Mana Pools Canoeing Safari

Zambezi River Experience through Mana Pools National Park: 4-Day / 3-Night Safari

If you're looking for the best safari in Zimbabwe for canoeing... look no further than the Mana Pools National Park. This beautiful park is home to some of the most incredible wildlife in Africa and offers a unique opportunity to explore the riverways by canoe.

On this 4-day / 3-night safari, you'll have the chance to see everything from elephants and lions to hippos and crocodiles. Plus, with all your camping gear carried in the canoes, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the fantastic scenery!

Day 1: Start Of Canoeing Trail

• Depart Kariba for a two-hour road transfer to Chirundu on the Zambezi River./safaris
• We meet up with any pre-arranged transfers from Lusaka or Harare at our launch site by 10:30hrs.
• After launching the canoes, we have a briefing from their guide on the river (including safety procedures, canoe orientation etc.)
• Here we may also decide to have an early lunch before setting off on the river.
• On this first day, we cover a 15km stretch of river with some interesting channels to negotiate early on in the trip.
• Elephants frequently occur on the grassy islands that abound in the area.
• We all help with the setting up camp, tents, bedding and own canoe contents.
• Distance: approx. 15 kilometres
• Meals: L/D
• Accommodation: Wild Camping

Day 2: Zambezi River Wild Camping

• To make the most of the cool part of the day, we rise early with tea/coffee and biscuits.
• This usually calm time of day allows us to make reasonable headway before the wind picks up.
• After a few hours of canoeing, we stop for an hour's breakfast before setting off downstream again until we find a shady stop.
• Lunch is taken on the Zimbabwe mainland, where we are more likely to find deep shade to retreat into, for the day is at its hottest between 12:30hrs and 14:30hrs.
• There is time for a quick lie down on the camping mattresses while we wait out the heat.
• By 15:00hrs, we are on our way to our next island campsite, which the guide will choose according to the progress made so far.
• Should all go according to plan, and with no wind factor, we should cover approx 25km comfortably on this day, with a variable river current carrying us along at 4 km/h.
• Distance: approx. 28 kilometres
• Meals: B/L/D
• Accommodation: Wild Camping

Day 3: Zambezi River Wild Camping

• On this day, we strive to emulate the previous day’s distances with much the same routine.
• Today the scenery changes as the river splits into many interesting channels on the approach the main Mana flood plain.
• Guides frequently take the opportunity to break off into these quiet backwaters, which open up an entirely different view of the fauna and flora along with the river system.
• Camp on this day is set up on an island amongst a grove of Mahogany trees.
• Distance: approx. 22 kilometres
• Meals: B/L/D
• Accommodation: Wild Camping

Day 4: Mana Pools Canoeing Safari Ends

• Today we break with routine and have breakfast on the island, followed by a leisurely 5 km paddle to the take-out point in Mana Pools, where we meet our support vehicle and load up the canoes and equipment for the return journey to Kariba.
• Having packed up, we enjoy a short game drive in the park before the 4-hour journey back to Kariba.
• Approximately two hours of this drive out is through thick inland Mopani woodland and scrub.
• We generally aim to be back in Kariba by mid to late afternoon.
• Connecting transfers can be made from Makuti and Chirundu, taking you to either Harare or Lusaka on the same day if required.
• However, we suggest transfers out are caught the following day from Kariba.
• Meals: B/L

So what are you waiting for? Book and enquire now for your chance to witness Africa's majestic wildlife up close and personal!