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
DE
Email Joerg + Silvio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Africa at its best - encounters with Mother Nature at eye-level
The 6-day-canoe-safari with Natureways was one of the best - if not THE best - African experience we´ve ever had. From start to end it was the perfect trip.
Beginning with the super friendly and highly responsive reservation manager Kelly-Anne during planning and booking it continued throughout the journey with the professional and reliable organization, the experienced friendly and knowledgable guides Norman, Manu and Trust and also includes the variety of meals and catering - our expecations were exceeded each day.
Paddeling down the crystal clear Zambesi waters one finds himself or herself surrounded by great landscapes and wildlife. During the numerous encounters with Hippos, Crocs, Elephants and also at night in our little tent we always felt safe and secure.
Being so close to nature, looking at an unspoiled starry sky and jumping into the refreshing clear Zambesi water is just an unforgettable experience!
Email Philip | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
two of us with private guide and vehicle for photography at Mana Pools
Camp facilities as expected, camp staff all excellant as was food and drink. Guides super knowledgeable and drives/walks very good with some adrelin fixes thrown in. As a photographer the only grouse I have is the vehicles used have a large cab on the front, (normally customised and removed). This prevents photo opportunities over the heads of the guide /driver and also inhibits ineraction with guide/driver as communication is through a "window". Having said that it didn't really affect us as we were "only two" and had plenty of room. I wouldn't want to be sitting on the front seats on a full vehicle as undoubtedly your view would be inhibited. Still, had a brilliant time and Mana Pools is a must................will go again and Naturways if I'm sure of the vehicle utilisation.
Email Andy Saunders | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unique safari experience, without the dust and noise
Very safe guides, excellent catering, wonderful sights and animals. Have been on two other Zambezi canoe safaris, they are always good and the best way of getting close to animals without disturbing them.
Pleasantly surprised to see ice-cold drinks still possible after 4 days!
CH
Email Scott | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Fantastic experience with Natureways
My friends and I just completed the Mana Shoreline trip. To say everything was fantastic is an understatement it was an absolutely amazing experience. The staff were polite and well mannered and looked after us as if we were in a 5 star hotel. The guides Andy and Takesure were extremely professional and looked after us on and off the river and ensuring that we had the full wildlife experience whilst being completely safe. Highly recommend Natureways as a tour company and operator for anyone wishing to explore Zimbabwe.
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!
PG
Email Fiona Speedy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our experience was excellent; the guides; meals & accommodation; care & attention; very professional
Having never been on a Safari before we didn't know what to expect other than what our printed material told us. We were therefore impressed with the high standard of care and attention from all Natureways personnel; from the guides to the driver to the 'in-camp' personnel who were all very professional and courteous. The actual amount of wildlife we saw and the knowledge we acquired from the Safari itself was a little over-whelming so we started taking notes! Our Natureway Safaris is so good we are planning another. Congratulations to Natureways Safaris.
CA
Email Alice & Ed | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Walking Amongst The Wildlife
There were 4 of us friends & 1 guide…Andy. He was the most amazing guide…considerate, Knowledgeable, patient. We were walking for 7 days; the camp moved every 2 days along the Zambezi River. The meals were Fabulous, cooked by Janet on an open fire. This was most incredible experience, walking in the flood plain, meeting NO ONE, very often surrounded by animals 360'.
Keep in mind these are tents, kerosene lamps & it is dark at 6 pm; showers are a bucket hanging over your head. But all this is part of the amazing experience. Walking is much more exciting than riding in a jeep.
Negative…the web site says luxury Camp Zambezi at the start…well there is no Camp Zambezi….that refers to an 'area'; so we expected 1 day at the front & 3 at the end to be luxury static camp, stationary …not so. We had 7 nights in the tents, 3 too many.! Feel the website is misleading. Switching to LED lights would be easy... less stinky & dangerous.
CA
Email Dan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Professional company with professional guides
I'll be honest, if the information on the internet had said that we would be canoeing on a gigantic river with thousands of hippos, we probably would not have booked this trip. And that would have been a shame. Despite the fact that the safari was not what we were expecting does not mean we did not have a great adventure! We expected quiet waterways and seeing game up close. Well we DID see tons of game but there was nothing quiet about paddling the immensely wide Zambezi, zig-zagging around hippos. It certainly got the adrenaline going! Nevertheless, our favourite moments were when we arrived at our island for the night and set up camp as the sun was going down. We would then have a sundowner, help with supper, and chat quietly for a while. At night we would listen to lions roar, hippos call to each other, and elephants walking around our camp, eating with contentment. This was all done while lying on our backs in the tent, looking at the stars. Perfect! Thanks for a great, if unexpected, adventure!
CA
Email Susan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful experience, one that I would gladly repeat.
This was one of the best adventures that I have had. The trip was well organized, the guides knowledgeable and the exposure to wildlife and birds truly breathtaking. I would recommend this trip to anyone wanting a true African Adventure.