In the center of the Zambezi Valley, where the Zambezi River meanders for 300 km until it meets the border with Mozambique, sits Mana Pools National Park. It’s a serene, picturesque location with breathtaking views of the wide river, floodplains, tree canopy, and the Rift Valley escarpment mountains across the border in Zambia.
This section of the Zambezi River is well-known for its four main pools – Main, Chine, Long, and Chisambuk – which are the remains of former river channels that have long since dried up and given the park its name (‘mana’ means ‘four’ in Shona). Additionally, there are smaller seasonal pools scattered farther inland that are always filled with water, attracting a wide variety of animals and ducks during the dry season. Large concentrations of buffalo and elephant can be found along the river’s edges, and cheetahs, leopards, and other predators are frequently spotted.
Wildlife viewing is excellent. The nearby plains are home to greater kudu, Burchell’s zebra, impala, warthogs, and common waterbuck. Throughout the day, one can also hear hippopotamus grunting.
