Mana Pools National Park

wonderful - it was a dream

I enjoyed this stay so much - everything was perfect - I loved this stay and one day I'll return to see the Sambesi river again, the wildlife and the kanutrip, the bushwalk - everything ....great - the Service was excellent -

So much wild life and amazing birds. Canoed down the Zambezi for thee days - experience of a life time (actual my second time and can't wait to go again)

Excellent experience! Lots of animals.

- I would always recommend this park.
- I would not come again at the end of October. It was too hot!
- A park with a lot of things to do.

I think that Mana Pools is one of the most places in the world. There are plenty of elephants,hippos, and buffalo. I've seen wild dogs on both of my visits. I've also seen lions.and plenty of antelope. The canoe trip is really beautiful.

There is no place like it in any country

Seemed fairly quiet re the wild animals even though we saw lion, hippos, kudu and elephant. There was an elusive leopard around but we didn't get to see her.

An unforgettable experience!

I have visited Mana Pools about eight times when I was resident In Zimbabwe. This time we stayed with Goliath Safaris lead by the renowned guide Stretch Ferreira. Probably the best guide one can have at wonderful Mana Pools. Walking safaris are the best way to explore and to get a real feel of bush life and we came very close to elephants and lions.

The Garden of Eden is in Africa

I spent four nights at Mana Pools, in a tented camp overlooking the Zambezi River. During the day we had wild elephants roaming amongst the tents and down on the river flats. Sometimes they swam to mid-stream islands for better grazing. Impala, waterbuck and other smaller gazelles wandered in herds through the bush. At night you could hear the lions roar as they called to each other. Huge herds of buffalo emerged from the bush to drink at the water's edge. And of course the hippos wallowed in the river, or dragged themselves out to graze on the soft grass of the floodplain. All is as one, here in this Garden of Eden.

Sunsets over the river were each unique and beautiful, perfect for sundowners. Just outside the Park you could do night safaris: we saw a lion stalking a herd of buffalo, only to be chased off. One night we came across a male lion on the track. From a handful of metres away we watched as he lowered his chest to the ground and let out a series of roars that took our breath away.

During the heat of the day, in camp, you could sit and waste a lazy couple of hours watching the animals wander by the river on a scene that feels older than time. Everyone should go at least once to Mana Pools. And after you've been once you will want to go again.

Magical Mana Pools

This great flood plain of the Zambezi is 2500 square kilometres , dotted with pools, islands and sandbanks. It is home to four of the Big Five ( didn't see any rhino)...it is an excellent area for anyone wanting to see big game. Elephant and buffalo herds are a plenty, and there is very good opportunity to see lion. It is home to endangered wild dogs - and their natural enemy, the hyena. And in the many small "pans" of receding water swarm hippos and Nile crocodiles. The area is filled with stretches of mahogany and acacia trees, interspersed with the odd and prehistoric looking baobab trees.
I made the trip in September - and it was hot (36 degrees Celsius), dusty and dry....but game drives and wildlife viewing was rewarding, with the ever dwindling water sources bringing together herbivores and the great predators. There are quite a few lodges and safari groups that do business in the area, and the camp that I stayed in was quite good, boasting twin occupancy tents with en suite facilities, and hot water. The food was fabulous! Home away from home! It pays to have a good guide who knows the local area, something I would whole heartedly recommend!
I am not a birder, but even in the dry summer season I was there, there was no shortage of fish eagles, herons, exquisite lilac breasted rollers, the odd looking hamerkop... I did see the odd martial eagle. Night time game drives are not permitted within the Mana conservation area.

Very scenic, diversity of wildlife in a fantastic setting, good guides