Mana Pools National Park Travel Guide

Given the remote location you’ll enjoy all your meals in and around your chosen safari lodge. But expect a few wild dining experiences, as chefs lay on breakfast in the bush, picnic lunches on the banks of the Zambezi, or dinner beneath star-spangled skies. 

A regular highlight is the boma dinner, enjoyed in the traditional outdoor enclosure close to the lodge. Here chefs light the barbecue and stoke the campfires to cook up a flame-grilled feast of meats, salads and African-inspired dishes. 

Most dietary preferences and requirements can be catered for, though advance notice is advisable.

Your days here will be filled with time outdoors, so pack accordingly. Light cotton clothing in neutral colours is best for safari activities. Avoid black and blue clothing, which may attract tsetse flies. Aim to dress in layers: winter mornings can be cold, so bring a thermal fleece and windbreaker. Comfortable walking shoes are also recommended, and if you plan on joining kayak safaris pack a pair of sturdy aqua-shoes. With those hours spent in the sun, a wide-brimmed hat and high-factor sunscreen is essential. 

Most lodges will offer a small ‘safari boutique’ selling souvenirs, clothing and personal basics, but remember your camera, memory cards and specific charging cables. 

Due to the remote nature of lodges in Mana Pools, ensure you have sufficient supply of prescription medication before departure.

The dry months of winter (May-September) are the best time to visit Mana Pools National Park. Mild temperatures and clear skies make game viewing more pleasant, the vegetation thins out to make spotting easier, and animals are drawn to the banks of the Zambezi River and permanent waterholes. 

October and November can be extremely hot, and many lodges will close during the rainy summer months from December to March/April, as roads become impassable.

Malaria is prevalent throughout Mana Pools National Park. Though the risk is lower during the dry winter months, anti-malarial prophylactics are recommended year-round. Consult your travel doctor at least three weeks before departure.

Mana Pools National Park occupies the far northern tip of Zimbabwe, directly across the Zambezi River from Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park and roughly 120 kilometres downstream from Lake Kariba. Get your bearings with our handy safari maps…

While it is possible to drive to Mana Pools National Park, the journey is long and tiring, and requires a 4×4 vehicle. We recommend that travellers book a light aircraft charter from Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), which offers direct scheduled services to international hubs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. 

From Victoria Falls, flying time to Mana Pools is roughly two hours. Flights from other regional destinations can also be arranged.