Mana Pools

The name “Mana” means four in the local Shona language, and refers to the four large pools that lie inland from the river. They are ox bow lakes that remain from when the Zambezi changed its course and are host to a great variety of wildlife; populations of hippo and crocodiles and large herds of elephant that appear from the thickly vegetated areas in the south to drink. In the dry season the game is particularly concentrated as it congregates along the river and around these pools.

This beautiful and remote National Park is made up of 2,500 kilometres of river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs. Many of the camps in this area are situated along the river bank, allowing excellent sightings of the game found along the river edges.

Game viewing activities are varied, from game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, to exciting guided walks and walking safaris, and then making the use of the river, with canoe safaris or boat trips to catch (and release) the renowned tiger fish. The perfect way to experience all that Mana Pools has to offer is to stay at one of the permanent camps and once you have found your safari feet take off on a 3 day mobile canoe safari drifting down the river and camping on islands in the river overnight.

Access to this area is either by light aircraft from Lusaka in Zambia and then combining a road or boat transfer to Mana Pools or by combining with Victoria Falls and flying by scheduled flight to Kariba followed by a scenic boat transfer along the river.