Mana Pools is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and arguably Africa's finest walking safari destination. The dramatic Zambezi floodplains create extraordinary landscapes where you can walk among elephants and witness wild dogs hunting.
Mana Pools is where walking safari reaches its purest expression. This UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Zambezi River permits what few African parks allow: walking freely among elephants, approaching predators on foot, and experiencing the bush as our ancestors did�alert, vulnerable, alive.
World-class walking safaris
The Zambezi floodplain creates a landscape of ethereal beauty. Ancient mahogany and acacia albida trees provide shade and sustenance for wildlife, while ox-bow lagoons (the mana or pools that give the park its name) attract concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. Elephants stretch onto hind legs to reach the highest albida pods�behavior seen almost nowhere else.
Wild dogs have made Mana Pools famous among serious safari enthusiasts. During denning season, packs raise pups in the floodplain, and guides can predict their movements with remarkable accuracy. Watching a pack return from a hunt, greeting pups with regurgitated meat and joyful reunions, ranks among Africa's most moving wildlife experiences.
Camps in Mana Pools range from simple mobile camps to elegant lodges, but all emphasize the walking experience. Canoeing along the Zambezi adds another dimension, with hippos surfacing alongside your craft and elephants wading across channels. This is Africa at its most immersive and authentic.
Why Visit
Highlights of Mana Pools National Park
World-class walking safaris
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Canoe safaris
Walking with elephants
Wild dog denning site
