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. Long Pool is the largest and extends some 6km in a west to east direction. 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.
In the south Chitake Springs is of vital importance to the interior of the park as the springs form a crucial source of water as the river systems dry up during the dry season. Wildlife congregate around this precious water resource and walking safaris to the area are intensely exciting and full of action. We recommend this for more experienced safari enthusiasts.
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. The best time to visit in terms of access and temperature is from May to early September. Late September to end of October is the best game viewing season but temperatures will be in excess of 38 degrees Celsius for most of this period.
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.
Combine a canoe safari with one of our other safari types
Traditional Safaris | Walking Safaris | Family Safaris | Mobile Safaris | Honeymoon Safaris | Special Interest Safaris | Primate Safaris | Bush and Beach Safaris | Off Beat Explorations | Active Safaris | Migration Safaris | Riding Safaris
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Our Recommended Tours
Lower Zambezi River - Kariba to Chirundu - 3 days/2 nights
Special price valid November to June (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi River - Chirundu to Mana Pools - 4 days/3 nights
Special price valid November to June (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi River - Mana Pools to Chewore - 4 days/3 nights
Special price valid November to June (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi River - Kariba to Mana Pools National Park 6 days/5 nights
Special price valid November to June (low season period).
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.
Lower Zambezi River = Mana Pools to Kanyemba - 6 nights/5 days
The special price is valid November to June (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi - Chirundu to Kanyemba - 8 days/7 nights
Special price valid November to June per person (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi - Kariba to Kanyemba - 10 days / 9 nights
Special price valid November to June per person (low season).
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.
Lower Zambezi - Mana Pools National Park 4 days/3 nights
Special price valid 15 April to 1st June, 1st to 15th Nov per person
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.
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!
Upper and Lower Zambezi river - 10 days/9 nights
Starting and ending in Johannesburg this includes 3 nights west of Victoria Falls at the meeting point of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. 3 nights just off the shoreline of the Matusadona National Park on a private island on Lake Kariba. 3 nights in the heart of the Zambezi Valley in the Mana Pools National Park. Includes all transfers and flights, full board accommodation, park fees.
Explore the far reaches of the Zambezi Valley with this 9 night itinerary, starting and ending on the Zambezi River and including three nights on beautiful Lake Kariba.
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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