Mana Pools National Park
As the Zambezi River travels down to the ocean after Victoria Falls, it flows first into Lake Kariba. A behemoth of a dam wall generates hydro-electrical power here, using the force of the trapped water, and marks the start of the Lower Zambezi Valley - home of the Mana Pools National Park.
Further on down, the river emerges from a deep gorge to spread across a flattened, fertile floodplain which is being methodically ground away to form pools and ox-bows. Ringed by the far distant blue hills of the escarpment, the area on Zimbabwe’s southern bank is known as Mana Pools National Park. Bursting with a profusion of birds and animals, especially during dry season from June to October, this is Zimbabwe’s second world heritage site.
Four main pools and several smaller pools are scattered along the river course and the cliffs hanging over the river and floodplains provide shelter to a large and varied wildlife population. Lovely big old trees, mainly faidherbia (used to be known as acacia albidia), provide a shady canopy with sparse undergrowth. This makes for easy walking and is one of the reasons why this area is perfect for walking safaris.
The park stretches across 2000km² of prime Zambezi riverfront vegetation, much of which is inaccessible except on foot and as a result is completely unspoilt. The landscape includes islands and sandbanks fringed by dense forests of baobabs and indigenous trees, as well as the rugged Zambezi escarpment. Aside from the excellent walking safaris in Mana, the river adds another dimension to any safari as it is ideal for canoe safaris ...
The national park is home to magnificent and enormous elephants that return year after year to the same places and are well known to the locals in the area. Big, beefy black buffalo are always about and predators like leopards, lions and cheetah are seen regularly. It is also a haven for Nile crocodiles and large hippo pods as well as several black rhino. Amongst the 380 bird species are the Nyasa lovebird, Livingstone’s flycatcher, white-collared pratincole, banded snake eagle and yellow spotted nicator.
The park is open to cars only during the dry season and during the rainy season guests have to travel by foot or by boat. Canoe safaris run year round and although we do offer combination caneoing/walking during the rainy season, access into the interior of the park is very limited from December to March.
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Our Recommended Tours
Kariba to Chirundu - 3 days/2 nights
Special price valid for low season November 08 to June 09
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (we can meet you in Lusaka and transfer you to Kariba); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
Chirundu to Mana Pools - 4 days/3 nights
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (we can meet you in Lusaka and transfer you to Kariba); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
Special price valid for low season November 08 to June 09
Mana Pools to Chewore - 4 days/3 nights
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (we can meet you in Lusaka and transfer you to Kariba); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
Special price valid for low season November 08 to June 09
Mana Pools to Chewore 6 days/5 nights
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (unless by other arrangement); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
The special price valid for low season November 08 to June 09
Mana Pools to Kanyemba 6 nights/5 days
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (unless by other arrangement); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
The special price is valid for low season November 08 to June 09
Chirundu to Kanyemba - 8 days/7 nights
Special price valid for November 08 to June 09 per person per canoe trail
This semi-participatory canoe safari options begins and ends in Kariba (we can meet you in Lusaka and transfer you to Kariba); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
Book "Zambezi Classic Short Canoe" now
Kariba to Kanyemba, Lower Zambezi River - 10 days / 9 nights
Special price valid for low season November 08 to June 09 per person per canoe trail
This semi-participatory canoe safari option begins and ends in Kariba (we can meet you in Lusaka and transfer you to Kariba); we recommend spending the night prior to trip departure in Kariba town. This is a self-contained safari. All equipment and food is carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back up apart from pick-up and drop off. They are to a small extent participatory; however the guides do the cooking and washing up.
Mana Pools National Park and the Lower Zambezi 4 days/3 nights
Special price valid 15 April to 1st June and 1st to 15th November 09 per person per trail
This is a fully backed-up canoe/walk safari which takes place in the Mana Pools National Park on the shores of the Zambezi River. A fully licensed-armed Professional Guide, who is permitted to conduct canoeing and walking safaris, leads each safari. The Department of National Parks and the Zimbabwe Hunters and Guides Association monitor all guides and set rigorous exams in order for a guide to become licensed. These safaris are co-owned and operated by two of Zimbabwe's most experienced and respected guides.
Mana Pools National Park - 4 days/3 nights
Special price valid from 15 April to 30th June and 1st to 15th Nov 09.
Camp Zambezi is a true bush camp without any electricity, no permanent structures, no plumbing or any other modern convenience and yet the camp is extremely comfortable with every need taken care of. A truly eco-friendly set-up, it is designed to be taken up and put down within a few hours leaving no trace of its presence in Mana Pools National Park and everything is recycled or taken out of the park - this is the real deal!
Other Options
We always stop first or last in Mana Pools on our safaris and ideally combine a few days on safari in Mana Pools with an overnight or two on Lake Kariba and/or a few days on safari in the Matusadona National Park.
The whole trip could be ended off with a visit to Victoria Falls as the finishing touch.
Zimbabwe Safari Spots
Victoria Falls | Matusadona National Park | Lake Kariba | Hwange National Park | Gona-Re-Zhou | Eastern Highlands | Matobo Hills | Great Zimbabwe | Mavuradonha | Chizarira | Bulawayo | Harare
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