|  | The Mana Canoe & Walking Trail is an incredible journey that takes one to the heart of Mana Pools and along its shore line. This camping safari traverses the full length of Mana Pools National Park.
- Bush walks
- Canoeing
- Close and personal encounters with nature
- High density of hippo
| This safari is one of the most exciting safaris anywhere in Africa. Guests on travel downstream from one end of Mana Pools to the other from West to the East - from Ruckomechi to Chikwenya. At all times the participants are within the national park travelling through superb countryside. The scenery is spectacular as the mountains of the northern escarpment of Africa's Great Rift Valley form the backdrop as you canoe from one camp to the next. The total distance we travel by canoe is just under 60km.
Departures are every Monday or Thursday from May through mid November each year. Each night is spent on the banks of the Zambezi River moving further down stream. The attraction and fun of this safari is that guests have the opportunity to experience wildlife away from vehicles in canoes and on foot, at exceptionally close quarters under the direction of an experienced guide. The canoes used are sturdy Canadian canoes and are paddled by the guests. This is a journey for the adventurous and not for the faint hearted as animal encounters are very close.
There is usually a gentle wind coming into the noses of the canoes from the East and this helps to keep the temperatures down. However the wind does make it critical that people who book onto the Mana Canoe Trail are reasonably agile. We are not expecting anyone to be a tri-athlete, but a reasonable level of agility is required. Do not book onto this safari if you cannot swim! We cannot take anyone over 70 years old. People between 65 and 70 need to have a medical certificate proving that they are able. (If you do not fit into these parameters, but still want to do some canoeing in the Mana Pools area, we recommend you book into Chikwenya Camps where half-day canoeing excursions are offered.)
You will travel down past many pods of hippo - there are approximately 1200 hippos along this stretch of the Zambezi. Crocodiles bask on the banks of the Zambezi - this is not for the faint hearted! |
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| Start: Kariba
Scheduled flights: Kariba | Day 1 Mana Pools
Guests are transferred from Kariba or their previous overnight stay, to Ruckomechi, by air transfer arriving at about midday. At approximately 2 pm, after meeting the guide and going through a thorough safety briefing, participants leave the Ruckomechi area in their Canadian canoes and paddle downstream to our mobile camp in the Mana Pools National Park. The camp will have already been set up in advance and the first afternoon of paddling covers about 10 to 11 kilometres. This is a relatively easy distance to cover in the time available and gives canoeists a chance to familiarise themselves with the various simple paddle strokes required. | Day 2 & 3 Mana Pools
Typically, canoeists are awakened before dawn, at approximately 05h45, with tea/coffee and biscuits and we try to get onto the water just before sunrise. This is a magical time on the river as the water is usually dead calm and the peace and tranquility is amazing. After paddling for a short while, usually about 2 hours, we beach the canoes on the bank and set out for a game walk. The guide chooses a suitable area, based on his knowledge of the area and game movements and we take a few hours to explore on foot, and unravel some of the intricacies of the bush. After returning to the canoes, and a light snack, we continue canoeing to a suitable lunch spot, arriving around mid-day. Lunch is carried in the canoes and usually consists of a salad and cold meats meal with a quiche or home baked pies, as well as bread rolls (freshly baked on the fire in camp). We normally rest up in the shade for a while or take another short walk before moving on at about 3pm to arrive at the next camp at dusk.
The camp, and all luggage, will have been moved by the camp staff and all that is required to be done by participants is to enjoy a hot shower under the stars, and a cold drink, followed by a fresh cooked meal and to sleep the sleep of the pleasantly weary. The daily distances covered from one camp to the next are around 20 to 25 kilometres and the daily routine will vary according to participant's abilities, needs and interests, as well as wildlife movements. | Day 4
After breakfast by the river, guests will either be transferred by Land Rover to the Chikwenya airstrip for the flight out or can take a walk to Chikwenya camp for an additional night or nights stay if they wish to spend more time in the wonderful Zambezi Valley. | Accommodation
This is a true camping safari. However, we are able to support the canoe trail with a vehicle and staff who do all the camping chores and who make your camping as comfortable as possible. There have a guide who travels with you all day and he is supported by a back-up team of three who travel ahead by vehicle to the next site. There is also one cook and two camp hands. All camps are set up prior to the canoeist's arrival in camp.
Guests sleep in large tents in which one can stand. Comfortable camp beds, linen, blankets, pillows and towels are provided. The campsites have no permanent ablution blocks, so a bucket shower and 'long drop' toilet are set up by camp staff.
Chairs and tables are provided for comfortable dining. Ice for drinks is available, and complimentary Zimbabwean wine is served with the evening meal. Cordials are supplied free of charge. A selection of soft drinks and local beers is available on a complimentary basis throughout the trail.
Bottled water is always available free of charge. If you wish to bring your own wine of choice, we recommend that you do so. Zimbabwe's finest wines don't win many awards! | End: Mana Pools
Scheduled flights: Kariba | Rate excludes
. Domestic passenger service fee
. Transfers | Group size
Minimum: 2 Maximum: 7 | Safari category: a wild adventure
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