Mana Pools National Park

Leaving Lake Kariba, the Zambezi River runs through the Kariba Gorge and into the Zambezi Valley on its way to the Indian Ocean. It is this Zambezi, so different from the one that challenges the white water rafters at Victoria Falls, that is home to the second of Zimbabwe's World Heritage Sites, the Mana Pools (the place of four pools) National Park. Here the river has left behind the remains of old channels forming small seasonal pools scattered over 2,000 sq. km surrounded by the valley escarpment. The four main large pools are near the river, with further smaller pools dotted here and there enabling a wide spectrum of animals to utilize the area.

During our dry months of May to October, the Park attracts a staggering profusion of big game, including elephant, buffalo, kudu, eland, zebra and waterbuck. The Acacia albida tree, which dominates both banks of the river, has a clearly visible browse line. The protein rich pods are highly prized by numerous game species with the elephants paying particular attention to them. Mana Pools abounds with bird life - over 300 different species having been found there at various times of the year.


What makes Mana Pools particularly special is it's unique scenery coupled with the large variations of animal and bird life created by its rich and wild heritage.

Mana Pools is the only game park in Zimbabwe holding carnivores and the larger mammals in which visitors are allowed to walk unaccompanied - this is of course done at your own risk. The option is to make use of one of the camps or to access Mana Pools by canoe. The best Lodge in Mana Pools is Ruckomechi (we consider it better than Chikwenya). If you're planning a canoe safari, there is no place in Africa which can compare with the lower Zambezi River - the wild side!

The best time of the year to visit this park is May to early October during the dry season. Insects are respectfully less active and the foliage is sparse enabling easy viewing.

While the best game viewing time is certainly July to early December as the internal water pans dry out and the animals come down to the Zambezi River to drink, prospective visitors must bear in mind that the valley gets exceptionally hot from October to about mid November when we get our first rains. The roads generally become impassable in the rainy season. We recommend a canoe safari through Mana Pools during this period.

Provided By: The Zambezi Safari And Travel Co. Ltd.