$1,628 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateDrive to Mana Pools National Park
Early Start (06:00am) at Sunbird Guest House with 4x4 handover. Costa will demonstrate the operation of the vehicle and associated equipment and run you through the paperwork (please allow approx. 1hr 30 Mins- please don't rush him as this is vital for your safety and comfort).
Once the handover is completed, we'll set you off on the road to Mana Pools! Follow the GPS directions up the Great North Road. Brim your fuel tanks at Karoi and Makuit then proceed to Marongora Zimparks check-in, and present entry permits which we have prepared for you. You will need to pay a small Zimparks vehicle entry fees (USD3 per day). Descend the Zambezi Escarpment and turn onto the Mana dust road (you will now learn what corrugations are!). Proceed approx. 70km through the bush to Mana Reception.
Set up your campsite. You are responsible for all camp chores from cooking to cleaning and keeping your food safely stowed in the vehicle away from Monkeys & elephants (no fresh fruit allowed).
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Mana Pools
Wake up on your first day at Mana to a cacophony of birdsong and animal sounds, hippo grunts, lion roars, and hyena howls. You are in paradise. We suggest you book a Zimparks ranger at reception to take you on guided walks along the Mana floodplain every morning and evening because walking is what sets Mana apart from other African parks. Don't waste the opportunity and freedom of being allowed to walk at Mana by driving randomly along Mana's rather limited road network. Get out there in the bush with an armed Zimparks ranger and walk—you will be immersed in the bugs and birds and live a totally different experience to the standard African game drive. This is real, wild Africa.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Explore Mana Pools
Get into your Mana routine. Book morning and afternoon walks with Zimparks rangers. Relax during the heat of the day and see more animals walk through your campsite than you saw on your walk. You are now starting to become used to the Mana lifestyle.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Drive to Chitake Spring
Break camp after breakfast, and fill the roof-mounted water tank on the vehicle and solar showers with water at the reception. Today we are going to Chitake Springs. Drive approximately 60km inland from the river to set up camp at Chitake camping site. Here the Chitake River rises out of the sand and flows on the surface for up to 1km before sinking back into the earth. This is the only source of water for miles around in mid-dry season and animals flock to Chitake to drink and hunt. You will camp amongst them. You will definitely see a lion at Chitake, set up your chairs under the shade of the fig tree and let the animals come to you.
- Main Destination:
- Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)
- Accommodation:
- Budget camping
- Meals & Drinks:
Drive to Harare
After breakfast and a morning walk, reluctantly break camp. Depart before 10:00 am and drive slowly back towards the tar road. Remember to re-inflate tires to 2.5 bar at the last boom gate at the tar road. Checkout at Marongora. Refuel at Chinhoyi and return the vehicle to Sunbird Guest House in the daylight (for traffic and road safety reasons it is unwise to travel after nightfall). Hand back the 4x4 and complete vehicle return paperwork with Costa. You are welcome to stay the night at Sunbird Guest House.
- Main Destination:
- Mana Pools National Park
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: