Overview
Take a trip to Mana Pools National Park on your Zimbabwe Vacation
Mana Pools National Park is a wildlife conservation area found in northern Zimbabwe and remains one of the least developed national parks in all of Southern Africa on a Zimbabwe tour.
The park is 2,196 square kilometres in size but is part of the larger 10,500 square kilometres Parks and Wildlife Estate that runs from the Kariba Dam to the border of Mozambique. While much of the area had been protected as a non-hunting area since the 1930s, it was not officially recognized as a national park until 1963. It would later become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Mana Pools constitutes a region of the lower Zambezi River that sees flood plains turn into lakes during the rainy season. Once the lakes begin to dry and thus recede, the area becomes a hot spot for large game in search of water. The name Mana means “Four” in the Shona language in reference to the four large permanent pools found within the park.
Due to its water sources, Mana Pools is a haven for both Nile crocodiles and hippopotami, hosting the country’s largest concentrations of these species. Large populations of elephants and buffalo are present during the dry season while predators like leopards, lions and cheetahs are also found in the park. Mana Pools is far from any major town and wildlife roams freely making the park one of Africa’s most renowned game viewing areas on travel to Zimbabwe.
Due to its water sources, Mana Pools is a haven for both Nile crocodiles and hippopotami, hosting the country’s largest concentrations of these species. Large populations of elephants and buffalo are present during the dry season while predators like leopards, lions and cheetahs are also found in the park. Mana Pools is far from any major town and wildlife roams freely making the park one of Africa’s most renowned game viewing areas on travel to Zimbabwe.
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Classic Zimbabwe: Vic Falls, Hwange, Lake Kariba & Mana Pools
Mana Pools National Park, Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsUncover Zimbabwe’s wild beauty on this small group safari, from thundering Victoria Falls to epic elephant encounters in Hwange, Lake Kariba, and Mana Pools.
10 days
From US$12,113/p.p.
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Classic Zimbabwe: Vic Falls, Hwange, Lake Kariba & Mana Pools
Mana Pools National Park, Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls (City), and Victoria FallsUncover Zimbabwe’s wild beauty on this small group safari, from thundering Victoria Falls to epic elephant encounters in Hwange, Lake Kariba, and Mana Pools.
10 days
From US$12,113/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Victoria falls is truly one of the greatest Wonders of the world! Apart from admiring its awe-inspiring beauty you can also take part in activities such as bungee jumping and swimming at the top of the falls - truly exhilarating!
The best times to visit Zimbabwe are May–October; offering dry weather, excellent wildlife viewing, comfortable temperatures, and peak visibility at major parks.
Travelers should experience a traditional Mbira music performance, showcasing Zimbabwe’s spiritual rhythms, storytelling, and deep cultural heritage through captivating live music.
Hippopotamus submerged in waters of Mana Pools NP
A lioness and her cubs as seen on a Mana Pools ...
Wild dogs are always a great photo opportunity ...
An elephant checking out the camp
African buffalo are a common sight on all Zimba...
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ExcellentBased on 5,304 ReviewsWe booked a Goway tour to Botswana and Zimbabwe and it was excellent. We worked with Brooke, the Goway represntative, to set up the tour and she was an outstanding agent who answered any questions we had very quickly and completely. Her hotel recommendation for the additional night we stayed was pefect.
Goway hires a local tour group, Jenman Safaris, to lead the safari in the 2 countries. The tour itself was amazing...the lodges that we stayed at were very nice and the food was great (except for one lodge's food). The Goway itinerary was slightly different than the actual Jenman Safari itinerary but most of the sites that we went to were the same as listed on the Goway itinerary. I would use Goway again because their choice of a local tour group was very good...nice lodges/camps and good food and knowledgeable tour guides.Ma FaOur GoWay tour representative, Michael Keon, was on top of all of our concerns and questions in a professional manner and we look forward to working with him in the future. Michael was very easy to work with and treated us like family.ThomasMatthew handled my honeymoon couple's very specific African itinerary like a pro! My clients went to four different travel agents who only wanted to send them on safaris. My clients had already done safaris and were specific on what they wanted to do and see. Matthew hit the nail on the head! Highly recommend!Amanda SchottSeamless prompt excellent communication from our first query about a possible destination to follow-up after the trip ended.JaneJacqueline Fagioli from Goaway Travel is excellent and very helpful and supportive. VenessaOur travel agent, Melissa Moses, created the perfect itinerary for our recent holiday to Portugal. Melissa had also planned our previous trip to England/Scotland. We have a great deal of confidence in her ability as she really listens to what we are looking for and she caters the plans according to our comfort levels and interests. customerJacqueline F. made our trip exceptional. Everything she planned or reserved worked out as it was supposed to. Croatia was amazing and I feel we were able to explore a lot of it because of Jacqueline.AllenThis was the first time we had utilized Goway. We wanted a custom itinerary for a 3 week Italy, Athens and Greek Island adventure. Edwina Brislane was receptive to our goals for the trip, had helpful suggestions and reacted well to our requested revisions. Lisa Dachuk helped "tie a ribbon" on the trip and ensured we had considered all aspects of the experience. Lisa dealt quickly with a couple of requests while on the trip and celebrated a successful trip with us.
We enjoyed working with both Edwina and Lisa. Their knowledge and enthusiasm contributed to our very memorable trip.Dan & GailI had a great experience booking Australia and New Zealand trip through Goway Travel. Lori Mezzoro was very helpful and organized. All the recommendations she made were very good. I had a great trip with my kids.LauraI recently traveled to Greece with friends, and our entire experience was exceptional thanks to the planning support we received from Avery at GoWay. Every part of our itinerary was organized with care, accuracy, and great attention to detail.
Our accommodations — Hera Hotel Athens and Sofitel Athens Airport — were comfortable, well‑located, and exactly what we needed. All airfares from Calgary and the multiple transfers (airport to city centre, city centre to Piraeus Port, and back again) were perfectly coordinated and made the trip completely stress‑free.
The 7‑night Idyllic Aegean Cruise was a major highlight. It was beautifully arranged and gave us an unforgettable way to explore the islands. Our excursions were equally impressive:
Skip‑the‑Line Acropolis & Acropolis Museum timed entry, which made sightseeing smooth and efficient
Classical Greece: Olympia, Delphi & Meteora, a breathtaking and well‑paced journey through some of Greece’s most iconic historical sites
Avery was consistently responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive throughout the planning process. Every confirmation, transfer, and timing detail was handled flawlessly, allowing us to simply enjoy the trip without worrying about logistics.
I highly recommend GoWay Travel — and especially Avery — for anyone planning a trip to Greece. This was one of the best travel experiences I’ve had, thanks to their outstanding service and organization.Lorraine
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