If you want to experience all the majesty of the African bush, which includes rivers and lakes, you need to visit Mana Pools in northern Zimbabwe. Mana Pools National Park is on the Lower Zambezi Valley and contains magical pools, a floodplain and bush with all the wildlife that you would expect from such a rugged yet gently beautiful landscape. If you needed further motivation to visit the park, consider that its natural splendour has made it a celebrated World Heritage Site.

Given that it is on the famous Zambezi River and that it consists of four large pools, it’s not surprising that canoeing safaris are very popular. Safaris can be anything from 4 – 10 days long and are generally self-contained, which means that all your equipment is loaded on the canoes and there are no support vehicles and porters to do all the heavy lifting and carrying.

If you don’t fancy being on the river for that length of time, you can base yourself at one of the five comfortable, self-catering lodges. If you prefer something more rustic you can pitch a tent at any of the many camping sites (with facilities) or one of the two wild camping sites with no facilities and which are only accessible via 4×4 vehicles.

In addition to the river safaris, the park is ideally suited to walking. There is plenty of shade provided by the tree canopies for strolls around the pools, as well as guided walking safaris, which are highly recommended. In fact, much of the park is only accessible via foot, so pack your most comfortable walking shoes.

All of this walking doesn’t mean that the park is without big game. There are plenty of elephants, which you are likely to see as the animals come to the pools and river terraces to drink and eat Albida fruit. Hippos, of course, abound in the river, as do crocodiles. But don’t worry your guide will keep you safe. There are buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetah and black rhino; buck such as sable, kudu and eland; baboons and monkeys; zebra; warthog; hyena; over 450 bird species; and no end of fish.

Time your holiday carefully to suit your tastes. For example, canoeing is available year-round, but you’ll have more luck spotting game during September and October, when it can get very hot. If you like to live dangerously with crocodiles, you should visit in winter: June – August. If you don’t like very hot temperatures then you should visit in autumn and winter: March – August.

Bear in mind that in the past cars have only been allowed to drive in the park during the dry season, so find out what the rules are from your travel agent before you go. You don’t want to hire a car to Zimbabwe only to be turned back when you reach your destination.

(Image by Craigchipperfield, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)