Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

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Mana River Camp

Tented Camp
Adventure
Birding
Boating or Mokoro
Photography
Stargazing
Tented Camp
Waterfront Views
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Zimbabwe

Overview

COMFORT
Fans
QUICK FACTS
6
Rooms
Private Vehicle at extra cost
Cancellation POLICY
Moderate, typically 100% from 31 days
Kids POLICY
From 6
Machaba's intimate, river-facing sister to Ingwe Pan, a seasonal, low-impact tented camp set right on the banks of the Zambezi beneath tall mahogany and acacia trees in the UNESCO-protected wilderness of Mana Pools National Park, just six canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms and private verandas looking onto the water, where hippos graze a few metres below the bank and elephant and buffalo herds wander past to drink, days run on walking safaris with expert local guides, 4WD game drives across the floodplain and canoe trips among the hippos, rustic in the best way, solar-powered and stripped of frills so the wild stays the star.

Plan

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Access Type
Fly-in or Road Access
Transfer Time from Airstrip
30
mins
Baggage limit
14
kg
Soft-bag only
Wildlife Highlights
Elephants
Birding
Great for birders

Location

Map pin marker icon with dark green abstract pattern and a central circular cutout.

Getting there

Fly by light aircraft to Mana Main Airstrip (charters from Harare, Victoria Falls or Kariba), then a game-drive transfer of roughly 30 minutes to the riverside camp, included in the rate.

Stay

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COMFORT
Fans
Vehicle
Private Vehicle at extra cost
WI-FI
None
Medical
Malaria Zone
Insect protection
Repellent and antimalarials, with mosquito protection in the tents
Activities
Guided walking safaris (16+ only), 4WD game drives, canoe trips on the Zambezi (water-level dependent), and birding.

Our Favorite Rooms

Six canvas tents strung along the Zambezi beneath mahogany and acacia, each with a double bed (separable to twin), an en-suite bathroom with a hot-and-cold chip-boiler shower and flush loo, and a private canvas veranda right over the water, with a Family Luxury four-sleeper for families.

Dining

Fully inclusive and generous, with freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks and nibbles between, and warm beverages, soft drinks and house alcoholic drinks (premium and imported excluded), served in the communal tented dining and bar area over the river, with varied bush meal set-ups out in the wild.

Tips

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Packing Tips

Neutral safari clothing with a warm jumper, beanie and gloves for cold early mornings (June–August), lighter layers for hot October nights (tents now have fans), sturdy closed shoes for walking safaris, sun hat, high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent and antimalarials, swimwear for the plunge pool, binoculars and a headlamp, and note there are no hairdryers or air-con, plus a soft bag (~15 kg) for the light aircraft.

Insider Tips

Pair Mana River with its inland sister Ingwe Pan to experience the full sweep of Mana Pools, river and floodplain plus the inland pan and wilderness. Take a canoe safari on the Zambezi among the hippos, and make the most of the walking, Mana is one of the few parks where you can walk among big game, though under-16s can't walk in Zimbabwe's national parks.

Impact

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Reserve type
National Park
Conservation
Seasonal, low-impact, solar-hybrid camp with no permanent fixtures, Machaba community program
Conservation fee
No Conservation Fee
per person per day

Conservation Efforts

Designed to tread lightly, Mana River Camp runs on a hybrid of solar power and a backup generator with low-energy appliances and lighting, uses separate bio plants to manage kitchen, laundry and staff-village waste, and is built without permanent fixtures so the site can be rehabilitated within about eighteen months, all within the protected wilderness of Mana Pools, alongside Machaba's community employment and guide-training commitments.

Per Person, Per Night from
604
Per Person
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