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
unforgettable, amazing cano-safari
We left for a 3 days-2 nights cano-safari, known as the Marula-safari. Our guides, Takesure and Elijah, were very adequate and professional. They explained everything very carefully and knew everything about the flora and fauna we encountered. Meals prepared during the trip were delicious and after a day on the water the night started with some exciting bed-time stories. Both guides had a good sense of humor. Everything was perfect. We felt safe during the whole trip.
DE
Email Britta | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Magnificent Tamarind Canoe Safari
Just returning from a Tamarind Canoe safari with Natureways, my only regret is that it was too short. Our guides Takesure and Elijah were absolutely excellent - highly knowledgable, very professional (navigating us safely around all the hippos), super friendly and accommodating, multi-skilled (even cooking delicious meals in semi-darkness), very patient and with a great sense of humor. The Zambezi water level was low which required a bit of pushing and pulling our canoes to get through the most shallow areas - all part of an unforgettable experience though. Setting up camp on an island with an elephant watching from the opposite river bank and sleeping under the stars with bush sounds all around is beyond words. Thanks a lot also to Kelly-Anne who helped get everything organized, even though I joined at short notice. Overall highly recommendable!!!
BE
Email lander | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
amazing trip
We had an amazing experience with natureways safari's. The guides were very professional and the environment was perfect. the food was good and communications were fluently.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.