6-Day Mana & Chitake Glamping in Pop-Roof Cruiser + Chef

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

4x4 Transfer to Mana Pools National Park

Your tour departs from Sunbird Guest House Harare at 6:00 am sharp. You will board the 9-seater custom Land Cruiser with a bush trailer for the 9-hour drive to Mana Pools. You will stop for breakfast in Lions Den (own expense) and then enter the park at Makuti and onto the dusty road through the bush to the Mana Floodplain. You will be camping at one of Mana's Exclusive Wild Campsites alongside the river. The site will be exclusively for your use so you won't have anyone else around. Remember, this is a full participation tour, so you will have to help erect your tent and assist with washing up. Your experienced driver and cook will know the ropes and can guide you.

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

CheetahRare

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

WildebeestNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mana Pools NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Explore Mana Pools National Park

You will wake up to a chorus of birdsong after a night filled with the sounds of hippos, hyenas, and lions around your exclusive campsite. You'll have a quick cup of coffee before heading out for a guided walk under the care of a ZimParks Ranger (USD10/hr paid directly to ZimParks). An armed, experienced ranger will walk you amongst the fauna and flora of the Mana Floodplain (USD10/hr). The best way to experience the African Bush is on foot where you will get the full immersive experience that you miss out on in a vehicle. This is what you came for, therefore, enjoy it.

You will return to your camp for brunch (please note breakfast and lunch are combined on this trip) and sit next to the river for the heat of the day, watching the world go by. You'll have an afternoon game drive in the vehicle followed by an early dinner and an early bedtime to rest up for more fun tomorrow.

Main Destination:

Mana Pools National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mana Pools NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Explore Mana Pools National Park

You will not 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. Your driver will drive you out into the bush with a qualified ranger for a morning and afternoon game walk (USD10/hr). You will have brunch served either in camp or in the wild. Afterward, your walk and dinner will be served in camp.

Main Destination:

Mana Pools National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mana Pools NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Drive to Chitake Springs

You will break camp after brunch for the dusty drive through the bush to your exclusive Chitake Springs Campsite. On arrival, you will set up camp around the trailer at the exclusive wild campsite and proceed straight to the fig tree to see any buffalo/lion activity at the nearby springs. You will return to camp by nightfall to a very early dinner with the sounds of lions roaring in the riverbed less than 100 m away.

Main Destination:

Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Explore Chitake Springs

You will wake up early to swap observations about the sounds heard during the night and speculate on exactly how far away the lions were. Then, you will be off to view any lion kills or buffalo herds that might come down to the water. Have brunch in camp then get back observing lions and buffalo till dusk, followed by another early, sober night listening to nearby predators and contemplating humanity's significance in the world.

Main Destination:

Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Chitake Springs (Mana Pools NP)

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Harare

All good things must come to an end as you break camp and head back to Harare after breakfast. You will have one last trip to the fig tree to spy on any lions that might be lying around and drive out. One last photo at the top of the Zambezi Escarpment of the steaming flat Zambezi Valley below. You'll hit the road, stopping at Saucy Sues for lunch and arriving in Harare mid-afternoon. This is an active, participatory holiday, you will be physically tired at the end of each day but your mind will be rested and your outlook on life restored. This much is guaranteed.

Main Destination:

Harare (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

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