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6 Days Mana Pools and Lake Kariba

  • 6 days
  • Zimbabwe
  • Luxury
  • Private

Walking and canoeing on the Zambezi at Mana Pools, then two nights on the shore of Lake Kariba, by light aircraft.

From US$5,828 per person

Request a free quote See the itinerary
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
Route
Starts and ends in Victoria Falls
Comfort
Luxury lodges
Group
Private, 1 to 6 travellers
Best time
May to Oct

Overview

Mana Pools is one of the few places in Africa where you can walk among elephants, lions and buffalo with only a guide for company, and canoe on the Zambezi beside the hippos. It is a World Heritage site, wild and uncrowded, with a floodplain of acacia woodland beneath the Zambezi escarpment.

Three nights at Ruckomechi Camp, with walks, canoe trips and game drives, are followed by two nights at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, above Lake Kariba, with boat trips and game drives in Matusadona. Light aircraft link them all.

Highlights

  • Walking among elephants and lions at Mana Pools
  • Canoeing on the Zambezi
  • Three nights at Ruckomechi Camp
  • Two nights at Bumi Hills on Lake Kariba
  • Light aircraft between every stop

Route

ZAMBIAZIMBABWEBOTSWANASOUTH AFRICALake Kariba 1 · 6 Victoria Falls 1 Mana Pools National Park 4 Lake Kariba and Matusadona

Zimbabwe

  1. StartVictoria Falls (Day 1)
  2. Day 1Mana Pools National Park
  3. Day 4Lake Kariba and Matusadona
  4. EndVictoria Falls (Day 6)

What to expect

  • Luxury safari

    Handpicked luxury lodges and camps, chosen for their setting, service and guiding.

  • Private safari

    Your own vehicle and guide for the whole journey, never shared with other travellers.

  • Made to measure

    Change the pace, a lodge or an activity and we rebuild the itinerary around you.

  • Start any day

    Travel on the dates that suit you, subject to lodge and permit availability.

  • Solo travellers welcome

    Priced for one on request, with the single supplement shown under Rates.

  • Pace and fitness

    Balanced, fitness: moderate.

Activities
Birding, Boat Safaris, Canoeing & Kayaking, Game Drives, Hiking & Walking, Relaxation
Getting around
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide

Day by day

Day 1 Fly to Mana Pools Mana Pools National Park

Fly by light aircraft from Victoria Falls to Mana Pools and settle in at Ruckomechi Camp, on the bank of the Zambezi, with an afternoon game drive.

  • Travel About 2 hr flight
  • Meals Lunch & dinner
  • Game Drives

Overnight

Ruckomechi Camp (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A riverside camp in the west of Mana Pools, facing the Zambian escarpment.

Ruckomechi Camp, Western Mana Pools
Day 2 Walking at Mana Pools Mana Pools National Park

Walk with your guide among the elephants and buffalo of the floodplain, then paddle a canoe on the Zambezi in the afternoon.

  • Travel Walk and canoe trip
  • Meals Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Canoeing & Kayaking
  • Game Drives

Overnight

Ruckomechi Camp (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A riverside camp in the west of Mana Pools, facing the Zambian escarpment.

Ruckomechi Camp, Western Mana Pools
Day 3 The river and the floodplain Mana Pools National Park

Spend the day on game drives and a guided walk, looking for lions and wild dog, with a long lunch and an evening by the river.

  • Travel Game drives and a walk
  • Meals Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Game Drives
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Birding

Overnight

Ruckomechi Camp (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A riverside camp in the west of Mana Pools, facing the Zambian escarpment.

Ruckomechi Camp, Western Mana Pools
Day 4 Fly to Lake Kariba Lake Kariba and Matusadona

Fly to Lake Kariba and settle in at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, on a hill above the lake, with a boat trip in the evening.

  • Travel About 1 hr flight
  • Meals Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Boat Safaris
  • Relaxation

Overnight

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A hilltop lodge with huge views over Lake Kariba.

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western Kariba
Day 5 Matusadona Lake Kariba and Matusadona

Take a boat trip along the shore of Matusadona National Park, with elephants and buffalo coming down to the water, and a game drive in the afternoon.

  • Travel Boat trip and game drive
  • Meals Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Boat Safaris
  • Game Drives
  • Birding

Overnight

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A hilltop lodge with huge views over Lake Kariba.

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western Kariba
Day 6 Fly to Victoria Falls Lake Kariba and Matusadona

Take a last early boat trip, then breakfast and the flight back to Victoria Falls, landing by midday.

  • Travel About 1.5 hr flight
  • Meals Breakfast
  • Boat Safaris

Where you stay

DaysAccommodation & meals
Days 1 to 3

Ruckomechi Camp (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A riverside camp in the west of Mana Pools, facing the Zambian escarpment.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Ruckomechi Camp, Western Mana Pools
Days 4 to 5

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)

A hilltop lodge with huge views over Lake Kariba.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western KaribaBumi Hills Safari Lodge, Bumi Hills, western Kariba

Rates

Important to know

  • Rates are per person, shown in USD, and do not include international flights to and from your home country.
  • The price per person depends on how many travellers share the vehicle and guide.

Rates per person

Price per person by number of travellers
SeasonSolo2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people7+ people
High season (May to Oct)US$8,340US$7,070US$6,646US$6,646US$6,646US$6,646Get quote
Shoulder season (Nov)US$7,320US$6,200US$5,828US$5,828US$5,828US$5,828Get quote
Deposit to confirm
30%

Prices are per person, in US dollars, and depend on the number of travellers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are sample rates for planning and will be confirmed when you enquire, as lodge and permit prices change each year. The charter flights depend on aircraft availability and will be confirmed when you enquire. Walking safaris are led by an armed guide and depend on the conditions.

  • Rates can change when lodge, permit and park fees are updated, and are confirmed when you enquire.
  • The order and content of the safari can be adjusted to suit you, and a change may affect the price.
  • If a lodge is fully booked, we will offer a comparable one.
  • This safari is subject to our terms and conditions.

Best time to go

Best time for this trip May to Oct

  1. January: possible
  2. February: possible
  3. March: possible
  4. April: possible
  5. May: best
  6. June: best
  7. July: best
  8. August: best
  9. September: best
  10. October: best
  11. November: possible
  12. December: possible

What is included

Included

  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide
  • Accommodation as listed, on the meal plan shown for each lodge
  • Park fees
  • Park entry fees and all activities in the itinerary
  • Domestic flights where shown
  • Bottled water, binoculars and a Zimbabwe field guide in the vehicle
  • Airport meet and greet

Not included

  • International flights and visas
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Tips for guides, trackers and lodge staff
  • Premium drinks and personal spending
  • Optional activities not listed in the itinerary

Good to know

Pack light, neutral colours for game drives, a warm fleece for early mornings, a sun hat, good sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars are provided in the vehicle, but bring your own if you are a keen birder or photographer. Light aircraft have a soft-bag limit of 15 kg per person including hand luggage, so leave the hard suitcases at home.

Made to measure

Make this safari your own

Every Uwera safari is private. Slow the pace, add a night by a lake, swap a lodge or bring the children: tell us in your request and we will rebuild the itinerary around you.

Request a free quote

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