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Mana Pools Canoe and Drive
Location:
Mana Pools
Accommodation:
Camping
Price:
$960
Max group size:
12
Days:
5
A new trip combining a canoe safari along the shore line of the Mana Pools Safari area, and game drives within the National Park.
DAY ONE
Depart Kariba for Chirundu 2 hour road transfer to Zambezi River launch site. Should you be meeting us by pre arranged transfers from Harare or Lusaka on the morning of departure we aim to meet at the Tiger Safaris launch site by 10.30am.
After launching the canoes there will be a guides briefing covering safety and canoe orientation.
Depending on the time we may have an early lunch before setting off on the river to save time stopping again before evening camp is made.
This day we cover a 15km stretch of river with some interesting channels to negotiate early on in the trip where elephant frequently occur on the grassy islands that abound in the area.
We aim in winter to reach our over night island by 5pm in winter and by 5.30pm in summer. As mentioned before everyone is expected to assist in setting up their tents and bedding and dealing with the contents of their canoes
DAY TWO
We rise early to make the cool part of this day after tea/coffee and biscuits whilst using this usually calm time of day to make reasonable head way before the wind picks up. After a few hours canoeing, we stop off for an hour’s breakfast before setting off downstream again until we find a shady stop. Lunch is taken on main land where we are more likely to find deeper shade to retreat into when the day is at its hottest. Lunch is taken usually between 12.30 and 2.30 pm where there is time for a quick lie down on the camping mattresses while we wait out the heat.
By 3 pm we are on our way again through to our island camp site which the guide will choose according to the progress being made on that day.
Should all go according to plan we should comfortably cover approx 25km on this day with a variable river current carrying us along at 4 km along assuming there is no wind factor.
DAY THREE
Again on this day we strive to emulate the previous day’s distances with much the same routine. This day however becomes a little more interesting as the river splits into a multitude of channels when we approach the Main Mana flood plain area. Guides frequently take the opportunity to break off into these quiet back waters opening up an entirely different view of the fauna and flora along the river system.
Camp on this day is set up on an island amongst a grove of Mahogany trees.
DAY FOUR
On this day we have breakfast on the island followed by a leisurely 5 km paddle to the take out point in Mana Pools.
Here we meet our support vehicle where we load up the canoes and equipment for a short drive to our camp site in Mana Pools main camp. After lunch and siesta the rest of the afternoon is taken up by a game drive through the park stopping at various points of interest. Generally we will be back at our camp by 5 pm where there are ablution facilities as it’s advisable to shower before dark.
DAY FIVE
Early morning rise tea /coffee before embarking on a short drive to an area where we conduct a 2 – 3 hour walk in inland Mana Pools. After a brunch back at camp we depart on our return transfer to Kariba Approx two hours through thick inland Mopani woodland and scrub with the remaining 2hours on tar road.
We generally aim to be back in Kariba by mid to late afternoon. Connecting transfers can be made from Makuti and Chirundu taking you to either Harare or Lusaka on the same day if required however we suggest transfers out are caught the following day from Kariba where ever possible.
DAY ONE
Depart Kariba for Chirundu 2 hour road transfer to Zambezi River launch site. Should you be meeting us by pre arranged transfers from Harare or Lusaka on the morning of departure we aim to meet at the Tiger Safaris launch site by 10.30am.
After launching the canoes there will be a guides briefing covering safety and canoe orientation.
Depending on the time we may have an early lunch before setting off on the river to save time stopping again before evening camp is made.
This day we cover a 15km stretch of river with some interesting channels to negotiate early on in the trip where elephant frequently occur on the grassy islands that abound in the area.
We aim in winter to reach our over night island by 5pm in winter and by 5.30pm in summer. As mentioned before everyone is expected to assist in setting up their tents and bedding and dealing with the contents of their canoes
DAY TWO
We rise early to make the cool part of this day after tea/coffee and biscuits whilst using this usually calm time of day to make reasonable head way before the wind picks up. After a few hours canoeing, we stop off for an hour’s breakfast before setting off downstream again until we find a shady stop. Lunch is taken on main land where we are more likely to find deeper shade to retreat into when the day is at its hottest. Lunch is taken usually between 12.30 and 2.30 pm where there is time for a quick lie down on the camping mattresses while we wait out the heat.
By 3 pm we are on our way again through to our island camp site which the guide will choose according to the progress being made on that day.
Should all go according to plan we should comfortably cover approx 25km on this day with a variable river current carrying us along at 4 km along assuming there is no wind factor.
DAY THREE
Again on this day we strive to emulate the previous day’s distances with much the same routine. This day however becomes a little more interesting as the river splits into a multitude of channels when we approach the Main Mana flood plain area. Guides frequently take the opportunity to break off into these quiet back waters opening up an entirely different view of the fauna and flora along the river system.
Camp on this day is set up on an island amongst a grove of Mahogany trees.
DAY FOUR
On this day we have breakfast on the island followed by a leisurely 5 km paddle to the take out point in Mana Pools.
Here we meet our support vehicle where we load up the canoes and equipment for a short drive to our camp site in Mana Pools main camp. After lunch and siesta the rest of the afternoon is taken up by a game drive through the park stopping at various points of interest. Generally we will be back at our camp by 5 pm where there are ablution facilities as it’s advisable to shower before dark.
DAY FIVE
Early morning rise tea /coffee before embarking on a short drive to an area where we conduct a 2 – 3 hour walk in inland Mana Pools. After a brunch back at camp we depart on our return transfer to Kariba Approx two hours through thick inland Mopani woodland and scrub with the remaining 2hours on tar road.
We generally aim to be back in Kariba by mid to late afternoon. Connecting transfers can be made from Makuti and Chirundu taking you to either Harare or Lusaka on the same day if required however we suggest transfers out are caught the following day from Kariba where ever possible.