Mana Pools National Park

Why visit Mana Pools?

Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the banks of the Zambezi River - the home of walking safaris, where close encounters with elephants, lions and wild dogs are a regular occurrence.

Predators and other wildlife

Mana Pools supports good populations of wild dog, lion, leopard, cheetah, and spotted hyena, but there is also the possibility of a rare glimpse of the shy brown hyena. You can get up close to big elephant bulls on foot or even follow African wild dogs on the hunt. Enjoy a slow game drive or take a canoe or boat to see large pods of hippos and huge Nile crocodiles sunning themselves on the sandy riverbanks.

Spectacular bird watching

Over 400 bird species have been recorded in Mana Pools - including Lilian’s lovebird, black-throated wattle-eye, Pel’s fishing owl, eastern nicator, Peter’s twinspot and large flocks of carmine bee-eaters.

Mana Pools landscapes

There are few roads in this 22,000km2 (220,000 hectares) landscape of riverine forest, floodplains, and mixed woodland, plus the many islands, channels, and sandbanks on the Zambezi River.

Away from the river, at the foot of the escarpment is Chitake Springs - a remote and truly wild safari experience. Surrounding Mana Pools are further protected areas that in total amount to almost 1,7m hectares of unfenced wilderness.

Mana means "four" in the local Shona language and refers to four permanent pools that are a mecca for wildlife viewing.

READ MORE about Mana Pools National Park

Why Mana Pools is a responsible safari choice

Your Africa Geographic safari to Mana Pools contributes to the conservation of the park to the benefit of local people because:

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level.

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about the Mana Pools and other precious African ecosystems.

• Mana Pools is the only national park in Africa that permits unguided walking safaris, thereby promoting low-impact, immersive wildlife experiences.

• Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem.