Mana Pools national park is situated in northern Zimbabwe and covers an area of 219 600 ha. One of the main draws is might Zambezi river which flows alongside the park. The park is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including lions and African wild dogs.
The main trails and accommodation along the river is one of the quintessential African experiences. You can walk unguided amongst the animals here but if not experienced in the bush it would be advisable to take a guide. If you love elephants then you must visit, the elephants in Mana are the most chilled examples you will meet. They will tolerate humans and walk right through your camp. In fact most of the animals at Mana are very relaxed, must be something in the water. From a photography point its not just the wildlife that makes Mana special, its the light. The talc like dust floats about the atmosphere there making for amazing soft red hue in the evenings. Add to this the variety of vegetation just adds to the ambience.
The other experience for Mana is canoeing. Floating along the Zambezi allows you to get a different perspective of the African wildlife.
In contrast to the beauty of the river terraces there is the drier Chitake Springs area, truly wild camping. Nights camping at Chitake are unforgettable, the rumblings of lions and screams of elephants will keep you awake. Again you can walk about here unguided but given the lion concentration its not for the feint hearted, so best experienced with one of the many excellent Zimbabwean guides.
