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The legendary Mana Pools is known for its wildlife rich flood plains and magnificent views of the Zambezi River. The river boasts of some of Africa's most amazing tiger fishing and adventure canoeing safaris, creating the perfect combination of beauty and fun and making this World Heritage site a must-visit national park. Zambezi Expeditions offers one of the best ways to experience Mana Pools on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. The 12-bedded luxury mobile camp is set up prior to your arrival near the Zambezi River, providing you with the opportunity to canoe and fish either from the banks or off an island in the middle of the river. One of the main highlights is a game drive along the flood plain in an open 4 x 4 Land Cruiser that takes you into the heart of an Africa dream abounding with the continent's unique animals - eland, elephant, African wild dogs, water buck, big herds of buffalo, kudu, lion and leopard. With 6 twin-bedded tents and en-suite bathroom facilities that include flush toilets and an alfresco hot bucket shower, the camp gives "Glamping" a new definition by virtue of its detailed furnishings that include 12 volt lighting and charging facilities for cameras. A well serviced mess tent with a dining and seating area forms part of the camp. The camp has a minimum stay of two nights for a minimum of two people and is the perfect combination to include with Kanga Camp to give you an overall experience of Mana Pools, both inland and riverside. Two night stays can be requested for larger groups of a minimum of ten people.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quaint
Mid-range
Location
Along the Zambezi River, Mana Pools National Park Zimbabwe
This was our last safari camp (of 4) on our recent trip to Zimbabwe and what a high to end our holiday on. From the moment we arrived to the day we left we enjoyed every moment. Peter our guide looked after us so well and we enjoyed our time in his company. We felt that it was so important for him that we got the best experience from our stay in Zambezi expeditions, that his care, enthusiasm and knowledge were faultless. He was great company and we saw and learned so much. Every member of staff in the camp was so friendly and welcoming we were blown away. The camp was well appointed. The tents were spacious, very clean and comfortable with the added touch of the most beautiful hand made robes for our use and some treats in a jar. Hot water was provided for our bucket showers whenever we needed it. In the main area there was access to Wi-Fi and a recharging station. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol were available anytime. Food was wonderful and the wine on offer every evening changed according to the menu. Each one being superb. We were provided with our own water bottles which was then given to us at the end of the trip to take home. We had wonderful sighting's of lots of animals but probably the most exciting encounter for us was early in the morning when we had just arrived to the main area of the camp for coffee before our game drive, and a large group of wild dog were spotted in the camp chasing something. Cups were dropped and we jumped in the truck and followed them to encounter, just moments later, that they were feeding on what remained of their kill. A hyena was scouting the area looking for a share in the spoils but kept his distance. We were so lucky to see wild dog as this animal had alluded us on our previous safari trips. Not only did we see them but we also saw 3 small cubs who had just emerged from the den the previous day. We encountered this group on two more occasions allowing us plenty of time to sit and watch them. On our last evening at the edge of the camp we heard in the darkness lots of hooves moving quickly across the ground to discover it was a large group of buffalo being followed by 3 lionesses. We also got to see Boswell the elephant in all his glory and although we didn’t see Mitch, the resident hippo, we did hear him around our tent at night! The sounds at night time of hippo, hyena and lions (to name but a few) were amazing. We also enjoyed canoeing on the Zambezi followed by a wonderful sundowner. On our last morning the staff came to the main area to say goodbye and sang to us as we left the camp and headed for the airstrip. I have to say I struggled to keep it together knowing that our time had come to an end and I was sad to say goodbye. I cannot begin to convey how amazing our trip was to Zimbabwe, with each camp along the way adding its own unique charm and professionalism it was all in all amazing. We have retuned home buzzing from our trip and all the wonderful people we met along the way and our hearts are full of desire to return again in the future.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 22 Jul 2024
Thank you for your sterling review and for sharing the amazing experience you had. We can't wait to see you again soon for another unforgettable African safari experience.
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This is a place for nature lovers who want to be close to animals. We had elephants walking through camp, wild dogs right by us and there’s a hippo who sleeps nearby. The tents are comfortable with fans and flush toilets and bucket showers. It can get hot so if your sensitive plan accordingly. They have a plunge pool in the camp that was used as it was 43 Celsius (110f) when I was there. The staff are always helpful and the food was delicious. Main charging area for your devices. You can canoe or fish or do game drives. We approached wild dogs, elephants, hyena and a hippo. You can only do this in Mana pools. At night you can hear the hippos in the channel .
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:It gets very hot in October
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 09 Jan 2024
Thank you for your lovely review Christy. Glad you enjoyed your stay!
