• Mana Pools National Park

    Mana Pools National Park lies in the heart of the Zambezi Valley, where the Zambezi River meanders to the Mozambican border. A very remote & beautiful place, Mana Pools offers spectacular views of the broad river, floodplains, riverine woodland, and the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment.

    This particular stretch of the Zambezi River garnered fame for its four main pools (Main, Chine, Long, Chisambuk), for which the park is named. In actual fact, “mana” translates to “four” in the Shona language. These pools are remnants of channels of the river that stopped flowing years ago.

    The main 4 as well as smaller seasonal pools hold water year round, drawing a plethora of wildlife in during the dry season. The floodplains boast a healthy population of ana trees, shedding their protein rich pods and in turn providing vital sustenance for many species, particularly the elephant.

    Game viewing in the area is excellent, with large concentrations of buffalo and elephant cropping up along the river’s edges while predators such as lion, leopard, and wild dog often come into view. Kudu, zebra, impala, and waterbuck feed on the surrounding plains while the grunting of hippo can be heard all day long, creating yet another wonderful cacophony in the African bush.
    The area has proven quite resourceful for birding, particularly woodland and riverine species while numerous local specials abound such as the Black-throated Wattle Eye, Red-necked Falcon, and the Eastern Nicator.


    Click to learn more about the camps found in the Mana Pools National Park area