MANA POOLS AND THE MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK - LAKE KARIBA

Mana pools and the Matusadona National park is reached by air from the town of Kariba, located on the shores of Lake Kariba.

MANA POOLS (THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY)
Most of the Zambezi Valley has been reserved for the protection of wildlife habitats.
Mana Pools National Park covers 2200km of this region The stretch from below Kariba , 300km northwards towards the Mozambique border is rated as the wildest part of Zimbabwe. The valley is a sanctuary for a profusion of wildlife and sustain
Elephants, buffalo, plains antelope and zebra and attendant predators. Hippo wallow in the muddy waters and crocodile guard the islands in the river. Game viewing is excellent and a canoeing safari on the Zambezi River is an unforgettable experience.

RUCKOMECHI CAMP MANA POOLA
This camp is know for it's regular lion, elephant and leopard sightings.
The camp accommodates a maximum of twenty guests in ten thatched chalets.
Facilities are en suite and a central dining, bar and lounge area is under cool thatch on the edge of the Zambezi River, facing the escarpment. Predators are often sighted in large concentrations of Buffalo are found along the river's edge, while kudu, Impala and Waterbuck are seen on the surrounding plains. Elephant take advantage of the Albida trees in the camp and are often found around the guest chalets. Bird watching is good with the river attracting large numbers of water birds. Activities offered at camp are game drives, nights drives, birding, guided walks, boating, canoeing, fishing, hides, swimming pool.

MANA CANOE AND WALKING TRAILS
This is an incredible journey taking one to the heart of Mana Pools and along its shore line. This camping safari traverses the full length of Mana Pools National Park starting close to the western boundary of Mana Pools, near Ruckomechi Camp and
Finishing sixty six kilometres downstream at Chikwenya airfield. Departures are twice weekly form May to mid November each year. Each night is spent on the banks of the Zambezi River, moving further downstream. On this safari guests experience wildlife away from vehicles in canoes, on foot, at exceptionally close quarters, under the direction of an experienced guide. The Canoes used are sturdy Canadian canoes, paddled by the guests. This is a journey for the adventurous - animal encounters are very close. On safari, each day the tents and the camp are taken down and then re-erected by camp staff prior to guest arrival at the new site destination.

CHIKWENYA CAMP MANA POOLS
Chikwenya camp is a photographers paradise. Tall acacia and albida trees dot he open floodplains with the mountains of the Rift valley acting as a backdrop. The area is known for its large numbers of elephant, buffalo, hippo and Eland. Leopard and lion are found in this area. Birdlife is superb. The camp has nine tented en suite rooms under thatch. There is either an additional outdoor shower or bath "under the stars". Each room has a panoramic view onto the floodplains of the Zambezi. There is a bar and lounge under thatch and breakfasts are enjoyed outdoors under the shade of a mahogany tree. Dinners are often on the deck under the trees. Activities are game drives, night drives, guided walks, boating, fishing, canoeing, birding, elevated hides, swimming pool.

THE MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK
The park occupies almost 1500km2 of wild, scenically spectacular Zambezi escarpment, extending southward from the lower reaches of Lake Kariba.
I t is a pristine wilderness of bush covered hills and woodlands supporting elephant, rhino, buffalo, and a wide variety of antelope.

MATUSADONA WATER WILDERNESS - LAKE KARIBA
On the southern shores of lake Kariba, in the Matusadona National Park is located water Wilderness - two identical lodges consisting of floating chalets on the lake in a large bay. One lodge has eight beds, and the other ten beds.
A "mother ship: at each lodge houses a lounge, dining room, upstairs viewing and star deck. Wildlife viewing is excellent with antelope, elephant, buffalo and a host of predators commonly sighted. One of the highlights is the tracking of Black Rhino, elephant, buffalo on foot. The main activities at Matusadona Water Wilderness are boating, canoeing, game drives and guided walks. Each ship also has its own "lake swimming pool cage"