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This is a seasonal camp and the most rustic of the ABC camps in Zimbabwe that we stayed in. We were here for 4 nights and we loved the feel of camping while not going without the luxuries of a full king size bed and ensuite bathroom with piping hot shower via a bucket shower. The rooms were always in immaculate condition when we returned from our morning game drive and laundry was complimentary and returned the same day. The staff here were very attentive and we were amazed by the variety and quality of the food the chef was able to produce. There is no electrical power in the rooms but this was not an issue as you are able to charge all your devices safely in the admin office. Cloud was our guide and has extensive experience in this region and in particular navigating the Zambezi via canoe. We loved that we had the opportunity to leave the game vehicle while on a drive with Cloud if we saw a great sighting, due to Clouds experience and qualifications allowing for a spontaneous guided walk. We had the exceptional experience of a wild dog sighting and were able to sit in very close proximity to the dogs for almost 2 hours. We also saw the famous elephant called Boswell on 2 occasions and experienced crocodiles and hippos under a spectacular sunset during the 90 min canoe ride with Cloud. We also enjoyed regular visits from elephant and hippo around our tent. Sebastien was the ultimate host and combined with all the staff at this camp we had a wonderful experience on the banks of the Zambezi river. Highly recommend this camp.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 19 Sept 2022
Thank you so much for your review. We're glad you enjoyed your time at Zambezi expeditions and so happy that you got to meet Boswell! We'll pass on the regards
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The Good - • Camp is well organized and spotless. Location is wonderful, right on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. • We loved that there was no fencing around the camp or the concession, allowing animals to come and go easily . Elephants and Mitch, the camp hippo, hung out a lot at camp, along with non-aggressive baboons, monkeys, and lots of birds and water fowl. • Loved all the grunting the hippos did night and day; it lulled me to sleep at night. • Splash pool is a nice touch and well kept by attentive staff. How fun to not be able to use it because elephants were too close. • Food was good for the most part and plentiful. Because our previous camp had plated such huge portions for meals, we asked the chef here to serve us smaller portions which he did. • Accommodation was very nice with comfortable bed and functional bathroom with flushing toilet. Staff do a great job at providing warm or hot water for bucket showers whenever you want, but it’s just too much like a regular camping sun shower for me. I acknowledge it’s the best that could be done in such a remote setting though. My husband loved the bucket showers. • Staff work really hard to make you comfortable and keep you happy. They knew it was our 30th wedding anniversary and surprised us with a candlelit dinner and champagne on the “patio” of our tent. That gesture was incredibly nice and something we will never forget ! A highlight of our stay at Mana Pools for sure. Thank you! • Our guide TK was the best guide we could have asked for. His knowledge about birds, animals, trees, and the area was unmatched by any other guide we had our entire trip. His love of Africa’s flora and fauna are impressive and make being with him a real joy. I can’t say enough good about him, even though he pushed my husband and I to get up super early for morning game drives. Once we were on the drive, I was easily caught up in his pure love of his job. One thing I can say about TK and no other guide, is that I confidently trusted him with my life as we approached animals on foot or crept up the river bank from the canoe to see lions relaxing nearby. • We had so many incredible experiences at this camp on the Zambezi that I immediately want to plan a return trip. • Good value.
The Bad – • The atmosphere around meals was too formal for our tastes. But everything else was so wonderful that this did not negate from our experience. The Ugly – • Nothing.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Every tent is on the banks of the Zambezi.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 07 Nov 2022
Hi there! Thank you for your review, we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and are glad to know it was great overall. We will try looking at making the dinners more casual and tailored to the guest's preferences. We hope you plan that return trip soon
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For the first time in our lives, we did not want to leave and go home. The staff, food, and accommodations were amazing. Please do the canoe trip and fishing, you wont regret. We had our own safari guide Cloud and he was extremely knowledgeable and patiently answered all of our questions. The location is perfect and we saw so many animals without crowds of people. A once in a lifetime trip, but we will be back!!!!
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Location
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Bring cash for tips, everyone is amazing!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 22 Jul 2024
Your review is greatly appreciated, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We are delighted that you had a wonderful experience. Game drives offer an extraordinary experience, allowing you to witness incredible wildlife while benefiting from the vast knowledge shared by our guides. We will be sure to pass on the compliments.
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The booking process was the most painful I have had to go through. Full of non-transparency. The price kept going up as we went through the email exchange process, and it was always hidden deep in attached pdf files, rather than in clear text. We were dealing with the "director of sales" and she would consistently forget details of our trip, so we would have to keep on re-iterating parameters for our stay. It ended up being extremely expensive and way out of line for what was delivered. Although the staff were very friendly, I think there are better deals to be had at other camps in Mana
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 10 Sept 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the difficulties you experienced during the booking process. Transparency and clear communication are essential to us, and it's disappointing to hear that we fell short in these areas. We're glad to hear that the staff provided friendly service during your stay, but we are saddened that the overall experience did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will use it to improve both our booking procedures and the experience we deliver to guests.
