Zimbabwe, Mana Pools
Zambezi shoreline | Price on request
Mana Pools and Chitake Springs canoeing and walking – up to 10 guests
These are canoeing and walking trails in their purest form, through a variety of habitats, in a spectacular wilderness area running along the southern bank of the Zambezi River in northern Zimbabwe.
Mana Pools and Chitake Springs are particularly atmospheric places, from the parkland feel of browsed Albida Acacia on the floodplain, the mighty Zambezi on one side and the blue hills of Zambia on the other, to the intensity of Chitake Springs on the Mana Pools escarpment. They all offer great diversity and it is no wonder that there is a deep sense of safari history here with some of the greatest names in guiding calling Mana their home.
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Being able to walk with a highly trained and proficient Professional Guide amongst some of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife is a privilege all safari enthusiasts should experience. Being on one’s own feet in the African veld is the ultimate way to experience wildlife and nature. The proximity to so many animals is the most intimate way to understand natural ecosystems and one of the most rewarding ways of photographing the animals you encounter.
Canoeing on a very wide river with many hippo, crocodile and various other large mammals is not possible virtually anywhere else. Birding is excellent, the water is clean and the guiding quality exceptional. Safety is critical, and with strong logistical back-up this becomes an excellent way of experiencing the Zambezi River.
The degree of exertion can be tailored to your needs: walk from Chitake Springs to the river carrying your own bedding and food, or enjoy a more leisurely experience of walking from mobile camp to mobile camp along the floodplain next to the river.
Mana Pools National Park on the banks of the Lower Zambezi must qualify as one of Africa’s most beautiful parks. The shaded pools, carpeted in hyacinth and lilies, attract game to drink throughout the day. Shy bushbuck, kudu, eland, impala, and elephant all take their turn, while buffalo and waterbuck make their way to the sandy banks of the Zambezi. Elephant wander through the tented camps overlooking the river as they forage for acacia pods.
Walking is the purest form of safari and this mini-expedition reflects a tradition stretching back to the early twentieth century, when pleasures were simple and time was luxurious. Camps are set up in remote locations, far from tourism’s well-trodden path, with comfortable tents, warm showers and al fresco dining under the stars.
The intimate wildlife encounter gained from being on foot is like no other, making for an experience of memorable intensity—one you are able to fully enjoy thanks to expert bushcraft and guiding skills.
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