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, make up 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.

Tours and lodges should be booked in advance and if camping, take sufficient fuel, food and water with you. Alternatively you can take a guided canoe safari down river towards Mozambique, 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.

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