Equipment List
Day Pack: - 25-30 litre bag
Please note we are limited to 20kgs luggage on the private charter flights. This includes hand luggage.
Laundry: There will be limited laundry available which the camp staff will do apart from your smalls.
There is no cell phone coverage at Mana Pools. Can charge devices in camp
Welcome to your amazing 9-day walking & canoeing Safari in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe! Having begun your journey in Victoria Falls, you'll then fly to Mana Pools NP, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often regarded amongst the Top 5 National Parks in Africa because of the beauty of the landscape on the floodplains, the density of Elephant and other megafauna, and the ability to walk in the superb wildlife sanctuary. You'll enjoy the first 4 nights of a guided Walking safari with a Professional armed guide, in the Chitake Springs sanctuary region of inland Mana Pools NP. This will then be followed by an Odyssey fully backed up 4-night canoeing safari on the Zambezi River through the very heart of Mana Pools. You will then be flown to back to Victoria Falls to travel home or your next destination.
Day 1 |2nd of August 2026 – Arrive Victoria Falls
On arrival at Vic Falls International Airport (Flight time TBC), you will be met by Samanzi driver and transferred to your accommodation. The rest of the day at your leisure. Pam will be at Samanzi to meet you. Accommodation: O/n Samanzi Luxury Cabana 1x Dbl, 1x twin Day 2 - 5 |3rd – 7th of August 2026 –Victoria Falls to Ruckomechi Airstrip
Grand Air charter flight Victoria Falls International Airport (Pam will confirm time on arrival at Samanzi VF). 1hr 50 mins approx. flight time to Mana Ruckomechi Airstrip.
Upon arrival at Mana Ruckomechi Airstrip generally before lunch, we will be met by our guide and driven through the park to Camp Chitake, situated at the renowned Chitake spring near the foothills of the Zambezi Escarpment. Approx 2 hours’ drive, stopping on route to get our park permits.
This is a mobile-tented camp that will be our base for three days of trekking from Chitake to the mighty Zambezi River.
Camp Chitake is unique - few places in Africa can match the excitement, the adrenalin rush or the times of peaceful tranquillity that can be experienced during a stay in this pristine area of the park. The Chitake River rises in the Zambezi escarpment and weaves its way through these majestic hills down to the flat valley below, flowing into the Ruckomechi River and then finally into the Zambezi itself. The river is seasonal, flowing sporadically during the rainy season from December to March. During the dry months, the river consists of long lengths of sand with intermittent water holes and, as the dry season progresses, the pools dry up and the wildlife concentrates on the few remaining water sources that give life to this area. Chitake spring seeps up through the sand of the Chitake River and runs for 1.3km, depending on the season, then disappears again into the sand.
Our tents are comfortable custom-designed walk-in tents with stretcher beds, bedding and gauze panels on the sides and roof areas to allow for airflow, seeing animals and the stars! Each tent has an ensuite toilet, and all our tasty meals are prepared in camp.
Our guide will assist in preparing backpacks with the team, discussing the route for the next 3 days and giving a safety talk.
Setting off early in the morning after a light breakfast, our guide will lead us on ancient elephant trails and other game paths covering approximately 10 kilometres per day. The walking is generally flat, and you will hike through a variety of flora including Mopane woodland, and thicker forest scrub where you have a chance to see the near endemic Crested Guinea Fowl and of course other wildlife.
Along the way our guide will do his best to take you in close to several secrets, off the beaten waterholes that are frequented by elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, Wild Dog and other plains game like eland, nyala, kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, warthog and baboon. The Ruckomechi River also courses its way in the same direction as your trek towards the Zambezi River and our guide will meander close to the river which in the dry season of August may still have pools frequented by elephant that fascinatingly excavate deep down to find precious water beneath the sands.
The riverine vegetation consists of stunning hardwood trees like African Ebony, Leadwood, Nyala berry and Wild mango and the birdlife consists of an excellent diversity of over 350 species in the national park.
Lunch times are casual packed lunch affairs in a shady spot overlooking a pan or smaller river. Typically, the walks are aimed to enjoy the high density of flora and fauna and of course the thrill is that of walking in “Big Game” country where your armed guide is expert at guiding you along at a gentle controlled pace in harmony with our environment.
After each day’s walk, we will meet up with our camp and camp staff, enjoy a comfortable bed and delicious dinner prepared by the staff and enjoy a hot shower under the stars. Relaxing around the campfire after a good day’s trek is a superb end to each day!
We will end the walking safari at an exclusive tented camp on the Zambezi River, with the staff awaiting you. Basis: Fully Inclusive - Drinks: All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers included) O
ur Rooms Odyssey Tented Camp (Twin beds)
Day 6 - 8 |7th – 10th of August 2026 –Mana Shoreline Canoe Safari
Based on the banks of the Zambezi River, overlooking the slow-moving waters of this mighty river and with the Zambian escarpment as a backdrop, Camp Shumba is perfectly placed to offer you a magnificent setting to your African safari and is the starting point for your 4-night canoeing safari.
Mana Pools National Park is a World Heritage Site and encompasses an area of a quarter million hectares in the north of Zimbabwe. The Park is famous for its flood plains with its unique Acacia Albida forests that set the stage for the everyday interactions between its many varied inhabitants: Lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, Painted Hunting Dogs, hyena, hippo, crocodile, zebra, kudu, waterbuck and eland are just some of them.
The birdlife as you’d expect on Africa’s fourth largest river is excellent, especially the myriads of larger raptors like African Fish eagle, Bateleur eagle, Pel’s Fishing owl, Giant Eagle Owl, Brown Snake eagle, Marabou Stork, 4 species of vulture, and Martial eagle.
