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
Email David | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A well managed trip with experienced and personable guides who looked after our requirements.
I have few criticisms of the canoe safari as it lived up to expectations. However I would recommend that guides have laminated sheets of pictures of animals and birds with some basic information. Also it was not clear in communication what the cost of park entry was.
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.
Email Phil Youdale | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
an amazing canoe safari along the Zambezi
My wife and I joined Natureways Safaris for their 3 day Canoe Safari along the Zambezi in mid-June. There was one other person on our tour - along with our two guides, Mark and Takesure, we were an intimate group of 5.
First stop after pick up at Mana Pools Park HQ was the campsite for the first night where we were provided with a light lunch and some initial instruction, then off to the starting point further upstream for the first day of canoeing. Final instructions and safety briefing and then into it! My wife and I were in one canoe, Michelle (the other "tourist" and Mark in the "lead" canoe, and Takesure brought up the rear with the non-paddling "Sally" (the Esky - or cooler box).
Both our guides were clearly very experienced, and safety (particularly around the hippos and crocs) was paramount. Both had a good sense and were pretty much able to second guess the movements of the hippos (on most occasions). They were both very enthusiastic about their job and it was easy to see that they enjoyed what they were doing.
Mark is a guide with many years experience - his knowledge of the birds and animals could not be faulted. He was continually pointing out the various birds we encountered along the way, and the many animals on the river banks. On the many land based walks we undertook, he we also knowledgeable about the animals we were encountering along the way. One of the memories we have taken away is the joint effort of Mark and Takesure tracking a male lion through the bush on our final morning of the trip. While somewhat younger than Mark, Takesure has a big future in front of him - he is a fully qualified canoe guide, and is very close to completing his final exams to enable him to lead walking tours.
The camp sites were well run by the camp manager - each evening we would arrive at a fully functioning camp - camp fire burning, tents were up and our bags already waiting for us, the kitchen area was already humming with the preparation of food, the shower was ready (just call for the water) and the long drop loo was set up waiting for use. Meals were great - amazing what the cooks were able to put together each day - not only for dinner, but also our lunches and breakfasts.
Note that this is not a luxury camping trip - the camp accommodation is basic, although you do have a camp stretcher to sleep on. The camp as clean as you would expect for something which is set up each day on the river bank.
The canoe safari can really be undertaken by any person who is capable of paddling a canoe. We certainly did not find the trip onerous - my wife had never previously paddled a canoe (to any extent) and she had no problems at all - the pace is set to allow you to get from start to finish each day, and still be able to enjoy the trip, the scenery, and to have to have some fun. We made one or more extended trips into the bush on foot each day - sometimes for 2 hours or more - in search of wildlife. All were interesting, and Mark always checked to make sure that we were comfortable doing the walk before proceeding. If we were close to animals, he would always check to be sure that we were comfortable with our proximity to those animals.
We would highly recommend the canoe safari to anyone wishing to do something just a little bit different to the average safari in Africa - we loved it! At no time did we feel unsafe. Maybe next time we could try the longer 10 day safari and really test our ability.
US
Email CJ | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic trip!
I loved everything about this trip . The company is great to work with, very very helpful. The trip itself was fantastic. I would have liked to continue on for several more days. The trip I took was 4 days, 3 nights--from Chirundu to Mana Pools. The scenery was beautiful and we saw lots of wildlife--mostly hippos, but also crocodiles, elephants and a wide variety of birds. The nights spent camping on islands were wonderful. Tons of stars overhead. The tents and sleeping gear were very comfortable and the food was great. The guides were terrific as well--very knowledgeable and personable. I would highly recommend this trip! The paddling was not strenuous and it's a remarkable way to experience a very beautiful part of Zimbabwe.