UNESCO · WALKING WILDERNESS
Africa's most cinematic floodplain — UNESCO-listed, walking-permitted, and home to the most photographed elephant herd on the continent.
Why Mana Pools
Mana Pools is what people who have done every other safari come back to. UNESCO World Heritage. Lower Zambezi floodplain. Walking permitted, canoeing permitted, and a mature forest of ana trees that produces the most cinematic light in Africa.
The elephants here have learned to stand on their hind legs to reach the ana-tree pods — a behaviour photographed nowhere else on Earth. The lions are exceptional. The painted dogs are studied here by Hwange researchers.
This is not a starter safari. Most people who come to Mana Pools have already done their first African trip. They come because the standard package isn't enough anymore.
“Mana Pools is what you graduate to. Walking, canoeing, no fences, no railings, no commentary. Just you and the floodplain.”
— Josh Elliott · Founder · Fifth-generation ZimbabweanAt a glance
Area
2,196 km² · UNESCO Site
Best Time
May to October
Wildlife
Big Five · Wild Dog · Bat-eared fox
Stay
5–6 luxury camps
Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Site
From
$850
pp / night
Highlights
Mana is one of the few African parks where walking is the primary activity, not an add-on. Bull elephants standing on hind legs, lion at twenty metres.
Three-day downstream canoe trail with mobile camps. Hippo pods, elephant crossing, fish eagles overhead. The classic Africa adventure.
Mature winter-thorn ana-trees produce the most photographed light in Africa. May-September: sun through dust at golden hour, no edit needed.
One of Africa's healthiest wild-dog populations. June–September dawn drives are when the dens are most active.
Gallery
Experiences
Remote wilderness. Intimate encounters. A low-impact journey through Zimbabwe’s most pristine park.
Ten days across Zimbabwe's four great wilderness areas — Mana Pools, Hwange, Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls. Charter flights…
Six days in Zimbabwe's wildest corner — canoe, walk, and float
Fourteen days — the ultimate journey through every corner of Zimbabwe
Six days on foot — Hwange, Matobo, and Mana Pools
Three days paddling the Lower Zambezi — camping on islands
On the map
We've been on safari twenty times. Mana is the best three days we've ever had on the continent — full stop.
Henry & Caroline · UK · 7-night Mana + Hwange, July 2025
When to travel
JAN
○FEB
○MAR
○APR
○MAY
○JUN
○JUL
○AUG
○SEP
○OCT
○NOV
○DEC
○May–October — open. Walking, canoeing, photography all peak.
December–April — closed (most of the park is flooded; access roads underwater).
The famous "dust-light" of Mana Pools is from late August through October.
Combine with
Conservation
Mana is managed by Zimbabwe Parks with significant private-sector partnership. Visitor fees fund anti-poaching, ranger patrols, and the ongoing painted-dog research programme.
Several camps are eco-certified (no diesel, solar power, water harvesting). The Mana Pools Wild Dog Project is one of the longest-running research programmes in Africa.
Practical
Charter flight to Mana airstrip from Harare (50 min) or Vic Falls (1.5h). Some travellers drive in (Marongora gate, 4 hours from Harare).
Currency: USD only — no card facilities at most camps.
Connectivity: Limited or none — most camps are deliberately offline. Satellite messengers possible.
Malaria: Yes — prophylaxis essential year-round. Mana is a hot zone.
Yellow fever: Not required.
Vaccinations: Routine + ensure tetanus current.
Khaki / neutral. Walking shoes — closed and broken-in. Wide-brim hat. Long sleeves. Insect repellent. Refillable water bottle.
Speak to a specialist
I plan every Zim Travellers itinerary myself. Tell me what you'd want from a few days here and I'll write you a route — no template, no aggregator, no commission desk.
"I answer every email here personally — within 24 hours."
Frequently Asked
Reasonably fit. Walking is gentle pace, 2-4 hour walks on flat ground. The canoeing is paddled by guides if you don't want to.
When you walk with a Mana-licensed guide, yes. Mana guides are the most highly-qualified in Zimbabwe — minimum 5 years training, weapons-certified.
Three. Two is too short for the journey. Four to five lets you do walking + canoeing + scenic drives.
Most Mana camps have minimum age 12 or 14. The walking and canoeing requires the child to follow guide instructions absolutely.
It's the best park for walking + photography, yes. For pure Big-Five game viewing, Hwange. Most experienced safari travellers want both.
