ZIMBABWE
Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools National Park is located on the Zambezi River. At over 2,600 square miles, this park is a top safari destination in Zimbabwe. The broad plains of the park become lakes during the rainy season. As the dry season progresses, these seasonal lakes give way to a number of pools that become critical to the survival of wildlife. The wildlife viewing is exceptional during this time as animals congregate near the park’s remaining water sources. At the north end of the park, the landscape is dominated by the Zambezi River where game drives and safari walks are joined by canoeing, boating, and fishing activities. Further into the park becomes more of a classic bush experience with exceptional wildlife viewing and incredible walking safaris. Our preferred provider here is African Bush Camps. This park is known for its large elephant and hippo population as well as lions and African wild dogs.
To the east of Mana Pools is the Sapi Reserve which covers almost as much wilderness as Mana Pools. This area used to be a hunting concession, but no more!!! Great Plains Conservation has helped transform this area into an incredible wildlife viewing area where animals can move safely between Mana and Sapi and not worry about getting gunned down by trophy hunters. This giant ecosystem is of great importance and has been recognized as a UNESCO Heritage site.
Victoria Falls
Hwange National Park
This massive park is the size of the state of Connecticut. It is home to one of the densest populations of elephants in all of Africa with an estimated population of 30,000. It is also refuge to lion, leopard, giraffe, buffalo, African wild dogs, roan and sable antelope, and so much more. The park was home to the famed Cecil the Lion that was sadly killed by an American trophy hunter. Though Cecil may be gone, his legacy lives on and the park continues to be a last bastion for lions and many other animals. Our preferred safari operator, African Bush Camps, operates several camps within an exclusive area that has the most wildlife in the park, as well as lions that walk the landscape with Cecil’s genes, waiting to be passed on to new generations of lions. Hwange is a must for anyone visiting Zimbabwe.