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A beautiful camp with very nice , but also originally authentic tents. The location by the waterhole is unique; we saw hundreds of elephants in one day. The food is very tasty. The guides are dedicated and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I loved it here at Zambezi Expeditions. The comfortable beds/pillows/tents, the location on the Zambezi, excellent food and drink, and most of all, the amazingly warm and wonderful staff. If you want to feel like family, this is the place to go. We were fortunate to have Cloud as our guide and I always felt safe and looked after with him along. We were able to do walking safaris every day, getting safely close to Boswell and other elephants, spent time with a bunch of wild dogs, on the ground photographing hippos, you name it. There was a bull elephant that frequented the bushes and trees just outside my tent (between 3&4) a couple days and elephants commonly came near the main reception area of the camp. Amazing place in the best location with the kindest and most attentive staff. I actually cried when we drove off.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 09 Jan 2024
Thank you for your heart-warming review Janet! We hope to see you travel with us again.
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This was the first Safari camp we had ever visited. Except for the drought conditions it was perfect. The staff are fantastic: so warm and welcoming. Sebastien and Michele were outstanding hosts and anticipated anything and everything we might need or want: shower buckets filled, batteries charged, a nice cool drink. When we arrived by aircraft, Simeon our excellent guide whisked us away immediately on a game drive (with our permission) to see the rare Painted Dogs. He had a difficult time getitng us there since it was coming on dusk and we wanted to linger viewing Elephants, Eland, and many other wildlife. Simeon was and excellent guide and we loved the walking Safaris and the Canoe Safari on the Zambezi. The tents look out over the Zambezi and every night we were serenaded with a "tuba" symphony from the Hippos! Food, wine and drinks were excellent. We were amazed at the skill of the chef to prepare and present such beautiful food in the small and very hot bush kitchen. Zambezi expeditions strikes the right balance of luxury and primitive accomodation and we would love to come back.
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Date of stay: November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from tradeABC, Public Relations Manager at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 27 Jan 2020
Good Day, We are glad you enjoyed you stay at Zambezi Expeditions. We will be sure to send through your feedback to our team. We look forward to welcoming you back soon! With Regards, The African Bush Camps Team
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Remarkably real, authentic experience; living in camp right on the Zambezi river; each accommodation tent had a full view of the river, the animals and life happenings therein.
The elephants, on their daily travels, move through the edge of the camp; the sound and sights of hippos, hyenas, wild dogs, .... , the occasional large cat....abound... it's quite amazing.
The camp sits on the open flood plain of the Zambezi river, which makes the terrain particularly interesting - rich, flat, nuanced landscapes, punctuated by remarkable eucalyptus trees, that emerge from the plain, with elephants reaching up to the low hanging leaves to eat, and wort hogs, scurrying about in the brush underneath.
In addition to the daily outings on the plains, make sure to take the canoe trip down the Zambezi; there are several worthy guides but try to get Cloud if you can; he is the master of the rive and has spent many years navigating successfully the hippo pods, who do their best to laugh at the watery travelers, and the occasional crocodile, while allowing you to enjoy the remarkable ride.
The rest of the staff is very professional and will make your stay a memorable one. The food is also excellent - as is the South African wine.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from African Bush Camps African Bush Camps, Marketing at Zambezi Expeditions
Responded 22 Nov 2022
We're glad you had a memorable stay, and that you're a fan of our wine selection and food. The chefs do a great job. We're happy you had a lovely stay and hope you'll be back again
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Hi Fairgo,
How exciting that you are planning a trip to Mana Pools- it is SUCH an incredible area, truly wild and untouched. African Bush Camps sister company, Safari Logistics, does daily seat rate charters from both Harare and Victoria Falls. Email kate @ african bush camps . com (no spaces) and she will be delighted to help you make a booking.
Enjoy your day and we hope to see you on safari soon!
The African Bush Camps Team
Hi Paitel,
Thanks very much for your question.
The is no splash pool at Zambezi Expeditions but there are canoe safari's available.
For more information, please email contact @ africanbushcamps . com, one of our dedicated travel consultants will be able to help you with your inquiry.
Have a lovely day, and hope to see you on safari with African Bush Camps soon :)
Best Wishes,
Jemma
African Bush Camps PR
There are more places to choose from in the Mana Pools National Park area.
LOCATION
ZimbabweMashonaland Central ProvinceMana Pools National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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