebra, impala, lions, kudu, and plenty of beautiful birds.
The dinners and desserts were luscious. Of course I enjoyed eating outdoors.
Stretch is ably assisted by his partner Flo Coughlin. The rest of the staff is also excellent including guides Ruben and Siraj.
The location is superb along the river. This was my second time in Mana Pools and I certainly enjoyed it again." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Botswana; 6n in Zambia; 2n in South Africa
"Walking safari was exhilerating"
A limitation is that the lights go out at 9pm and despite the early starts I would have liked to stay and sit out later particularly as the tents were very hot.
The camp was full and frankly I don't think walking with 12 other tourists worked well at all. It was simply too many. It was concerning how long it took others to understand and stick to the basic rules when walking in the bush. This worried me and detracted from the overall experience.
It didn't help that they were all travelling together with there own guide and initially it made us feel on the periphery. Eventually the group decided that we were their new best friends.
That said walking provided a wholly new way of thinking about the animals we so enjoy seeing. The experiences were exhilarating and at times nerve racking when faced with a very unsettled lioness, lion and cub. Their power was unmistakable!! This is not a camp for the faint hearted.
We also had the pleasure of animals wandering through camp. It was very hard to sit still as an elephant brushes past your table to drink from the river, but I sat like a statue!
I would love to do some walking again but will look very carefully at the arrangements, so that I feel as confident about safety and enjoyment as you can from this kind of experience.
Perhaps there needs to be more emphasis on potential guests understanding what will be expected of them which is revisited before going out on the first walk.
Despite the above we loved it here. Mana is a lovely area and the camp is in a beautiful spot. The guiding was very good, the camp relaxed, plenty of good food, the staff were all delightful and did everything they could to make our stay a good experience." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
"Fantastic Experience"
This was a great and altogether unique experience. Sitting at the feet of a large bull elephant while he hoovered up seed pods from below a Winter Thorn Tree, crawling up to a pride of lions and later crawling along a river bed to get close to a pack of Wild Dogs. Each experience different and each very memorable. All due to Stretch Ferreira, whose empathy for and knowledge of the animals is legendary.
He is a wonderful host and each day we spent there was a joy, despite the heat. His business partner Flo keeps Stretch grounded and is a major part of the success of Goliath Camp. The other members of staff, Stetch's trainees - Siraj and Steven, and Reuben the guide all contribute to the close knit family" atmosphere of the camp.
Accommodation is relatively basic, but the food is excellent and plentiful. Goliath is certainly somewhere we want to go back to." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
Holiday styles & special interests in Zimbabwe
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Zimbabwe.
Other lodges in Mana Pools National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Vundu Camp
Overlooking the Zambezi River in Mana Pools National Park, Vundu Camp is a small, comfortable bushcamp offering top-notch guiding.
Ruckomechi Camp
In a very scenic spot beside the Zambezi, Ruckomechi is a smart camp offering excellent walking, river safaris, night and day 4WD game drives.
Kanga Bush Camp
Unspoiled and peaceful, Kanga Bush Camp is located in a remote and exclusive part of Mana Pools National Park, overlooking the Kanga Pan.
Zambezi Expeditions
Zambezi Expeditions is a simple, semi-permanent camp along the Zambezi River that offers excellent guiding and standards of service.
Nyamatusi Camp
Overlooking the Zambezi River, the luxury Nyamatusi Camp occupies a pristine wilderness environment.
Little Vundu
Closely associated with Vundu Camp, Little Vundu has the same great location and quality of guides, and is occasionally used for private group bookings.
Mana Canoe Trail
The Canoe Trail is a multi-day trip, along the Zambezi with some of the best guides in Africa. Each night you'll camp on the banks of the river.
Kavinga Safari Camp
Kavinga is a comfortable tented camp tucked away in a less-visited area of Mana Pools National Park with surprisingly good wildlife and an excellent hide.
Chikwenya Camp
One of the original properties in Mana Pools area we are excited to be featuring Chikwenya Camp again.
John's Camp
John's Camp is a semi-mobile tented camp offering walking safaris, game drives, and fishing in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park.
Nyamatusi Mahogany
Nyamatusi Mahogany is a family-friendly, yet remote and luxurious safari camp in Mana Pools National Park.
Little Ruckomechi
In a shady spot beside the Zambezi, Little Ruckomechi is a small but luxurious camp offering a reange of activities including walking and canoe trips.
Ingwe Pan Camp
Ingwe Pan Camp is due to open in May and will be located in a remote area in the north of the Mana Pools National Park
Tembo Plains Camp
Building commenced on Tembo Plains Camp in February 2021. Details are sparce at this stage but we'll update this page once we know more.
Mana River Camp
Mana River Camp sits on the banks of the Zambezi River, a site formerly occupied by Mwinilunga Camp.
