This UNESCO World Heritag e Site is high on the list of places to visit for many visitors to Zimbabwe, and for good reason. This pristine wilderness boasts some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa, in a beautiful setting, making for some great photographic opportunities. Mana Pools is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River, across from Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, and is part of a vast 1.1 million hectare wildlife conservation area that includes the neighbouring safari areas of Hurungwe, Sapi and Chewore.
Mana Pools is a beautiful park, with Mana (meaning ‘four’ in Shona) referring to the four permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the Zambezi. The Zambezi River and its islands, flanked by forests of mahogany and ebony trees as well as the mountains across the river in Zambia make for picturesque scenery.
All the major predators are found here with Wild Dog sightings a particular highlight. Elephant take advantage of the plentiful albida trees in the area although Giraffe are surprisingly absent from Mana Pools. Large herds of Buffalo can be seen, especially around Chitake Springs, as well as a number of other antelope species including Eland, Sable and Waterbuck.
