Stretch Ferreira Safaris which operates out of Goliath Camp in Mana Pools National Park is owned and run by Stretch Ferreira – a professional safari guide who has over 40 years of experience and his wife Adrienne. Stretch has the reputation as one of the finest guides in Africa. Described as a “living legend” Stretch has been guiding walking safaris in Mana Pools for most of his life, and has a special affinity with the animals of the area. All safaris are tailor-made to suit the guests in camp.

Even at its busiest, the camp has only six Meru-style tents, so caters to a maximum of 12 guests. Each tent incorporates a bedroom with twin beds or a double with mosquito nets, a couple of bedside tables, a luggage cabinet and a wardrobe. A smooth ground sheet provides a comfortable floor and a rug here and there adds warmth.

The canvas walls and ceiling are high, and mesh windows provide a breeze to keep the tents cool, while curtains keep the light out. Roll-down canvas flaps, extra blankets and hot-water bottles help to keep the tent warm during the colder winter nights (June to mid-August). Solar storm lanterns provide ambient light in the rooms, and small solar-charged torches provide enough light to read by. However, since the main lights in the room are turned off at 9.00pm, it’s advisable to bring your own torch for a stay at Stretch’s camp.

The en-suite bathrooms are reached through a flap in the rear wall of the tent, where a canvas-walled extension houses a fully flushing toilet and a plumbed-in washbasin. Beyond this is an open-air shower, with a wooden platform on the pebble floor, and water heated by a wood-burning stove.

This is a very open camp with wild animals often walking through and around it. Activities such as walking and canoeing are less suitable for children than most and as this is the main focus of Stretch Ferreira Safaris Camp we’d hesitate to recommend this camp for children.