Our river camp like Camp Chitake is a mobile tented camp and our spacious walk-in tents are totally mosquito-gauzed and sealed. They have comfortable stretcher beds, side table & LED light, cupboard space for your clothes.
On day 6, it’s a leisurely morning to recover from the 3 days of trekking. It’s a good time to enjoy a game drive which gives you an opportunity to traverse this vast area, with the prospect of some amazing sightings: – the sheer splendour of seeing big bull elephants stand on their back legs to reach the top branches of the Acacia albida to pluck the fruit off this life giving tree, or the huge herds of buffalo slowly moving beneath the trees feeding on the fallen pods. Around every corner there is the anticipation of something exciting about to happen.
After activities in the morning lunch will be served usually consisting of cold meats, a variety of salads and freshly baked breads. After a refreshing lunch break, we will take a short drive to the canoe launch-spot near the confluence of the Ruckomechi and Zambezi Rivers. Here, the guide will give a full safety briefing, pointing out where all equipment - such as the first aid kit - is kept, as well as explaining what to do in an emergency.
The briefing also covers the basic techniques of steering and controlling the Canadian-style 5.5m (18 ft) canoes. We depart downstream, by canoe, returning to your mobile tented camp. This first afternoon of paddling is taken at a slow pace, allowing us time to become acquainted with the canoes and methods of steering. We should now begin to see some of the multitude of animals and birds attracted to the water’s edge. Hippo, buffalo, elephant and crocodile, as well as a variety of antelope species, may be seen.
Arrival at camp is around sunset. The camp will be fully prepared, and we will be able to sit back and relax with sundowners and snacks – tea and coffee, hot showers are also available.
A campfire is already burning, and this is invariably where we will gather to discuss the day’s events and plan for the morning. In the background your support staff and resident bush cook are busy preparing a three-course dinner for us.
On day 7 an early wake-up as dawn breaks. Hot water for freshening up will be placed in raised basins outside each tent, while tea, freshly brewed coffee, muffins or home-made biscuits are already waiting by the campfire. While we pack up kit, the support staff load the canoes with all required for the day ahead. We need only worry about a waterproof dry sack or bum bag carrying essentials such as sun block, camera/phone, sun hat and binoculars.
The aim is to be in the canoes and on the water in time to watch the sunrise. As one of the most magical times of day, we will be enchanted as we drift along quietly, listening to the sounds of the African wild wakening to a new day.
Following paddling for couple of hours, breakfast takes place under a grove of acacia trees. After breakfast, we can set off on a walk on the floodplain and surrounding woodlands. This is a great time to try and view predators before they hide-up for the day. You may even be lucky enough to spot one or more of the diurnal animals making their way down to the river. This walk offers an opportunity, not only for game viewing, but also to explore some of the more interesting aspects of the environment.
We will spot a variety of animal spoor and may even find themselves engrossed in tracking down a particular species. Our guide will share fascinating facts about strange insects and spiders as well as a wealth of knowledge about this miniature world that forms such an integral part of the bush. Sounds of many brightly coloured birds can be heard while marvelling at the beauty and tranquillity of this unique area.
Returning to the canoes we head downstream to an area renowned for its huge, old elephant bulls. The guide tries to time the trip to catch them swimming or wading out to the grass islands, where the canoes will be able to glide quietly alongside these awesome giants. Their age makes them placid enough that they tend to ignore the canoes.
Lunch break coincides with the heat of the day. The canoes are pulled up below a grove of mahogany trees whose dense shade provides a welcome relief. The meal generally consists of cold meats, freshly prepared salads, pizza or quiche and cheese and biscuits. After eating and drinking ice-cold drinks, we have a choice to either take another short walk through the mahogany forest or to just relax and enjoy an afternoon siesta.
The late afternoon and evening are spent drifting down to camp and enjoying the game and birding along the river’s edge. Our welcoming support staffs are waiting at camp which is reached by sunset.
Basis:
Fully Inclusive - Drinks: All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers
included) O
ur Rooms
Odyssey Tented Camp. (Twin beds)
Day 9| 10th August 2026 – Transfer from Camp 1 Camp Zambezi Shoreline Canoe Safari
This follows the same basic itinerary as the days before, with a predawn wake up and sunrise whilst drifting down the Zambezi. However, this is the day that we will enter the “Wilderness Area” of Mana Pools National Park where there is limited access to people and vehicles. In fact, the only road is 3 to 5 kilometres in-land – the same one our support team will use. From here on you are entering a much more remote environment.
Breakfast may be taken on the Mbera River floodplain, which comprises stunning acacia woodland with large patches of thick “Adrenaline” grass – a habitat much favoured by all the predators. Towards the end of the dry season, it also hosts large groups of female elephants with their babies.
The day is spent paddling through a maze of small channels before once again joining the main Zambezi. For a change, lunch is on one of the shallow sandbanks in the middle of the river, where a table and chairs are set up in ankle deep water with the whole width of the river stretching out on either side. Depending on water levels and time allowed, there may be an opportunity to explore Chikwenya Island on foot. This unique island is the largest on this section of the river and is host to prolific bird life as well as several interesting mammal species. In the afternoon we will paddle into Ilala Camp. Basis: Fully Inclusive -Drinks: All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers included) Our Rooms: Odyssey Tented Camp (Twin beds)
Day 10| 11th August 2026
Today will follow a similar pattern to previous days before meeting our mobile camp and staff on the banks of the Zambezi further down in the Park.
After the choice of an early morning activity and breakfast, we will be driven back to Mana Main Airstrip where our air charter flies you to Robert Mugabe International Airport (HRE Harare). Please note the actual flight time will be given 24 hours before by Grand Air. Basis: Fully Inclusive - Drinks: All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers included) Our Rooms Odyssey Tented Camp, (Twin beds)
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