Mana Pools Reviews – Page 3 – Reviews 21-23 of 23

Nico Roets Visited: October 2010 Reviewed: Aug 16, 2011

Magical Mana

Overall rating

5/5

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Bush Vibe:

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Mana Pools is my favourite wildlife park in Africa. It is one of the few places in Southern Africa where one can still experience the 'old' Africa. The setting next to the mighty Zambezi is spectacular. The daily visit by elephant and Cape buffalo in camp and by predators at night is unrivalled. The bird life is varied and birding is excellent.

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Kwali Visited: May 1999 Reviewed: Jul 6, 2011

Great Wild Experience

Overall rating

5/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

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I visited Mana Pools in 1999 and Loved it! It was my last trip before leaving Zimbabwe after spending a semester there over the previous 4 months. When I was there it was the only national park in Zimbabwe that A) had big game, and B) allowed you to move around on foot. I did not feel comfortable walking around the bush though, a decision I stand by with all the wildlife I saw!

My first experience there was a close encounter with a baboon as I unloaded my groceries from my vehicle - the baboon grabbed a bag and took off! I was warned by travelers in the adjacent campsite that it is important to bring "zip straps" to "lock" your tent zippers so baboons can't steal your gear and food while you're away from your site.

I also saw an elephant walk through the camp ground, hyenas outside our tent at night, and later, while driving, had a beautiful view of a mother and baby elephant walking together across the road.

Overall it was one of the most exciting camping trips I have ever been on (the fact that I slept in a tent, while most visitors used campers/RVs/caravans, surely added to the adrenaline rush). And I am making that assessment after visiting Hwange, Gonarezhou, Malilangwe (private game reserve), Chimanimani, Matopos, Vic Falls, and other sites around the country.

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oceansteward –

US

Visited: September 2010 Reviewed: Jul 3, 2011

Email oceansteward | 65+ years of age

Canoeing the Zambezi - amazing.

Overall rating

4/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

Flying into Mana Pools we got picked up by our guides Doug and Taps. We were soon in for our first big surprise walking on foot for about an hour down towards the Zambezi. Walking was not only great exercise but gives you an added understanding and appreciation for the landscape and wildlife.
We were surprised the following day that we were not scheduled to canoe that day as indicated in our itinerary and we were also a bit surprised that another couple joined us. We thought we had a private guide and vehicle. But it was a great day of walks and wildlife. We saw African hunting dogs and lots of cape buffalo.
The following morning we again didn't set out on the river instead going for a game drive and long walk. On the walk we saw several lions including a lioness and cubs. We kept walking to where the lions had come from and found a recent eland kill.
In late morning we set out on the Zambezi in our canoes. We had to work a little harder than expected because the wind was blowing against us and the river was quite shallow. Many times the guides and we had to get out of the canoes and push through the shallow areas.
Canoeing past hundreds of hippos and seeing the wildlife including crocodiles, elephant and amazing birds on the banks was stunning. We stopped at a nice spot for lunch on the river and canoed all afternoon arriving at our mobile tents right at sunset.
The following morning we were on the river around 8am and canoed all day stopping for lunch and to view hundreds of vultures coming in to feast on a dead hippo. Again we wound up at our mobile camp right at sunset.
The mobile camps were amazing - terrific staff and food. Sleeping on the banks of the Zambezi after all day canoeing was wonderful.
Our private guide Doug and our river guide Taps were both terrific - full of great stories. They both made our time there extraordinary.
While we had a terrific time at Mana Pools with great guides if would have been much better for us had we stuck to the plan in the itinerary? We would have liked spending our final day in a game drive and wound up in Vundu Camp the final night. We would have gotten a little more comfortable sleep before heading home (which took 43 hours door to door!). The itinerary called for 15 miles of canoeing with morning and afternoon walks and bird watching with a vehicle available. This was not the case. We canoed all day and covered twice the mileage indicated in the itinerary. This was our only disappointment the entire trip. The canoeing was wonderful but we would have liked much less time on the river each day and more time out walking or in the vehicle to break up the paddling.
Flying home - Towanda (spelling?) was our Sefofane pilot from Mana Pools back to Victoria Falls. He was by far the best we had. We flew into Caribe to refuel and Sona asked if we would see the dam after takeoff. He flew out of the way a bit and banked the plane so we could get some pictures. Then he told us if there was time and he got permission he would fly us over Victoria Falls before landing which he did. What a treat and what a wonderful guy.