Mana Pools
Mana Pools National Park, Sapi Safari Area and Chewore Safari Area were inscribed as World Heritage sites in 1984.
Mana Pools National Park is situated in the far north of Zimbabwe, in the Zambezi river valley. It is a remote and beautiful game reserve that is home to some of the most legendary safari guides in Africa, and known for fantastic canoe trails and walking safari adventures. Situated right opposite the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, this part of the Zambezi river valley is home to an impressive variety of species and birds. There are a number of rustic bush camps, some permanent and some seasonal.
Mana Pools National Park, Sapi Safari Area and Chewore Safari Area were inscribed as World Heritage sites in 1984.
Mana Pools National Park is situated in the far north of Zimbabwe, in the Zambezi river valley. It is a remote and beautiful game reserve that is home to some of the most legendary safari guides in Africa, and known for fantastic canoe trails and walking safari adventures. Situated right opposite the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, this part of the Zambezi river valley is home to an impressive variety of species and birds. There are a number of rustic bush camps, some permanent and some seasonal.
The lower Zambezi Valley is home to the spectacular Mana Pools National Park; Zimbabwe’s second World Heritage Site. This area is teeming with wildlife especially during the months of June through to October. The park is popular for canoe trails, as well as walking safaris. It is an adventure safari destination and not for the faint-hearted.
Mana Pools is also known for its abundance and enormous beautiful trees providing shade and making it ideal for walking. The ‘pools’, for which the park is famous, provide permanent water year-round, attracting an enormous amount of wildlife, including large predator populations.Close encounters with animals are a part of game drives, while the best way to explore this magnificent park is either on foot or by means of a canoe down the Zambezi River. The best time to visit the park is from May to October; however temperatures can be fairly high towards the latter part of October.
This isolation, combined with the sticky black-cotton soil that makes up most of the substrate in the area, makes access almost impossible in the rainy season. Visiting Mana Pools on safari is thus limited to the dry season, between April and November
Getting ThereWhile self-drive is possible (it's a good 5 or 6-hour drive from Harare), it's recommended to use a 4x4 vehicle with an experienced driver. Conditions can be gruelling, especially in the wetter months. Fly-ins are usually preferable, from Victoria Falls, Harare and Kariba.
Tourist facilities include lodges, a communal campsite with ablution facilities and exclusive campsites where the visitor can be alone.
Lodges
There are 5 lodges in the Park, all located along the Zambezi River. There are 2 large lodges situated a short distance upstream from Nyamepi Camp, Musangu and Muchichiri. These lodges have a bathroom and shower with hot and cold running water; 2 toilets and a fully kitted kitchen with stove and deep-freeze and all utensils such as cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils. All bedding and towels, etc are supplied. There is a large dining room and lounge, an outside braai area with seating where one can view the river and the wildlife coming down to drink or simply watch the African sun setting over the Zambezi River.
Lodges
There are 5 lodges in the Park, all located along the Zambezi River. There are 2 large lodges situated a short distance upstream from Nyamepi Camp, Musangu and Muchichiri. These lodges have a bathroom and shower with hot and cold running water; 2 toilets and a fully kitted kitchen with stove and deep-freeze and all utensils such as cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils. All bedding and towels, etc are supplied. There is a large dining room and lounge, an outside braai area with seating where one can view the river and the wildlife coming down to drink or simply watch the African sun setting over the Zambezi River.
There are also 3 four-bedded lodges, all under thatch. Each lodge has 2 bedrooms with 2 beds each, a shower and toilet and seating areas outside near the Zambezi River. The kitchen is supplied with a deep-freezer, cooker, crockery and cutlery and other cooking implements. Bedding and towels, etc are supplied.
Camping Sites
There is one large communal campsite along the Zambezi River, and a number of exclusive campsites where visitors can ensure their solitude.
Communal Campsite
The Nyamepi Camp camping area located along the Zambezi River is situated near the Mana Pools National Park reception office. Visitors need to bring their own camping equipment, bedding, toiletries, cooking implements, etc. There are ablution blocks nearby with hot and cold running water, flush toilets and laundry basins. Visitors can buy firewood at the reception office, and each campsite has a braai area. This camping ground has 30 sites.Exclusive Campsites
There are a number of exclusive campsites situated along the Zambezi River. These camps are for the visitor who seeks solitude and who wants to truly experience the wildness and challenges of the bush. There is a braai stand at each site and rudimentary toilet. Water is collected from the river or the reception office. Visitors to these sites need to be fully self-equipped and be able to handle the remoteness and solitude of these unique camps. The camps are only allowed 2 vehicles and 12 persons per stay. Water may be drawn from the river
Mucheni
8 kilometres west of Nyamepi and has 4 secluded camp site
Nkupe
Just over 1 kilometre east of Nymepi and has 1 camp site
Ndungu
Just east of the car park area and has 2 campsites
Gwaya
A short distance upstream from the lodges has 1 campsite, with cold-water shower, flush toilet and basin and a braai stand.
Wild Exclusive Camp Sites
There are 2 completely wild camping sites located in the southern sector of the Park - close to Chitake Spring, near the foothills of the Zambezi Escarpment. The check-in point for these camps is at Nyakasikana Gate. Both campsites are without any facilities and are accessible only with four-wheel drive vehicles.
Chitake Camp 1 (Nzou)
Located 150 metres downstream from the Chitake River crossing under a large Natal Mahogany near the river.
Chitake Camp 2 (Shumba)
Situated on top of a small hill near a number of baobab trees and has a magnificent view south to the escarpment, north to the far off Zambezi, east to Mangangai and west to the Rukomechi River. The camp is about 1 kilometre from the spring.
Camping Sites
There is one large communal campsite along the Zambezi River, and a number of exclusive campsites where visitors can ensure their solitude.
Communal Campsite
The Nyamepi Camp camping area located along the Zambezi River is situated near the Mana Pools National Park reception office. Visitors need to bring their own camping equipment, bedding, toiletries, cooking implements, etc. There are ablution blocks nearby with hot and cold running water, flush toilets and laundry basins. Visitors can buy firewood at the reception office, and each campsite has a braai area. This camping ground has 30 sites.Exclusive Campsites
There are a number of exclusive campsites situated along the Zambezi River. These camps are for the visitor who seeks solitude and who wants to truly experience the wildness and challenges of the bush. There is a braai stand at each site and rudimentary toilet. Water is collected from the river or the reception office. Visitors to these sites need to be fully self-equipped and be able to handle the remoteness and solitude of these unique camps. The camps are only allowed 2 vehicles and 12 persons per stay. Water may be drawn from the river
Mucheni
8 kilometres west of Nyamepi and has 4 secluded camp site
Nkupe
Just over 1 kilometre east of Nymepi and has 1 camp site
Ndungu
Just east of the car park area and has 2 campsites
Gwaya
A short distance upstream from the lodges has 1 campsite, with cold-water shower, flush toilet and basin and a braai stand.
Wild Exclusive Camp Sites
There are 2 completely wild camping sites located in the southern sector of the Park - close to Chitake Spring, near the foothills of the Zambezi Escarpment. The check-in point for these camps is at Nyakasikana Gate. Both campsites are without any facilities and are accessible only with four-wheel drive vehicles.
Chitake Camp 1 (Nzou)
Located 150 metres downstream from the Chitake River crossing under a large Natal Mahogany near the river.
Chitake Camp 2 (Shumba)
Situated on top of a small hill near a number of baobab trees and has a magnificent view south to the escarpment, north to the far off Zambezi, east to Mangangai and west to the Rukomechi River. The camp is about 1 kilometre from the spring.