Photos

MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK

Mana means ‘four’, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. These 2,500 square kilometres of river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs, is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa. It was saved from a hydro-electric scheme in the early eighties which would have seen the flooding of this subsequent World Heritage site. It has the country’s biggest concentration of hippo and crocodiles and large dry season mammal populations of elephant and buffalo. Sadly, what was once the densest population of endangered black rhino in the world is being denuded by poaching despite manned ground patrols. The park is only open to cars during the dry season months of May to October. Rainy season access is by boat or foot. Alternatively you can take a guided canoe safari down river towards Mocambique, which is a real African adventure where you have to dodge territorial hippos and camp on sandbanks that are visited by elephants at night. This really is as wild a place as you will find in Zimbabwe

We came accross a herd of buffalo having a mud bath in the river. An awesome site it was being surrounded by these dangerous yet majestic animals.