Hwange National Park * Mana Pools National Park
The Zimbabwe Water & Wilderness safari is a six-night fly-in journey that pairs two of Zimbabwe’s most scenic and wildlife-rich national parks : Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park. Carefully balanced between classic big-game viewing and water-wildlife paradise, this trip offers an attractive contrast of landscapes and safari styles.
Perfect for those seeking Zimbabwe’s highlights without a long time commitment.
Your journey begins in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest and oldest protected area. Its vast scale supports a remarkable diversity of habitats, from southern acacia scrub bordering the Kalahari to mopane woodlands, open plains, and granite outcrops in the north. Hwange is renowned for its prolific wildlife, particularly enormous elephant herds, as well as lion, buffalo, and plenty of plains game.
You then fly north to Mana Pools National Park, one of Africa’s most iconic wilderness areas (plus a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Set along the banks of the Zambezi River, Mana Pools is defined by its sweeping floodplains, lush riverine forests, and dramatic escarpment backdrop. During the dry season, wildlife congregates along the river, creating wonderful opportunities to observe elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and antelope at close range. They concentrate along the river when the inland waterholes dry up, especially in the dry winter months.Mana Pools is celebrated for its intimate safari experiences, including walking safaris, boating and canoeing in the riverine environment.
This itinerary is deliberately flexible. Victoria Falls is excluded so you can decide how long and where to stay before or after your safari.
A range of alternative lodges is available in both Hwange and Mana Pools, allowing the experience to be tailored to your preferred safari style and budget. You can also use Somalisa Expeditions Camp in Hwange and Kanga Camp in Mana Pools which is similar in price in high season, a little lower in the shouder season.
Upgrade Example: Below we show another option using Somalisa Camp in Hwange and Nyamatusi Camp in Mana Pools.
An extension to Camp Amalinda in the Matobo Hills National Park is also highly recommended, adding dramatic scenery and cultural heritage with a road transfer from Hwange National Park.
Use the scroll button to see the full itinerary.
This is a set tour using specific camps. However many tours can be adapted. Chat to us about your options. It excludes international flights but includes an estimate for all domestic or regional flights within the tour.
Accommodation, all meals, charter flights and 4x4 road transfers between lodges, services of experienced ranger whilst on safari.
EXCLUDESInternational flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
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