Mana Pools National Park

Located in Zimbabwe's remote and wild northern region, Mana Pools combines the Zambezi River, flood plains and steep hills of the escarpment into one of Africa's most beautiful and awe-inspiring national parks teeming with both wildlife and birdlife alike.

Mana Pool is home to a remarkable concentration of wildlife, including; lion elephant, buffalo, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena, to mention only a few.

Mana Pools National Park Facts

Size: 2 200 kms
Location: Northern Zimbabwe
When to visit the park: The dry season (winter and autumn)
Altitude: varies between 350 to 1 200 metres above sea level
Accommodation: Lodges In Mana Pools

Where is Mana Pools National Park located?

Located in the far northern region of Zimbabwe, the park is found between the Zambezi River and the Zambezi Escarpment opposite Zambia and the Lower Zambezi National Park.

To the east of the Park is Lake Kariba and to the west is Cahora Bassa dam in Mozambique, all connected by the Zambezi River.

Click on this link to view for your self where Mana Pools is located on a Google Map; Google Maps - Mana Pools National Park

Best Time to Visit Mana Pools National Park?

The dry season is the best time to visit; when the summer rains start, a vast area of Mana Pools and surrounding safari areas become inaccessible, making accessing certain lodges and regions by vehicle impossible.

A few lodges and camps do, however, remain open year-round as they are accessible via boat and vehicle.

Note; November is a month known for incredibly high temperatures in the Zambezi Valley; we would suggest avoiding this period if you can.

Information On Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park comprises 2 200 km² of some of the wildest and remotest regions in Southern Africa. Combine the National Park with surrounding 'safaris areas' (Sapi Safari Area (1 180 km²) and Chewore Safari Area (3 390 km²) and all of a sudden one gets to realise just how big the total wildlife area actually is, 6 770 km² in total.

This total area combined is a 'UNESCO World Heritage site'.

Just as a little fun exploring experiment, click on the above Google map links, change it to 'satellite view', now zoom in and out of the area. Note how there are no towns, no roads, and no farms; this is what wildest Africa at its best looks like.

Mana Pools and the Lower Zambezi National Park are within our top 5 best wildlife destinations to visit in Africa; the Zambezi Valley is truly spectacular.

Main Attractions Of Mana Pools National Park

Canoeing safaris
Boating excursions
Tiger fishing
Birding and wildlife photography
Predators
Huge herds of elephants
Large pods of hippos
Stunning lodges and camps

Khayelitshe House

Khayelitshe House is an exclusive use option best suited for a small group of friends or family on a safari together located just outside the Matobo National Park boundary.

Khayelitshe Guest House is within easy access of the national park and all of the attractions that are found in the Matobo Hills.
Khayelitshe House
Nyamatusi Camp

Nyamatusi Camp, on the banks of Zambezi River, offers guests views out over a floodplain the river itself and onto the Zambezi escarpment itself.

Nyamatusi Camp is in a prime location within Mana Pools for both wildlife and birdlife sightings.
Nyamatusi Camp
Davisons Camp

Davisons Camp in Zimbabwe, a classic African tented camp located in the private Linkwasha Concession in the south-eastern wildlife-rich region of Hwange National Park.

The camp overlooks a waterhole that is teeming with outstanding Hwange wildlife and birdlife throughout the day and night.
Davisons Camp
Ingwe Pan Camp

Ingwe Pan Camp is a short 30-minute game drive away from both the Zambezi River and the famed Mana floodplain.

The camp is located on the edge of a secluded pan (namely Ingwe Pan) surrounded by pristine bushveld and amazing wildlife, all within the Mana Pools National Park.
Ingwe Pan Camp
Bomani Tented Lodge

Bomani Tented Lodge in a private 5000-acre reserve just outside Hwange National Park offers up game drives, horseback safaris, and walking options for guests, birding in the summer months is spectacular.

The perfect Zimbabwe safari lodge and wilderness experience in Hwange for families and romantics alike.
Bomani Tented Lodge
Sapi Explorers Camp

Sapi Explorers Camp is located within 1180 square kilometres of private Sapi Concession that borders Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.

Sapi Explorers in Mana Pools is located in one of the most remote and wild safari destinations found anywhere in Africa today.
Sapi Explorers Camp