Mana Pools Tourism Services

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$6,454 pp (USD)

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Age at the end of the tour
*This tour does not accept children under 7.
Travelers

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

4x4 Transfer to Mana Pools National Park

4x4 Transfer to Mana Pools National Park

Rendezvous at Sunbird Guest House in Harare at 6:00am for your 6:30am departure to Mana Pools National Park in your fully kitted 4x4 vehicle + Trailer. Stop at Lions Den, a small town in central northern Zimbabwe, for brunch (own account) before entering Zimbabwe National Parks Estate. From here, you will drive two hours on dusty dirt roads through the bush to your camp, arriving early in the afternoon. Set up camp alongside the Zambezi River with elephants, buffalos, eland, hyenas, hippos, and monkeys wandering freely through your unfenced campsite. You can take an afternoon game drive in the 4x4 before returning to the camp at sunset. Dine under the stars, and you will see the moonlight reflecting on the Zambezi just meters away. Did we mention we live here because we think Zim is the best country in the world? On your first night at Mana, you will understand why!

N.B. Bring single, compact, soft bag especially for groups of 7-8 guests where packing space is limited.

Main Destination:
Mana Pools National Park
Best Time To Visit June to October (Best wildlife viewing)
High Season July to September
Best Weather April to September (Rains rarely fall)

Wildlife in Mana Pools NP

ElephantAbundant
LionCommon
BuffaloCommon
ZebraCommon
HippoCommon
HyenaCommon
Show more
LeopardOccasional
Wild DogOccasional
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mana Pools NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 2

Explore Mana Pools

Explore Mana Pools

Wake up to a chorus of birdsong after a night filled with the sounds of hippos, hyenas, and lions. Enjoy a quick cup of coffee before heading out for a guided walk with an armed, experienced ranger. (USD10/hr)

You will walk amongst the fauna and flora of the Mana Pools floodplain, as this is the best way to experience the African bush. As you walk, you will get fully immersed in the environment around you, a different experience from driving in a vehicle. This is what you came for, enjoy it!

Return to camp for brunch and sit next to the river for the rest of the day, watching the world go by. Then, an afternoon game drive in the vehicle followed by an early dinner and an early bedtime will ensure you are well-rested for more fun tomorrow.

Main Destination:
Mana Pools National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mana Pools NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 3

Explore Mana Pools

Explore Mana Pools

You will now be starting to get into the rhythm of bush living alongside the Zambezi River. Bush life rewards early risers who get out there early, and early risers get to see amazing things. You can drive the vehicle to collect your Zimparks Ranger and then drive you out into the bush with a qualified ranger for a morning and afternoon game walk whilst your camp assistant prepares brunch for your return. Afternoon siesta before your afternoon game-drive or walk. Sundowners then dinner will back at camp.

Main Destination:
Mana Pools National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mana Pools NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 4

Drive to Chitake Springs Camp

Drive to Chitake Springs Camp

Drive to Chitake Campsite. Break camp after breakfast and drive 70km through the bush up to beautiful Chitake Springs, where the river bed couldn't be better laid out for photographing the massive herds of buffalo coming down to drink and the bushes turn into lions in front of your eyes. N.B. We insist all guests abide by the Zimparks Mana/Chitake code of conduct provided.

Main Destination:
Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 5

Experience Chitake Springs

Experience Chitake Springs

N.B. no walking at Chitake (due to afore-mentioned tendency of bushes to unexpectedly turn into lions), rather sit quietly in your chair under the fig tree at the spring and wait for animals to come to the water below, or go view the Baobab forest), look for broken pottery shards on the ground, please do not remove these out of respect, they are Shona burial pots. Buffalo herds can arrive to drink at any time at the spring, their arrival heralded by a cloud of dust on the horizon. N.B. Lions are most active at night, do not stray from camp light at night.. Most action will happen early morning or at dusk so get up early and wait at the water till sundown. As the sun sets, if you sit quietly at the fig tree, thousands of sand grouse will whizz in centimeters above your head as they come in to drink from the spring. Within 15 mins they are done and will all be gone and the night will be filled with the sounds of lions roaring.

Main Destination:
Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 6

4x4 Transfer to Karoi Working Tobacco Farm

4x4 Transfer to Karoi Working Tobacco Farm

You will break camp and drive back resupply in the town of Karoi, after which you will proceed to a working tobacco farm in the area to your private campsite in the bush overlooking the dam. The friendly farmer will no doubt stop in to meet you and I know for a fact his arm is easily twisted if sundowners are mentioned!

