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Hippos in Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

Mana Pools National Game Park Safaris made for you

Majestic wildlife on both land and water

Zimbabwe's premier UNESCO-awarded wildlife park

Mana Pools is a UNESCO-protected national park created in northern Zimbabwe’s section of the Lower Zambezi Valley is an impressive and very wild landscape made up of 2,000 square kilometres of pristine vegetation and the dramatic Rift Valley escarpment. Much of the parkland is inaccessible unless you go on foot, helping to preserve the area’s enviable remoteness and untouched natural beauty.

“Mana” meaning “four” in the local Shona language, refers to the four large pools that lie inland from the Zambezi River. The pools are remnant ox-bow lakes, that the Zambezi River carved thousands of years ago as it changed its course northwards.

A safari here is one where the pools attract a profusion of aquatic birds as well as herds of elephants, hippopotamus, and Nile crocodiles. Predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena are mostly found in the open woodland areas of the reserve, but can be very secretive and not that easy to spot without an expert tracker. The low scrub makes Mana an excellent walking safari destination and the pools perfect for canoe-based game spotting.

Mana Pools National Park is in fact part of a larger, boundary-less area that stretches across the north of Zimbabwe west from the Kariba Dam to the border with Mozambique. Animals wander freely between these and even across to Zambia’s Lower Zambezi parklands.

  • Animals in the water at Mana Pools national park, Zimbabwe
  • Lioness and cubs drinking from a pool in Mana Pools national park, Zimbabwe
  • An elephant in Mana Pools national park, Zimbabwe
  • Antelope in Mana Pools national park, Zimbabwe
  • View from the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls
  • Colourful birds on the bank of the Zambezi river in Mana Pools national park, Zimbabwe
  • Aerial, east view of Zambezi river during sunset. View on african wilderness, mountains and huge river Zambezi from above. Border river. UNESCO Heritage Site, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe.
  • Elephant bulls walking in the Zambezi river in Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe with the mountains of Zambia in the background

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Mana Pools specialists

Walk into remote, roadless wilderness

Discover remote and unspoiled parkland only accessible on foot

Spot wildlife from the water

Set out on a canoe to spot aquatic birds and a variety of larger game

Track elusive animals with an expert guide

An expert tracker will help you spot even the most elusive of animals within the reserve’s woodlands

A word from one of our experts

The pervading wildness and untouched nature of this remote national park make for some truly magical moments when game spotting. Elephants, hippos, crocodiles, zebras and lions are all on the agenda - your guide will point them out to you on a walking safari.

Jacob Maahs Senior Travel Designer

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Mana Pools example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

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Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Luxury Mana Pools National Park safari lodges

There are many incredible places to stay in Mana Pools National Park. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

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When to visit Mana Pools

The best time to visit Mana Pools National Park is the dry season between July and October. The low rainfall at this time of year means vegetation is sparse and wildlife congregates at the limited water sources. These conditions are perfect for incredible safaris and wildlife viewing. Mana Pools National Park closes during the rainy season.

Best time for a walking safari

July–August

Rainy season

November–March

Best time for bird watching

October–March

When Is the Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe travel guides

Plan your trip to Mana Pools National Park

Whatever you want from your adventure in Mana Pools National Park, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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