Established in 1963 Mana Pools NP is located on Zimbabwe’s northern border, on the banks of the Zambezi River. The area is rich in wildlife and its 2,190 sq kms are recognised as a World Heritage Site.
MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK

Established in 1963 Mana Pools NP is located on Zimbabwe’s northern border, on the banks of the Zambezi River. The area is rich in wildlife and its 2,190 sq kms are recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Mana means ‘four’, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. These pools were formed as the river’s course slowly drifted northward. Reeds, sandbanks, and huge Mahogany and Acacia trees near the river give way to Ebonies and Baobabs, and finally to dense Mopane woodland towards the Park’s southern boundary.

Mana Pools is ranked as one of Africa’s outstanding wildlife reserves and during the winter months it has the highest concentration of game on the entire continent. Huge herds of elephant and buffalo as well as lion, hyena, kudu, impala, waterbuck, zebra, Painted Hunting Dog, leopard, jackal, the rare Nyala and a huge variety of wildlife are drawn to the permanent waters of the River.

Vegetation diversity and permanent water attracts a bird population that is both varied and abundant and the River is home to the country’s highest concentration of hippo and crocodiles. Sadly however, poaching has denuded what was once the densest population of the endangered Black Rhinoceros in the world

Mana Pools is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa. It was saved from a hydroelectric scheme in the early 80’s, which would have seen it flooded.
For the adventurous traveller, a canoe safari along the Mana shoreline is a great way to get close to nature. Paddling down stream towards Mozambique, passing great herds of game without feeling like an intruder, your guide explains how to dodge territorial hippos and how to deal with the elephants that visit your camp by night.

Mana Pools is also a popular Park for walking safaris and the eastern portion has been designated a wilderness area in which only walking and canoeing are allowed. There are no roads or other signs of man.

The best time to visit the park for wildlife viewing is at the end of the dry season (August to October) when large numbers of elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and impala come to the river to drink and graze along its banks. Game viewing is also very good in June and July. During the rainy season (November to March) much of the game moves off away from the river towards the escarpment.