Main Destination:
Marongora (Area)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Marongora (Area)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 7

4x4 Transfer to Chizarira National Park

4x4 Transfer to Chizarira National Park

This will be a very long drive down a progressively worse road, it will take 10 hours min at 40km/h average speed. You will cross the supremely scenic Sanyati River Bridge and then thee Ume Rriver Bridge through wilderness with elephant dung on teh road interspaced with tribal land overtaking occasional scotch carts and donkeys following the Lake Kariba Shoreline all the way to Chizarira National Park 2/3 of the way up the lake- Zimbabwe's most beautiful National Park. Proceed to camp after a long day and enjoy the view.

Main Destination:
Chizarira National Park
Best Time To Visit July to October
High Season June to August (Chizarira never gets busy)
Best Weather April to September (Rains are uncommon)

Wildlife in Chizarira NP

ElephantOccasional
BuffaloOccasional
ZebraOccasional
HippoOccasional
HyenaOccasional
LionRare
Show more
CheetahVery Rare
Wild DogVery Rare
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Chizarira NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 8

Explore Chizarira National Park

Explore Chizarira National Park

Chizarira is an remote and unexplored National Park. There are plenty of animals in these here hills but they are hard to see due to the terrain. The best way to experience it is on fit, if you are up for it, we can arrange guided access for half-day or full-day hikes down steep elephant paths into the gorges and back up the river-courses for you. Absolutely stunning down there and not many people get to see it. If you are more genteel, you can sit at the Game Viewing platform and see what comes down to drink whist holding one of your own!

Main Destination:
Chizarira National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Chizarira NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 9

4x4 Transfer to Sikumi Forest Reserve, Hwange National Park

4x4 Transfer to Sikumi Forest Reserve, Hwange National Park

Depart Chizarira back onto the scenic road to Hwange National Park. You'll experience the wide expanse of Africa along both sides of the winding narrow road with blue skies above. You will renew your optimism about the world and arrive at your campsite in Sikumi Forest Area of Hwange National Park.

Main Destination:
Hwange National Park
Best Time To Visit July to October (Middle and end of the Dry season)
High Season June to October (Hwange’s main area can become busy)
Best Weather April to September (It hardly ever rains)

Wildlife in Hwange NP

ElephantAbundant
GiraffeCommon
LionCommon
BuffaloCommon
ZebraCommon
Show more
HippoCommon
HyenaCommon
CheetahOccasional
Wild DogOccasional
White RhinoVery Rare
Black RhinoVery Rare
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Hwange NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 10

Explore Sikumi Forest & Hwange National Park

Explore Sikumi Forest & Hwange National Park

Morning Drive to the nearby wild dog conservation station, then on to Main Camp with the option of a self-drive game-drive through the Main Camp side of the Park (park entry fees for own account) or Game-walk to be arranged at Main Camp (also for own account).

Main Destination:
Hwange National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Hwange NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 11

4x4 Drive Through the Heart of Hwange National Park

4x4 Drive Through the Heart of Hwange National Park

You'll rise up early for a full day's drive from Main Camp side, through the heart of Hwange National Park, to the northwest side of the park. This will be a game-viewing and scenic drive that will take most of the day. You will stop at waterholes along the route for lunch and photo opportunities.

Establish your campsite and you can relax around the pool with the option of using the great restaurant and pub.

Main Destination:
Hwange National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Hwange NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 12

Explore Western Hwange National Park

Explore Western Hwange National Park

A full day to explore the Western Part of Hwange National Park in the vehicle. With your campsite established, you are free to explore the local area in teh vehicle or spend some time lounging around the pool with nearby Restaurant and Pub on site. There is also the option to join a guided game-drive (own Expense) from camp reception deep inside Hwange NP.

Main Destination:
Hwange National Park
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Hwange NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinks not included

Day 13

4x4 transfer to Vic Falls

4x4 transfer to Vic Falls

After a hearty breakfast, our driver will drive you through the beautiful Matetsi Safari Area to Victoria Falls, home to one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is Africa's adventure sport capital. Your driver can drop you off at any accommodation within city limits and you will be able to get around town easily as Vic Falls has great infrastructure.

Main Destination:
Victoria Falls
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.

Interested in This Tour?

Request a Quote

  • We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators (Learn why)
  • Requests are sent directly to the tour operator
  • If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly
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Your request will be sent directly to the operator

If preferred, you can contact the operator directly

Next: Request a Quote

Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Mana Pools Tourism Services, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • This group tour requires a minimum of 5 people to run.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Mana Pools Tourism Services.