Mana Pools National Park
Africa's finest walking safari — elephants standing on hind legs and wild dog packs along the Zambezi.
About Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools National Park covers 2,196 square kilometres along the lower Zambezi River in northern Zimbabwe, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The park is named for the four large pools (mana means 'four' in Shona) — Long Pool, Chine Pool, Chisasiko Pool, and the main Zambezi channel — formed by the river's annual flooding. Mana Pools is considered the finest walking safari destination in Africa, where qualified guides lead guests on foot among elephants, buffalo, and predators. The park's elephants are famous for standing on their hind legs to reach seed pods in Ana (Faidherbia albida) trees.
When to Go
September to November for the most intense game viewing as the Zambezi's pools shrink and animals concentrate along the remaining water. June to August for pleasant temperatures and good general game viewing. The park is closed during the rainy season (January to March).
What You'll See
Big Five, large packs of African wild dog (Mana is one of the best places in Africa for wild dog sightings), standing elephants, hippo, Nile crocodile, Nyala, eland, and over 350 bird species. The riverine forest of towering Ana trees, Natal mahogany, and winter-thorn creates a unique cathedral-like landscape unlike any other African park.
Your Journey Begins
Charter flights from Harare or Kariba to Mana Pools airstrip (1 hour from Harare). Self-drive from Harare: 380 km (5 hours) via Chirundu road. 4x4 essential within the park. The access road from Marongora Gate descends the Zambezi Escarpment — one of Zimbabwe's most scenic drives.
Within Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools Floodplain
Walk within metres of standing elephants — the floodplain's dry-season intensity is unmatched in Africa.
The main Mana floodplain stretches between the Zambezi River and the Ana tree forest, shrinking dramatically from September to November as pools evaporate. This concentration effect creates Africa's most intense walking safari experience — guides lead guests on foot to within 15-20 metres of elephant herds, wild dog, and lion. The floodplain's standing elephants — rising onto their hind legs to reach Faidherbia seed pods 5 metres above ground — are a wildlife photography phenomenon.
Zambezi Canoe Trail
Canoe between hippos and elephants on a 3-5 day Zambezi trail — sleeping on sandbanks under the stars.
Multi-day canoe trails along the Zambezi from Chirundu to Mana Pools (3-5 days) are one of Africa's greatest adventure experiences. Paddling between herds of hippo, past basking crocodiles and elephant bulls drinking at the river's edge, with camps set on remote sandbanks under the stars. The 'Old Chirundu to Mana' stretch passes through the dramatic Mpata Gorge and emerges into the wide, island-studded lower Zambezi. Licensed guides handle safety around hippo and crocodile.
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