Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park: History & Culture

Discover Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park sits on the lower Zambezi in northern Zimbabwe, on the border with Zambia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar wetland. Expert Africa calls walking safaris the park’s standout feature. Guides there approach elephant, lion and wild dogs at close range. This guide covers what the park is, what to do, when to go and how to get there.

Mana Pools at a glance

• Country: Zimbabwe
• Location: the lower Zambezi, on the Zambia border. The park’s centre is at about 15°45′S 29°20′E (decimal: -15.75, 29.333).
• Size: 2,196 km² for the park. The UNESCO site, which also takes in the Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas, covers 6,766 km².
• Best time to visit: the dry season, roughly May to October. August and September are best for wildlife.
• Known for: walking safaris, Zambezi canoeing, large bull elephants, wild dogs and the floodplain pools.

Why the park is called Mana Pools

“Mana” means “four” in Shona. The name refers to the four large permanent pools left behind by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. After each rainy season the floodplain becomes a broad expanse of lakes.

UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar wetland

Mana Pools was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The listing covers the park together with the Sapi Safari Area (1,180 km²) and the Chewore Safari Area (3,390 km²), 6,766 km² in total. Its outstanding universal value rests on the geomorphology and land-forming processes of the valley and on the miombo woodland ecosystem. The park was designated a Ramsar wetland on 3 May 2013.

The park has also seen conservation losses. Black rhino numbered about 500 at inscription and fell to about 10 by 1994 through poaching, and the survivors were relocated. Rhino and giraffe are absent from the park today. Wikipedia reports that in April 2023 oil and gas exploration permits were filed for areas adjacent to the park, which is a conservation concern.

Top things to do in Mana Pools

Walking safaris

Expert Africa describes walking as the park’s standout feature, with guides approaching elephant, lion and wild dogs at close range. Self-drive visitors can also walk, but should check the current ZimParks rules first.

Canoeing the Zambezi

Canoe trips run as half-day, full-day and multi-day outings, with riverbank camping on the longer ones. Motorboats are prohibited in the park proper.

Game drives and fishing

• Game drives in 4WD vehicles.
• Catch-and-release fishing, offered from most camps according to Expert Africa.
• Birdwatching. Sources put the park’s bird list at more than 350 species.

Wildlife you can expect

The park is known for its large bull elephants, and Expert Africa describes a strong wild dog population. Other wildlife includes hippo, crocodile, zebra, buffalo, lion, cheetah and Cape wild dog. The scenery combines the Zambezi floodplain, the four pools and riverine woodland.

Getting to Mana Pools

The park is very remote. Expert Africa runs all its trips as fly-in, by light aircraft from Victoria Falls, Hwange or Harare. It cites the Zambezi escarpment terrain, poor roads and the park’s isolation. Other operators say a 7–8 hour 4×4 drive from Harare is possible, and that many visitors fly to a park airstrip from Kariba.

The park floods in the rains and the roads become impassable. Expert Africa notes sticky black-cotton soil. The park largely closes in the rainy season.

Visitors who drive themselves need a ZimParks booking and permit. The permit is collected at Marongora, the Parks office about 5 km south of the entrance gate.

Where to stay in Mana Pools

Expert Africa says more than 15 camps operate in the park. They range from small bushcamps overlooking the Zambezi to luxury tented camps. Check each camp’s current details before you book.

Nyamepi Camp is the park’s only communal campsite and the heart of self-drive Mana. Sites are prepaid through ZimParks central reservations rather than at the gate, and only four pitches can be booked on site.

When to visit

The dry season, roughly May to October, is the main window. August and September are best for wildlife but carry peak rates. April and November are shoulder months with unpredictable conditions.

Planning notes for the Lower Zambezi

Mana Pools works as a hub for the wider Lower Zambezi. Nearby areas include the Zambezi Valley, Chewore and Sapi, Kariba, and Chirundu on the Zambia side. Confirm access, permits and current park rules with ZimParks before you travel.

Photo: Babakathy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.