Mana Pools Safaris

Choose from our range of Zimbabwe safari and accommodation establishments. Zimbabwe is unique! Where else in the world can a visitor gaze upon hundreds of species of tropical wildlife, thrill to the experience of white water rafting, scale chilly mountain peaks and savour the history of a people that goes back tens of thousands of years? Although a Zimbabwe safari is a bargain, its definitely not a second rate destination. Travel and accommodation options are top quality, and their unique location affords excellent game viewing and adventure amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery in Africa.

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Zimbabwe Price Guide

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How to get there

Self drive:
Sun Safaris will arrange car rental and directions for you. The roads leading up to Zimbabwe are tarred.

Road transfer:
Sun Safaris can arrange all private road transfers for our guests.

Light aircraft transfer:
We can arrange light aircraft transfers from Johannesburg.

Suggested Itineray's

For first-time visitors planning a trip to Southern Africa can be a challenging task. For most it will be a once in a lifetime experience. We highly recommend that you have a look at our suggested itineraries below. There are various itineraries to choose from and they have been designed bearing important factors in mind like, privacy, first-class camps, a combination of activities, adventure, expert guiding as well as your budget. Guests can choose from comfortable to luxury safaris and our experienced and professional consultants will guide and assist you in tailor-making your safari to suit your requirements. We look forward to assisting you in creating your safari!

View all Suggested Itineraries

Ruckomechi

Ruckomechi camp is situated on the western boundary of Mana Pools National Park in Northeast Zimbabwe. It has a private concession area around the camp. It is the sister camp to Chikwenya and is situated in a large grove of acacia and mahogany trees overlooking the Zambezi River, with a superb view of the Zambian Escarpment. The area is renown for its regular Lion, Elephant and Leopard sightings.

Ruckomechi

Chikwenya

Chikwenya and Mana Pools National Park have to be one of the most beautiful sites for a safari anywhere in Southern Africa. The main focus at Chikwenya is the tranquil Zambezi River, its open floodplain, Chikwenya Island and the wonderful wildlife which lives in Mana Pools.

Chikwenya

Mana Canoe Safari

The Mana Canoe & Walking Trail is an incredible journey through the heart of the best of the Mana Pools area. The camping safari starts close to the western boundary of Mana Pools at Ruckomechi airfield and finishes at Chikwenya airfield. Guests can extend their stay by spending extra nights at Ruckomechi Camp at the start or at Chikwenya Camp at the end of the canoe trail. Departures are every Monday or Thursday from May through to the end of October each year. The canoe trail starts with a flight from Kariba to Ruckomechi.

Mana Canoe Safari

Mana Pools Game Viewing and Seasons

Introduction

There is no greater thrill to be had on a Zimbabwe safari, that in Mana Pools National Park - the wild child of the Zambezi River! This portion of the Zambezi Valley is a true wilderness area with one of the highest dry-season concentrations of animals in Zimbabwe.

Canoeing along the Zambezi is a speciality of the area and is a real ride on the wild side. The river can turn from flat and calm to angry and choppy with a headwind into which you have to steer your small fibreglass canoe. This is more than enough to contend with but when a grumpy territorial male hippo decides you are too close and makes a mock charge which produces something akin to a tidal wave, you really have something to talk about when you get home.

Most of the time it is peaceful and scenically beautiful with distant purple hills of the Zambian escarpment on one side and wooded slopes leading to the interior of the national park on the southern banks. Along the river's edge are wide green flood plains tramped by elephants and buffalo who take little notice as you drift silently by on your two-man canoe.

At the public entrance to this park you are strictly warned that it is offence to take citrus fruits in with you. Elephants have a craving for oranges and will trample your tent or upturn your car just to get to them!

Game Viewing

The Zambezi is a life force supporting great numbers of pink-eared hippos and huge crocodiles that resemble floating logs. Many people come here to fish for fighting tiger fish, large perch, delicious bream and slippery catfish.

The succulent floodplains are sometimes over a mile wide and are constantly grazed by elephants, buffaloes and waterbuck. Many other animals are to be found along this river valley and predators such as lions, leopards, wild dog, hyena and jackal have a good supply of food.

Bird life is wonderful with inquisitive yellow-billed kites swooping down to have a look at you and other raptors and vultures circling high in the thermals. Carmine bee-eaters flit about in a purple blur as they emerge from the sandbank pitted with their nesting holes.

Seasons

Dry Season: June to October - large numbers of animals come to the river to drink and graze along the lush banks during these months. The increasing build up to rain in October creates considerable heat with temperatures over 86°F (30°C).

Rainy Season: it rains intermittently from early November to the end of April and most animals move away from the river towards the escarpment. It is hot and humid with temperatures around 82°F (28°C). Most roads within the park are closed during this period but charter flights operate to two airstrips in the park.