Description
Lower Zambezi and Mana Pools – 10 Days
Zambia and Zimbabwe
Lower Zambezi National Park is in southern Zambia, on the Zimbabwean border. The Zambezi River valley teems with large game, including buffalo and elephants, while hippos and crocodiles wallow in the river. In the east, the river passes the striking red cliffs of Mupata Gorge, with its fish-filled waters. North is a steep and rugged escarpment. You will experience the region’s wild beauty on game drives, while sunset boat cruises reveal the river’s resident wildlife.
Morning and afternoon game drives, walking safaris, canoes and sunset boat trips on the Zambezi River all ensure your wildlife viewing is nothing short of spectacular. Your accommodation looks out over the river into Zimbabwe and the Mana Pools World Heritage Site. This area is one of the top five safari destinations in the world and home to an incredible diversity of animals.
Mana Pools
It is no wonder Mana Pools is one of Zimbabwe’s top safari destinations – its dramatic beauty and rich game make it an unforgettable place. There is high wildlife visibility beside the river and in the flood plains. Large populations of elephants gather regularly at sunrise at the reserve’s waterhole, while lions are also drawn to the prey that comes to drink there.
Mana Pools is a World Heritage Site, a RAMSAR site and an Important Birding Area. This is the opportunity to experience the incredulous scenery and game of the Zambezi Valley and its wildlife. The focus of the tour is wildlife sightings, interactions and the pure enjoyment of this pristine area of Zimbabwe.
Your accommodation is rustic yet comfortable and the itinerary ensures we have ample opportunity to visit the different habitats.
Read our country information on Zambia and Zimbabwe to answer your questions.
If you are looking for an adventure into Kafue National Park then explore our ten day and fourteen day Kafue safari’s.
For further reading on Mana Pools visit the UNESCO site.
If luxury is more your style of travel then look at the Wild Waters Package. Also explore our 14 day Mana Pools Safari.
Getting There
Fly In
You can fly directly into Lusaka with either Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways or South African Airways.
On arrival in Lusaka a driver/guide will be waiting for you in arrivals, he will have a small board bearing your name.
Contact Us for travel advice.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive Lusaka
On arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport you will be met and driven to your guest house for the evening. If you arrive in Lusaka in the morning there will be time to visit the Lilayi Elephant Orphanage. Pierre will meet you at the airport and ensure you are comfortable for the evening. (D)
Day 2 – Lusaka to Mvuu Lodge
The team will collect you from Zebra Guest House, we will have packed the vehicles with food and fuel. A half days drive from Lusaka lies our campsite for the night. Nestled in the trees on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. We will spend the afternoon relaxing on the water’s edge game viewing from the comfort of a deck chair. (BLD)
Day 3 & 4 – Mvuu Lodge
For the next 2 days we will spend time discovering the magic of this game rich safari destination. We will be doing game drives into Lower Zambezi National Park (no camping is allowed in the park itself), birding tours by some of the experienced guides, canoeing, fishing and of course the obligatory African sunset cruise. Three game drives, 2 sunset cruises & a birding tour are inclusive of your tour cost. Relax and unwind, watch the elephants drift by, listen to the hyena whoop at night and soak up the serenity! (BLD)
Day 5 – Mucheni Camp in Mana Pools
With an early start we will depart Mvuu Lodge and drive for 3 hours to the small town of Chirundu where we will fuel up & purchase groceries. Crossing the Zambezi River into Zimbabwe there is a half days drive to our next campsite set on the banks of the river where we will be camping in the heart of this RAMSAR site. It’s an IBA (Important Birding Area), a World Heritage Site and is listed as one of the top 3 safari destinations in Africa. We will visit the park offices to get our entry permits and then drive to Mana Pools National Park gate. We will have exclusive use of the campsites we have booked ensuring you get an unsurpassed experience. (BLD)
Day 6 & 7 – Mucheni Camp
Mana Pools is WILD!!! There are no fences whatsoever at any of the camp sites, so, no matter the time of day we will have to be vigilant of animals passing through the campsites. We have booked exclusive use of the campsites giving you a fantastically unique experience to this incredible wildlife paradise. At night it is inadvisable to leave your tent or wander about. A strong LED torch is very necessary.
Don’t forget your binoculars. You must have, or purchase, a good set as besides the wildlife there is fantastic bird watching and the view over the river is vast making binoculars a very important piece of equipment for this tour.
During the drier seasons there is very little water around, so all the wildlife must come down to the river for sustenance. This is precisely why we only run these tours during the best game viewing season of October and November. It may be hot, but this makes for a real bucket list experience! (BLD)
Day 8 to 10 – Ndungu Camp
Today we will move to a new campsite and a new perspective. Situated a fair distance to the West this is the furthest campsite in Mana Pools and once again we will have exclusive use of the area for the 3 days that we will camp here.
We Will do game drives each day in the many loops that surround the campsite and into the deeper parts of the park. (BLD)
Day 11 – Mana Pools to Lusaka
After a leisurely start to the day we will break camp and exit the park. We will cross the border back into Zambia at the same point & continue on to Lusaka city. We will arrive in Lusaka mid afternoon and check into the same guest house as on your first night in Lusaka. (BLD)
BLD – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
