Mana Pools National Park is Zimbabwe’s most immersive safari destination — a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting a remarkable stretch of the middle Zambezi River valley where ancient river channels have carved a floodplain of permanent pools, oxbow lakes, and albida woodland that becomes one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles every dry season.
The park has three qualities that set it apart from every other safari destination in Zimbabwe: you can walk on foot among the wildlife (with a permit or a guide), you can canoe the Zambezi alongside hippos and elephants, and the concentration of predators — particularly wild dogs and lion — is as high as anywhere in southern Africa. Mana Pools is not the park for visitors who want a vehicle-based drive between viewpoints. It rewards those willing to move slowly on foot or by paddle, close to the ground.
The Pools and Landscape
The name comes from the four major permanent pools left behind by the Zambezi’s previous channels: Long Pool, Chine Pool, Chitake Spring, and Mana Pool itself. These pools hold water year-round and become the focal points for wildlife as the dry season advances. By September and October, elephants, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck, impala, zebra, and bushbuck all converge on the pool margins in enormous numbers.
Above the floodplain, a ridge of Jesse Bush and mopane woodland marks the boundary with the Zambezi Escarpment to the south. The escarpment’s vertical drop creates a visual frame for the river valley that is unlike anything else in Zimbabwe. At camp in the evening, with hippos grunting in the pools and a sky full of stars, Mana Pools produces the sensation of genuine wilderness that many safari destinations only promise.
Walking Safaris
Walking is Mana Pools’ defining experience. The ZPWMA allows visitors to walk on foot in specific areas of the open floodplain with a valid park entry and walking permit. The permit costs approximately USD 10 per person per day from the ZPWMA office at Nyamepi Camp, in addition to the park entry fee of USD 20 per person per day as of 2026.
In practice, most visitors walk with a professional guide rather than independently. The density of dangerous game — particularly elephant and buffalo, which can be encountered at close range — requires steady experience to read correctly. A professional guide transforms the walk from a risk exercise into a masterclass in animal behaviour.
Goliath Safaris is the most celebrated walking safari operator in Mana Pools. Founded by legendary guide John Stevens, Goliath runs both mobile and fixed-camp walking safaris in the park. A guided walking day costs approximately USD 450 per person as of 2026, including all meals, camp accommodation, and specialist guiding. Multi-day walking packages are available. Goliath is consistently booked months in advance for prime season — book before your flights.
African Bush Camps runs Kanga Camp in the hills above the main floodplain, where a permanent waterhole draws lion, leopard, and wild dog. Walking safaris from approximately USD 350 per person per day inclusive as of 2026. The camp’s secluded position in the bush makes it one of the more intimate Mana options.
Canoeing the Zambezi
Paddling the Zambezi through Mana Pools is the park’s second iconic experience. Multi-day canoe safaris cover the stretch from Chirundu to Mana Pools or continue downstream from the park — a journey taken by increasing numbers of visitors looking for true wilderness travel.
Goliath Safaris also offers guided canoe safaris from approximately USD 200 per person per day as of 2026 for a fully supported trip with a cook, guide, and riverside camping equipment. Self-sufficient paddlers can rent Canadian canoes from ZPWMA at Nyamepi Camp for approximately USD 50–70 per day as of 2026. ZPWMA rental includes paddles and basic safety equipment but no guiding.
The river runs through territory with hippo, crocodile, elephant, and buffalo on the banks. Novice paddlers should hire a guide. Hippos are territorial and will capsise canoes that approach them directly — staying out of channels where hippos are surfacing is the primary safety rule.
Vundu Camp (independently operated) offers guided day paddles from its Zambezi camp as part of its all-inclusive package, from approximately USD 380 per person per night as of 2026 fully inclusive.
Wild Dogs and Predators
Mana Pools holds one of Africa’s most stable wild dog populations. Packs of 10–25 animals den in the park from July to October and are regularly seen on the open floodplain during their morning hunts. Wild dog encounters in Mana are different from vehicle-based sightings elsewhere — guides on foot can follow a hunt, moving through the bush with the pack, which produces an experience impossible to replicate from a vehicle.
Lion, leopard, and cheetah are also present. A pride of lion that has habituated to the presence of walking safaris near Long Pool is one of the most-photographed in Zimbabwe, and the lions here have learned to ignore quietly approaching humans on foot — an extraordinary situation.
Book a Zimbabwe Safari on GetYourGuide
Mana Pools walking safari camps are specialist operations booked directly — they are not currently listed on GetYourGuide. For GYG-bookable guided safari options that pair well with a Mana Pools itinerary, the Hwange safaris below depart from Victoria Falls and cover Zimbabwe’s Big Five territory.
| Tour | Duration | From (USD) | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hwange Full Day Safari from Victoria Falls | 8–10 hrs | $180 | Book |
| Hwange National Park Private Wildlife Safari | 12 hrs | $240 | Book |
| 2-Day Hwange National Park Safari from Victoria Falls | 2 days | $350 | Book |
| Browse All Zimbabwe Tours | Various | various | Browse |
Entry Fees and Permits
- Park entry fee: approximately USD 20 per person per day as of 2026
- Vehicle fee: approximately USD 5
- Unguided walking permit: approximately USD 10 per person per day (in addition to entry)
- Canoe rental: approximately USD 50–70 per day per canoe (self-guided)
- Gates and ZPWMA offices: open from 6am
The Nyamepi Camp ZPWMA office processes entry, camping fees, walking permits, and canoe rentals on-site. Carry US dollars in cash — credit card facilities are unreliable in the park.
Where to Stay
Budget camping at Nyamepi Camp (ZPWMA) costs from approximately USD 15–20 per person per night as of 2026. The camp has basic ablution blocks, a small store, and a waterhole frequented by elephant.
For private camps, browse Mana Pools accommodation on Booking.com or see our dedicated where to stay in Mana Pools guide for options across all price ranges.
For those planning a multi-park Zimbabwe itinerary, Mana Pools pairs naturally with Hwange National Park for a complete Big Five and walking safari combination, and many visitors add both parks to a single trip starting from Harare.