Mana Pools National Park, in the north of Zimbabwe, stretches from Lake Kariba to the border of Mozambique in the east, in the heart of the Zambezi River Valley. A World Heritage Site, Mana Pools is a perennial favourite with visitors and it is not difficult to see why with its rich variety of ecosystems, game and activities and the Zambezi River running its border for the length of the park. The name 'Mana' means four in the local Shona language, and refers to the four large pools that lie inland from the river. They are ox bow lakes that remain from when the Zambezi changed its course and are host to a great variety of wildlife; populations of hippos and crocodiles and large herds of elephant that appear from the thickly vegetated areas in the south to drink. In the dry season Mana Pools holidays are even more special because the game is particularly concentrated and congregates along the river and around these pools.

Mana Pools holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Mana Pools Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

What can you find on a Mana Pools holiday that you won’t find anywhere else?

Mana Pools National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder and coming up close (but not too personal) with hippos, crocodiles, zebras and elephants is pretty much guaranteed. What makes Mana Pools holidays even more spectacular is that this is just about the only animal-filled park in the world that allows visitors to wander around on foot without a guide. With lions and other dangerous animals often making their presence known, we recommend exploring with a private guide and making the most of their knowledge of the Zimbabwean bush and its inhabitants.


Named after the four large pools that lie inland from the Zambezi, Mana Pools’ banks are brimming with all kinds of wildlife that come to congregate and drink. Grab your binos and watch as rare wild dogs pace around the waters’ edge while their pups splash playfully in the shallows. If you want to get even closer to the nature that fills the national park, hop aboard a mokoro (traditional wooden canoe) for a watery safari like no other. Drift past herds of elephants, travelling so quietly that the gentle giants barely realise you’re there, and experience their majesty up close.

Best places to go in Zimbabwe



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