Designed around our guests’ unique special interests, our expedition safaris are novel in their design and adventurous by nature, bringing elements of both luxury and exploration to the traditional mobile safari experience. Our multi-day, mobile expeditions cover remote, rarely visited areas of Mana Pools, Matusadona and Chizarira National Parks – all of which lie on the 16° South line of latitude in Northern Zimbabwe.
Novel, specialist expedition safaris in some of Zimbabwe’s wildest and most remote destinations
About
16° South is a small, owner - run adventure tourism company that creates novel, specialist expedition safaris in some of Zimbabwe’s wildest and most remote destinations.
Graeme Sharp
Guide, adventurer, naturalist and conservationist at heart, with a deep love for Africa, its people and wild spaces. Graeme grew up in the Zambezi Valley near the Matusadona National Park. After studying adventure tourism management in New Zealand, he started his safari career running high-end safari camps in Mana Pools National Park.
He was always destined to carve a career and lifestyle in the outdoors, so after 12 years abroad in the corporate sectors of the USA, New Zealand and Australia, Graeme followed his heart and returned home to Zimbabwe to share his passion for Africa and her wild places with his guests.
Milo Harrup
The affable safari host, fireside companion and conversation extraordinaire. Milo has built hundreds of memorable safari experiences with his guests over the past 15 years as the owner and operator of John’s Camp in Mana Pools – named after his father-in-law and notable safari guide, John Stevens. Milo’s extensive experience operating and hosting personalized mobile safaris across Southern Africa, combined with his amiable personality and love for Africa’s true wilderness areas make him the perfect expedition and safari host.
Destinations
Mana Pools Odyssey
Mobile Walking Safari
6 nights (Available: May – September)
Taking in the diversity and beauty of Mana Pools in its entirety, our 6-night mobile safari starts in the little explored foothills of the Zambezi Escarpment approximately 15 kms south-east of the famous Chitake Springs. Here, narrow gorges, perennial springs, sandy river beds and stands of huge baobabs – which stand like sentries watching over a wild, remote and enchanting wilderness – provide a remote, unspoilt and completely secluded wilderness to explore.
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The expedition then heads north through ‘jesse’ thickets and mopane woodland, onto the open floodplain of the Zambezi River. Here, alongside the river, under majestic centuries-old Kigelia & Mahogany trees, we make camp for our second and third nights. Iconic Mana Pools scenery awaits you here and our guests can take advantage of the wide-open vistas with its excellent game viewing and brilliant photography opportunities.
Our last two days take us downstream, following the river and its meandering channels, home to an abundant variety of birdlife. There are exceptional game viewing opportunities here too and thanks to limited vehicle access, the area is only accessible by foot– ideal for the safari enthusiast who prefers the complete immersion that only a walking safari provides.
Majestic Matusadona
Mobile Walking Safari
6 nights (Available: May – September)
Matusadona National Park, situated along the southern shoreline of Lake Kariba between the Sanyati and Ume Rivers, it’s 1500 square kilometres of rugged mountains, sprawling flood plain, narrow inlets and secluded bays provide the perfect setting for a truly extraordinary walking experience. Our mobile safari traverses the entire National Park, from the bays and inlets of the Ume River to the towering cliffs of the Sanyati Gorge and the diverse scenery in between.
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Our most physical and active safari, requiring a good level of fitness, good health and sure footing. You must be able to comfortably cover up to 20 kilometres a day of varying terrain, including navigating steep gradients and extended climbs in warm temperatures.
Matusadona National Park is now managed by the Matusadona Conservation Trust, a 50/50 partnership between Zim Parks and African Parks, an exciting development that promises to safeguard this iconic wilderness and in the near future, once again bring black rhino back to this remote corner of northern Zimbabwe. Mobile campsites are allocated for each and every safari by park management, but allow for a variety of settings in different areas of the National Park.
Mana Pools (Green Season) Pitta Expedition
5 nights
(Available: *15th November – 20th December)
Our most adventurous, exciting and dynamic expedition safari – where we combine all the elements of a traditional mobile safari with the start of the green season. Come mid-November when the rolling thunderstorms build over the Zambezi escarpment, Mana Pools all but closes, as the last tourists leave the park and the majority of camps are pulled down or mothballed for the off season. Its then, when Mana Pools shows her most scenic of vistas and treasured secrets with only a select few, hardy adventurers…
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This is our time, our green season safaris coincide with the arrival of the first summer rains and the summer migrant bird species – the woodland kingfisher, African emerald cuckoos, carmine bee-eaters and the larger eagles. However, it’s in the riparian thickets and woodlands along the Zambezi where the real treasures of the green season can be found and what brings us down here after all – the elusive African Pita, Pels Fishing Owl and Narina Trogon and the Green Malkoa – some of Southern Africa’s most treasured sightings.
We adapt our traditional mobile safari experience to the summer conditions – waterproof tents, drains, gumboots, raincoats and our specially equipped, closed 4×4 vehicles with winches and offroad tires – ensuring we are able to deliver an exceptional experience in the most challenging of conditions.
Chizarira Hidden Gorges
6 nights
(Available – Special Request)
An expedition to the rugged, remote expanse of Chizarira National Park is for the wilderness purist looking for something different and exclusive – stunning vistas, deep ravines and gorges, crystal clear springs and a returning wildlife presence after decades of poaching and exploitation add to the rich birdlife that flourishes in the diverse terrain.
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Often overlooked, and for fair reason – this is a destination returning to its former glory, ready to share its many secrets and treasures once again. It’s here where one can sit perched high on a clifftop, hot coffee in hand, peering through a spotting scope at Peregrine, Lanner or Taita Falcon nests on the cliff faces below. African Pitta, Narina Trogon, African Broadbill, Livingstone’s Flycather, Pels Fishing Owl, Dickenson’s Kestrel and many other uncommon and rare species call this mountain wilderness home.
Special Interests
We specialise in providing expedition safaris to areas that allow our guests to experience some of the following special interests – providing flexibility through either mobile or static safaris options.
In addition to our guests’ individual needs, we tailor each expedition safari to the specific location, season, climate and equipment needs, ensuring an unrivalled experience. Where logistically possible we can also combine various interests into one safari.
- Birding – green season migrants, specialist species with excellent guides with a passion for birding.
- Hiking & Walking – multi-day walking safaris and hiking that take you further than a nature ramble.
- Fishing Safaris – exclusive in nature with fishing guide, specialist equipment and best local knowledge.
- Jurassic Safaris – to some known and little-known points of interest from the Jurassic and Triassic periods.
- Photography – photographer centric safaris with lighting, time of day and location sensitive approach to each safari.
Private Guides
We offer an all-inclusive, uniquely personalized, intimate and flexible safari experience to some of Africa’s leading private guides and photographers in some of Africa’s most remote and challenging safari destinations.
Our appreciation for novel and uniquely curated experiences, delivered to the highest standards of rustic luxury and comfort, allow private guides to focus entirely on their guests and their experience. We take care of the challenges of safari planning, catering and mobile safari logistics in remote locations – simply fly into a fully set up, well – appointed, luxury mobile safari camp.
To access the Private Guide portal with detailed itineraries, customizable options, pricing and logistics for your private safari – please email us for further details.