Victoria Falls and Mana Pools

The Location’s

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

MOSI-OA-TUNYA

The majestic Victoria Falls is an obvious must do, must visit and must see destination. Victoria Falls town and resort boasts a multitude of activities which make it a great place to visit. Besides the roaring falls that stand before the raging Zambezi River which in themselves are the true reason for the visit, there are a number of other exhilarating activities that one can partake in. Bungee jumping, white water rafting, abseiling and of course the luxurious river boat cruises are all available in one place.

Victoria Falls known as the “Smoke that thunders” in the local Tonga language, is the largest single curtain of falling water in the world and 70% of the exquisite views are seen from the Zimbabwe rain forest. The rain forest which has constant rain 24/7 from the never ending spray of the Falls, has unique ecosystem. It is a botanists dream and bird lovers’ paradise. There are species here that don’t occur anywhere else, and our recommendation is to look just a little beyond the pathway and the numerous viewpoints. One of the beauties is that the area has not become over commercialized. In fact, once you are standing by the Falls your view will not be much different to that of David Livingstone’s who first saw the Falls in 1855.Walking within the Falls is a couple of kilometres and it does get very hot.

MANA POOLS

Mana Pools Zimbabwe, Arguably the wildest protected wilderness reserve offering photographers the unique opportunity to encounter some of Africa’s big 5 on foot up-close and personal in the spectacular Zambezi Valley. Their are almost no places quiet like Mana Pools where guests can explore and experience the wild nature with the thrill of being on foot and not restricted to a 4×4 vehicle. When we have the opportunity to track some wildlife on foot or a pride of lions get out of view up the dry river bed then we can follow on foot and get those national geographic shots we all have been trying for.

Mana Pools National Park is located in Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River and the border of Zambia. The park covers an area of 2,612 square miles (6,766 sq km).

This broad plain area generates a series of lakes during the rainy season. As the waters begin to recede, the remaining pools become excellent game viewing locations as wildlife flocks to these natural watering holes. It is these remaining pools that draw the animals and create this spectacular game viewing setting.

The Mana Pools were combined with the Sapi Safari Area and Chewore Safari Area to create a single UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984
The remoteness of the Mana Pools helps travellers engage the true sense of a wilderness experience while also increasing the intrigue and adventure of discovering Africa.

The banks of the river beds and the pools give way to lush forests of acacia, baobabs, ebonies, fig, and mahogany trees. The pools are also home to Zimbabwe’s largest population of hippos and crocodiles. During the dry season, these are easily seen lining the banks of the pools sunning or grazing.

The dry season brings herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, eland, waterbuck, antelope, and other ungulates to the pools for drinking water. This means it is an excellent place to find the predator species of cheetah, hyena, leopard, lion, and wild dog waiting to pounce on vulnerable prey.

Although the rhino used to graze amongst the mana pools, poachers have led it to extinction for the area. The other four of the Big 5, (lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo, can all be found in the park boundaries.
Birdwatchers will also enjoy the incredible opportunities the Mana Pools provide with over 450 species of birds nesting or migrating through the park area.
Traveling to Zimbabwe to visit the Mana Pools National Park between the months of July and October are in for a special treat as wildlife tends to congregate near the pools of the floodplains as the dry season dries up watering holes in other areas.

Lion, leopard, hyena, and wild dog are the predators that visitors can hope to experience. Elephant, zebra, buffalo, hippopotamus, and crocodile are some of the more popular game species that visitors can hope to see.
One of the unique features of a Mana Pools experience is the ability to encounter and view wildlife from both the land and water. This gives stunning views of the dramatic landscapes as well as different views and perspectives of the wildlife. This increases your chances of seeing more and different wildlife species.

These watering holes are tremendous places to witness wildlife congregating to drink, eat, and survive. For some the water is life sustaining, whereas for others it serves as a trap by pending predators watching for every opportunity to catch their next meal.