Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Mana Pools National Park is a wildlife conservation area in Western Zimbabwe. It is a province of the lower Zambezi River where the flood plain turns into a broad expanse of lakes after each rainy season. As the lakes gradually dry up and recede, the region attracts many large animals in search of water, making it one of Africa's most renowned game-viewing regions.
The National park stretches across 2,500 square kilometres of river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs. It is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa and is one of the few places where you are likely to see elephant go up on their hind legs to reach the greatly favoured pods of the acacia trees.
The number of lodges and tented camps are carefully restricted. The best way to explore this magnificent area is by canoe safari, the sensation of slowly gliding past the colourful colonies of birds, whilst watching elephant swim over to reed covered islands is indescribable.