Hwange Vs. Mana Pools – Zimbabwe’s Top Two Safari Destinations
Yellow Zebra expert James has spent an extended amount of time on safari in both Hwange and Mana Pools national parks during trips to Zimbabwe. Here, he compares the safari experience in these two magnificent areas:
Zimbabwe has plenty of nature reserves and national parks to choose from, each boasting an array of diverse and beautiful landscapes. If you’re after the very best safari experiences in Zimbabwe, two corners of the country offer world-class safari game viewing – Hwange and Mana Pools national parks. These parks are true pioneers of ecosystem and wildlife protection, and the quality of guiding in both is high, as the pro-level guides are legendary.
Hwange, is in the far west of the country, on the border with Botswana. It’s the country’s oldest park and stakes its claim as Zimbabwe’s finest safari area, home to vast herds of elephant and sensational year-round game viewing. Mana Pools is, and I don’t use this word lightly, iconic. Few parts of Africa are as wild and distinctive – so alive with monstrously big trees, huge elephant herds, thunderous rivers, and mountain backdrops. The light against all these wonders is a photographer’s dream, and the sense of adventure is palpable when you’re on the ground here!
Below, I outline the main differences between the two parks, hopefully helping anyone who can’t choose between them. I’ll also share insight on the benefits of combining both in one safari trip.
Hwange National Park
Hwange offers the best game viewing in Zimbabwe. The mix of top guiding and multiple elephant sightings usually wins most people over! The park is kept wonderfully hydrated by an ingenious underground network of pumps, which feed various watering holes. Many of the lodges are located next to (or close by) one of these water sources, which are a magnet for wildlife.
With many local settlements surrounding the park boundaries, Hwange is also an excellent place to visit and learn about how communities live alongside wildlife. Imvelo’s and Wilderness’ camps have forged excellent relationships with villages, and you can have really authentic cultural experiences here. Another advantage of Hwange is that it’s within easy travel distance of Victoria Falls, so you can enjoy a couple of nights at the Falls before or after your Hwange safari. Air links between neighbouring safari countries, including Botswana, are also very efficient.
- Why visit? Hwange boasts exceptional guides, large numbers of elephant, lion, cheetah, sable, and roan, bush walks, photographic hides, the Elephant Express railway, and easy access to Victoria Falls.
- What does it do best? Elephant sightings, great value, convenient location, no need for flights (although I do recommend them), and insights into neighbouring community life.
Top lodges in or near Hwange
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Wilderness Davison’s
From C$836 – C$1,365 ppWilderness Davison’s is a great-value tented camp in Hwange’s ecologically diverse Linkwasha Concession. Here, year-round water sources attract an abundance of wildlife—from large herds of elephant and buffalo to predators like lion, leopard, cheetah, and…
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Hwange Bush Camp
From C$878 – C$1,142 ppHwange Bush Camp is privately owned and run. It’s a semi-permanent camp, taken down every November and put up again in readiness for the beginning of May. Occupying a remote location, it’s able to offer superb safari experiences! The accommodation is booked…
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Wilderness Little Makalolo
From C$1,072 – C$1,936 ppWilderness Little Makalolo (affectionately known as ‘Little Mak’) is an absolute gem from the Wilderness portfolio. Few places do authentic safari in a luxurious setting like Little Mak. Its location, in a private concession within Hwange, gives you great…
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Camp Hwange
From C$766 – C$1,504 ppStaff members here are committed to their work and have a passion for authentic safari. Altogether, they aim to ensure ‘a safari to remember’. Not only is the guiding great here – the food is excellent too!
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Somalisa Camp
From C$1,309 – C$2,061 ppFor travellers seeking authenticity in Hwange, Somalisa is hard to beat. The camp accepts children aged 7 years and older and we recommend constant supervision at all times as big game passes through camp!
Mana Pools National Park
Mana Pools is a park that any adventurous safari-goer simply has to visit. It’s up there with the Okavango Delta in terms of all its awe-inspiring natural beauty. You’re on the banks of the Zambezi River, which sustains nutrient-rich, alluvial soil floodplains, riverine forests, sandy islands, and albida forests. Scenically, it’s spectacular, with the mountain escarpment on the Zambian side forming a superb backdrop. While Hwange is known for its sheer numbers of elephants, Mana Pools is famous for its up-close encounters with them.
Walking safaris in Mana Pools are some of the finest on the continent. The guides have a level of knowledge of the area that’s encyclopaedic, and the wildlife is outstanding. This is also a great location for potentially seeing wild dog and an array of birdlife. Boating safaris on the Zambezi River also add a lovely dimension to your safari. If you like a spot of fishing, the huge tiger fish here are epic! Mana Pools is truly remote, which adds to its charm. Photographers will be drawn here for the famous and magical ‘blue haze’, which is a spectral, blue-tinted light that filters through the dense canopies of the albida trees.
- Why visit? Travel to Mana Pools to experience outstanding scenery, great guides, wild dog, bush walks, boating on the Zambezi, big tuskers, photographic ‘blue haze’, and authentic camps.
- What does it do best? Bush walks, elephant sightings on foot, wild dog, and tiger fishing.
Top Lodges in or near Mana Pools
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Wilderness Ruckomechi
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsSupremely positioned on the banks of the Zambezi, with river views and set to the stunning backdrop of the Zambezi escarpment, Wilderness Ruckomechi is one of the finest camps in this region of Zimbabwe. As it’s located in its own private reserve just to the…
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Wilderness Chikwenya
From C$2,270 – C$2,270 ppMana Pools and the Lower Zambezi are arguably the most stunning game-viewing areas on the continent. Yes, it’s that good! The rich mineral deposits made by the Zambezi in this stretch of river, as it bends and slows, give rise to the nutrient-rich floodplains…
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Nyamatusi Camp
From C$1,309 – C$2,061 ppNyamatusi Camp is owned and operated by African Bush Camps, an owner-run company that prides itself on authentic safaris within some of Africa’s wildest parks and reserves. Within Zimbabwe, Bush Camps also runs the impressive Somalisa properties, Bumi Hills…
When to travel
The time of year you travel may impact your choice of park. Our safari specialists will be able to advise on the best wildlife location for your travel dates. Hwange is a year-round safari destination, with its many watering holes offering superb ‘green season’ wildlife viewing. The ‘dry season’ is the best time of year for Hwange, however, as wildlife gathers in even larger numbers around these waterholes.
Mana Pools is much more seasonal, and most camps are closed from November/December to March/April. The rest of the year offers fantastic game viewing, with July to September being the best months. It does become increasingly hot heading into October, though.
Travel and access
If you’re going to choose between the two parks, an important consideration is travel access and budget. For the most part, you’ll need a light aircraft flight to visit Mana Pools, whereas Hwange is conveniently located near Victoria Falls and Bulawayo (where spending some time at Matobo Hills works really well). This means that Hwange can easily be incorporated into a ‘road transfer only’ safari, which is quite rare in the region. Having said that, I am a fan of flying as I believe it’s a big part of the visual experience and also maximizes your time in the bush.
Overall opinion
I hope this has helped anyone who’s struggling to decide whether to visit Mana Pools or Hwange. My recommendation is, of course, to visit both! The contrasts between the two, both in activities and topography, make for an exceptional and well-rounded trip, giving you the optimum game-viewing experience. If you’d like to discuss a safari to Zimbabwe, don’t hesitate to contact Yellow Zebra here.
