Natureways Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1987)
- Member Of:
- ZTA & SOAZ
- Tour Types:
- Budget & mid-range canoe safaris
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $286 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Holly | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 day canoe safari at Mana Pools
The 3 day canoe safari in Mana Pools was one of the highlights of our 25 day safari trip to Africa. Our guides were outstanding in their knowledge of the river, animals, and ensuring our safety . The ground support staff were also the best, especially cooking our delicious meals over an open fire at breakfast and supper, and packing our food that was taken in the canoe for our lunch. We saw hundreds of hippos in the river plus animals on land while canoeing. The scenery is spectacular with mountains rising up on the Zambia side of the river. Canoeing for 3 days was not hard physically with a mid morning tea and biscuit break , and a lunch break with a siesta! We had no prior canoe experience, although we both love boating, and felt very comfortable at the outset. Enjoying camping is also a plus. The tents and beds were comfortable. The whole experience exceeded our expectations!
Email The Millars | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A different way to experience the magical Zambezi!
Overall our luxurious canoe experience down the Zambezi was brilliant! All the Natureway staff were extremely friendly and helpful and didn't miss a beat with such great attention to detail! We were so impressed with the professionalism and care shown by the guides when we canoed down the Zambezi as we were never put in a dangerous situation and got to truly enjoy the experience peacefully. Also, recognition must go the chef who constantly provided spectacular three course meals, cooking off his small wooden fire only – every meal was top notch! We were also lucky enough to spot a leopard in the middle of the day during our lunch break which just topped off the trip! I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone that enjoys the bush and would like a bit of adventure rowing down the Zambezi! All round a fun and memorable trip with the family!
Email David Swan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
6 day canoe trip on The Zambezi
Brilliant trip. Titch is a superb guide & ably assisted by his protege Manu. Zambezi River kitchen deserves its own cooking show!
NZ
Email Philippa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic, safe, professional, helpful staff and guides. 100% recommendation for Natureways!!
Natureways office staff were very helpful with the booking, connections, and changes. Their guides have safety and giving clients a memorable trip as their top priorities. Natureways actually run their own tours; they are not agents for another company so there is 100% accountability. The canoe trip could not have been more fun and adding a couple of days at Natureways Mana Pools was really worthwhile. It was great to see wildlife from the river: hippo, crocodiles, buffalo, antelope, and even lions! And so much bird life. The guides' knowledge and canoeing skill was great. I completely recommend Natureways.
US
Email Clifford Taylor | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Canoeing Safari Africa seen as it should be !
Have just spent a magical 4 days on the Zambezi river, traveling from Chirundu to Mana Pools. The guides were professional and really new their stuff ! Having lived in Zimbabwe for most of my life it was great to see just how passionate they were about the whole surroundings, as well as making sure we were safe and enjoying the privilege of being in the bush. Evenings were spent with delicious meal and a bottle of wine .... Our guide Takemore pointed out all the constellations, whilst we sucked in the view of the millions of stars, and the night sounds of the wild.
We saw plenty of game on the river and had great photo opportunities.
I would recommend this trip to anyone.
Our only bad moment was the unscrupulous and corrupt members of the Zimbabwe police, demanding bribes from the driver carrying us to and from our destinations. ( Cst. Maseke and Cst. Chauke from Kariba )
NL
Email Anne-Marie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most wonderful safari experience ever!
The communication on forehand was not great. Difficult to book without an tour operator.
When we were there it was more than we had expected. A great staff team took care of us, everything went smoothly. The combination of canoeing and walking is extraordinary, and will spoil you for ever! Seeing the wild live on foot and from the water adds an other dimension and was absolutely wonderful!Despite the awful fact that we have been robbed during our camping , we would recommend thuis to every body ...or rather keep it secret?! The guides were excellent and told and showed us so much, not only about the wildlife but also about the fauna, geology and ecosystems.
NL
Email Jaume | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great adventure!
Everything was perfect! An unforgettable experience! Booking the safari was very easy with the help of Kelly-Anne. The canoe safari was great, lots of explanations from animals, trees about the river etc. All the meals were delicious and we always feel safe with the experienced guides Norman and Manu. It was a real truth african adventure!
CH
Email Regina & Urs Kessler | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
wonderfool place, good accomodations, excellent guides and food
we had a very good time in Mana Pools NP: the camp was situated in a wonderfool place, the games (specially the foot games ) were great, the guides were excellent , we enjoyed our stay and we can recommend it to everybody.
HK
Email Petra | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Mind-blowing experience provided by Natureway Safaris
Having traveled extensively, it becomes more and more difficult to still find the WOW-factor. I also didn't know what to expect when I boarded the plane from Hong Kong to meet my friend from NY in Zimbabwe for what turns out to be an unforgettable, mind blowing adventure.
First stop in Zimbabwe was Victoria Falls to run the marathon there and then we transferred in our own little jet (aka a 4-seater Cessna) to Mana Pools National Park. We were picked up from the airstrip by Natureway's guide Craig and team leader Elijah; the welcome committee at the camp was assisted by a young elephant bull nibbling on tree leaves.
We were blown away by the beauty of nature - the escarpment side by side with the grand Zambezi river, being home and playing ground for manifold and rich wildlife.
Natureway's team provided excellent and very personal, friendly and attentive service, topped by the extreme wealth of knowledge of our two guides Craig and Elijah about the fauna & flora at Mana Pools National Park. I loved every minute of canoeing down the river and being on the educative and exciting walking safaris.
Living in a hectic, fast paced and always connected city, the moments of pure silence on the river and the encounters with wildlife were providing the long missed feeling of being connected to Mother Earth and feeling grounded again.
Simply superb! One of the best holidays in a long time ... I will miss the nightly Hippo symphony, I will miss Mama Africa!
Thank you, Natureways Safari, for providing this experience and for having such a passionate and professional team! You more than exceeded expectations ....!! Keep up the good work.
Great Guides, Great Crew and a Perfect Vacation with Natureways Safaris
My friend and I recently did the Odyssey Safari 6-night Package with Natureways. We canoed with Craig and Elijah for 2 days, and stayed at Camp Zambezi for 3 more days. It was my first time canoeing in long distance and Craig and Elijah made sure that everything was calm and safe for me. They were very attentive and protective. The trip itself was also very educational as I learned so much about wild animals and their behaviors, plants, flowers, birds, trees, soil, and African culture. The four of us chatted every night at dinner about world cultures and exchanged thoughts and points of view. We had an amazing crew and not only did they cook delicious meals every day, they also went out of their way and baked us a cake and got us a bottle of Amarula! The crew was polite, efficient, punctual and effective and under the great leadership of Craig and Elijah. I especially enjoyed our daily walk in the wilderness to track down animals based on their footprints, and getting up close and personal with lions and elephants! The most amazing thing was that the whole trip made me rethink about my role as a human being with nature and animals, and what I can to do to support and protect our ecosystem. This realization couldn't have happened without this amazing educational trip given by Natureways Safari. Thank you guys! You rock!