Safaris in Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe
Safaris in Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe
Mana Pools is a wildlife conservation area in northern Zimbabwe constituting a National Park. It is a region of the lower Zambezi River in Zimbabwe where the flood plain turns into a broad expanse of lakes after each rainy season. As the lakes gradually dry up and recede, the region attracts many large animals in search of water, making it one of Africa's most renowned game-viewing regions.
Mana Pools National Park was established in 1963. It lies along Zimbabwe's northern border on the banks of the Zambezi River, downstream and northeast of Lake Kariba. The area is rich in wildlife and comprises 2,190 square kilometres. The Park was inscribed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a World Heritage Site in 1984. Mana Pools is ranked as one of Africa's outstanding wildlife reserves and during the winter months it has the highest concentration of game in the entire continent. Huge herds of Elephant and Buffalo are drawn to the sweet Zambezi waters, followed by Lion, Hyena, Kudu, Nyala, Impala and a multitude of game.
Mana means four', in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. Here the Zambezi River has left behind the remains of old channels forming small seasonal pools reaching inland for miles. These small ponds and pools such as Chine Pools and Long Pool were formed as the river's course slowly drifted northward. Reeds, sandbanks, and huge Mahogany and Acacia trees near the river give way to Ebonies and Baobabs and finally to dense Mopane woodland to the park's southern boundary along the Zambezi Escarpment.
Mana Pools 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.
Wildlife commonly seen in the park include Elephant, Buffalo, Waterbuck, Kudu, Zebra, Eland, Impala, Bushbuck, Lion and Crocodile. Huge pods of Hippo can be seen lying on the sandbanks soaking up morning sun along the Zambezi River. Also often seen are Wild Dog, Leopard, Jackal, Hyena and the rare Nyala. Birding is also fantastic, with large varieties of woodland and water birds present.
Mana Pools is also one of Zimbabwe's best locations for walking safaris and ranks with the South Luangwa (in Zambia) and Botswana's Selinda area as one of the best in Southern Africa. Mana Pools is the only game park in Zimbabwe harbouring carnivores and the larger mammals in which visitors are allowed to walk unaccompanied by guides - a holdover from colonial times. The eastern part of Mana Pools has been designated a wilderness area in which only walking and canoeing along its shores are allowed. There are no roads or other signs of man.
Best Time to visit:
The best time to visit the park for wildlife viewing is at the end of the dry season (August-October) when large numbers of Elephant, Buffalo, Waterbuck and Impala come to the river to drink and graze along its banks. Game viewing is also very good in June and July. During the rainy season, much of the game moves off away from the river towards the escarpment.
Zimbabwe safaris offer you entertainment, relaxation, sport and adventure. The major airlines operating to Zimbabwe is Air Zimbabwe, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airways. The Air Zimbabwe is the only direct flights to Zimbabwe. You can book your cheap flights to Zimbabwe at reasonable price with cheapzimbabweflights.com. You can always call our reservation experts on 0207 993 6219 for arrangingcheap flights to Harare, Bulawayo & Victoria Falls. We can arrange cheap lodges & hotels in Victoria Falls & Kariba Town mainly Carribea Bay, The Cutty Sark, and the Zambezi Valley Motel in Nyamhunga.
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