Mana Pools Walking & Canoe Safari
On Foot and on the Zambezi — Africa's Wildest Way to Safari
Overview
This is safari at its most raw and intimate. In Mana Pools — a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the lower Zambezi — you leave the vehicle behind to walk among elephant and buffalo on foot, and glide the great river by canoe past hippos, crocodiles and drinking herds. Between activities you rest at two of the finest camps on the river, Nyamatusi and Ruckomechi, where cathedral forests of winterthorn glow gold at dawn and painted wolves hunt across the floodplain.
Mana Pools is one of very few African parks where guests may explore on foot and by water, guided by some of the most experienced walking and canoe specialists on the continent. The result is a heart-in-the-mouth closeness to the wild that no vehicle-only park can match — a browsing bull metres away in the dappled light, or a fish eagle lifting off the river as your canoe drifts by. It is remote, uncrowded and utterly cinematic.
Who It's For
Made for active, adventurous travellers and keen photographers who want the wildest, most hands-on safari in Africa. Ideal for repeat safari-goers seeking something beyond the classic game drive, and for couples chasing a genuine wilderness escape.
Package Highlights
Walking Safaris
Track elephant and buffalo on foot with legendary Mana Pools guides
Zambezi Canoeing
Drift the great river past hippo, crocodile and drinking elephants
Painted Wolves
One of Africa's best places to find and follow African wild dogs
Cathedral Forest Light
Golden dawn light through the ancient winterthorn floodplain forest
The Standing Elephants
See the famous bulls that rise on hind legs for the highest pods
Remote Fly-In
Charter onto a bush airstrip deep in the uncrowded wilderness
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Charter into Mana Pools from Harare or Victoria Falls, touching down on a bush airstrip where your guide meets you for the short transfer to Nyamatusi Camp. Settle into your riverfront suite with its private plunge pool, then head out on a gentle late-afternoon walk or drive to feel the rhythm of the floodplain. As the sun sinks behind the Zambian escarpment, enjoy sundowners on the riverbank before dinner under the stars.
🏨 Accommodation: Nyamatusi Camp
🍽️ Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Featured Lodges & Accommodation
Nyamatusi Camp
📍 Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
The most contemporary luxury on this stretch of the Zambezi — six glass-and-canvas suites with private plunge pools and river decks, the flagship of African Bush Camps.
From $1,150 per person per night
Ruckomechi Camp
📍 Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
A celebrated Wilderness classic in a grove of albida trees on a bend of the Zambezi, with ten elegant riverfront tents and a copper-bath sleep-out under the stars.
From $1,100 per person per night
Pricing & Options
All prices per person sharing. Customize any tier to your preferences.
Classic
(~$988/night)
Superb-value tented camps, shared walking, canoe and drive activities, all meals
Get QuoteLuxury
(~$1,400/night)
Nyamatusi and Ruckomechi suites, private plunge pools, premium guiding
Get QuoteUltra-Luxury
(~$2,225/night)
Chikwenya private concession, private guide, star-bed sleep-outs and premium beverages
Get QuoteWhat's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ Return light-aircraft charters to Mana Pools airstrips
- ✓ 4 nights luxury riverfront camp accommodation
- ✓ All meals at the camps
- ✓ Guided walking safaris on foot
- ✓ Zambezi canoe safari with expert guide
- ✓ Open-vehicle game drives, day and night
- ✓ Park fees and conservation levies
- ✓ Licensed professional guides
✗ Excluded
- ✗ International flights to Zimbabwe
- ✗ Charter connections beyond the itinerary
- ✗ Travel and medical insurance
- ✗ Premium imported beverages
- ✗ Gratuities (guidelines provided)
- ✗ Personal expenses
- ✗ Visa fees
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Travel
Mana Pools is a dry-season destination. June to October is prime, when wildlife concentrates on the river and shrinking pools and walking and canoeing are at their best — August to October is the spectacular peak, though very hot. Many camps close during the green emerald season (roughly December to March) when the roads flood.
Why Choose This Package
Walk and Canoe the Wild
One of the only parks in Africa where you explore on foot and by canoe, for an intimacy with elephant, buffalo and the river found almost nowhere else.
Painted Wolves & Standing Elephants
Among the best odds in Africa of finding wild dogs, plus the famous bulls that rise on their hind legs to reach the highest winterthorn pods.
Remote and Uncrowded
Fly-in access to a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness means very few vehicles and a raw sense of true wild Africa.
World-Class Camps & Guides
Nyamatusi and Ruckomechi rank among the finest camps on the Zambezi, staffed by some of the continent's most respected walking and canoe guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Experience the Mana Pools Walking & Canoe Safari?
From $3,950 per person | 5 Days / 4 Nights
⚡ Limited availability for peak season 2026 — book early to secure your dates
