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The Ultimate Zimbabwe Adventure Tour

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Mana Pools Canoe Trail. Canoeing down the Zambezi enables the adventurer to experience face to face, encounters with a variety of animals including elephants. Those who have done it, have witnessed the river . .
Country: Zimbabwe
City: Mana Pools National Park
Duration: 11 Day(s) - 10 Night(s)
Tour Category: Adventure Tours
Departure Date: Thu 01 Jan '99
Package Itinerary

Mana Pools Canoe Trail. Canoeing down the Zambezi enables the adventurer to experience face to face, encounters with a variety of animals including elephants. Those who have done it, have witnessed the river in all its moods, and seen the lions, the birds, the wondrous forests. Along the way the guide will stop at selected spots for game walks. Accommodation is in two-person walk-in tents, supported by hot showers and bush toilets.

Highlights of this itinerary

  • Enjoy a game drive along the Zambezi River, enjoying elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and more.
  • Silently drift up to kingfishers and bee-eaters in your canoe and see how close you can get.
  • Sit around a crackling campfire in the heart of Mana Pools National Park listening to the sounds of an African night and watching for shooting stars in the night sky
  • The bird life of Matusadona is one of its outstanding features and for the fish eagle in particular, the remnants of the drowned forests of Kariba provide an abundant bonus of nesting sites.
  • Experience the thundering sound and impressive spray that gives the Falls its local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya which means the "Smoke that Thunders".

Seasons
The Mana Canoe Trail: Low Season is 01 May to 14 June; High Season is 15 June to 15 November.

Day 1: Harare International Airport - Mana Pools National Park.

On arrival at Harare airport you will be met and connect by private charter onto Ruckomechi Camp in the Mana Pools National Park. On arrival you will be able to relax in your luxury tent at Ruckomechi Camp. Ruckomechi is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River and has stunning views.

Ruckomechi Camp: accommodates guests in ten spacious en-suite tented units, including a honeymoon suite, all of which overlook the Zambezi River. Each tent has both indoor and outdoor showers, and the camp boasts a favourite amongst guests: its outdoor 'bath-with-a-view' in a secluded, scenic spot. The central dining, bar, library and lounge areas face the escarpment and are connected to the rest of the camp by low-level walkways that minimise our environmental impact. There is a separate deck with infinity pool for swimming and sun bathing, and an inviting, cushion-strewn star gazing deck.

The area: is renowned for large numbers of elephant, buffalo, hippo and eland, especially in the winter when they concentrate along the river. Predators such as lion, leopard and wild dog are all found in the area. Birdlife is superb, particularly for both mopane woodland and riverine species with numerous local specials like Collared Palm-Thrush, Racket-tailed Roller, Purple-banded Sunbird and Black-throated Wattle-Eyes.

Activities at Ruckomechi Camp include wildlife viewing in open 4x4 vehicles, on motorised pontoon boats, on foot and in canoes.

Day 2:Mana Pools

You will be able to enjoy a full days safari activities. Game drives explore the woodland, open plains and river banks. Mana is well known for its elephant which stand on their hind legs to reach the trees. As well as elephant Mana has excellent populations of buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, eland and more.

Day 3:Mana Pools

Another full day of safari activities. You may wish to go on a walking safari or take a boat trip on the river to enjoy the crocodiles and hippos. Mana has some wonderful birdlife with colourful species such as malachite kingfishers, saddle billed storks, spoonbills, carmine bee-eaters (in September and October) and more.

Day 4:Mana Pools

After a morning at Ruckomechi Camp you will join your Mana Canoe Trail. You'll start with a gentle afternoon paddle downstream. As you paddle your guides will point out animals and birds for you and there will be plenty of opportunity to take photographs. Arriving at your camp at night you'll find simple dome tents, bucket showers and a roaring campfire. After dinner under the stars you can retire and rest your weary arms for the night!

Day 5:Mana Pools

On a typical canoe trail the paddling isn't normally too strenuous with 2-3 hours in the morning and about the same in the afternoon. In the morning you may stop for tea and a short walk, and at lunch time you'll break for a picnic and a snooze under a tree.

Day 6:Mana Pools

You have another full day on the Mana Canoe Trail, exploring the river and waterways and stopping for coffee, lunch and a snooze on the river banks. The canoe trail is a wild trip and for the adventurous. However, if you enjoy a wild safari it will suit you very well.

Day 7:Mana Pools – Matusadona National Park

After a short morning paddle you'll leave your canoe trail and have a transfer back to Kariba. You will be transferred to Bumi Safari Lodge situated approximately 55-km south west of Kariba town. You may be a little tired and so can enjoy a good meal and a late game activity.

The Lodge : Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is situated on top of a hill approximately 55-km south west of Kariba town. With the Zambezi escarpment as its backdrop, the well-known Bumi Hills Safari Lodge overlooks the foreshore below and the vastness of Lake Kariba. Each of the 20 bedrooms has a view of the lake and game can be seen grazing on the flatlands, which lead to the shore. All rooms have shower, radio, telephone, overhead fan and a balcony or veranda. The public areas include a lounge, a cocktail bar overlooking the Lake and a dining room under traditional African thatch from where there are vistas of the Lake in its various moods. Snacks are available on the poolside terrace.

Overnight Luxury Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: In Matusadona National Park

Activities: The Lodge offers a variety of activities which include game viewing by Land Rover, on foot accompanied by a professional guide and by boat. The sunset cruise provides guests with wonderful photographic opportunities especially of the famous Kariba sunsets.

Overnight Luxury Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 9,10 : Fly from Bumi Hills to Victoria Falls.

You will fly from Bumi Hills Safari Lodge to Victoria Falls airport, and on arrival you’ll be met and transferred to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

The Lodge : A testament to eco-friendly design, this 72-room lodge was created using local materials such as

stone and thatch. Rooms are air-conditioned and have balconies overlooking the wildlife-rich Zambezi National Park. Highlights include on-site game viewing platforms and The Boma, which offers a unique dining and cultural experience.

There is an evening dance troupe at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. The dancers are spectacular and, in the process of trying to out-dance each other, will provide you with an unforgettable evening as the trumpeting Kudu horns and rumbling drums – will become almost as familiar as the crash of the falls.

ACTIVITIES: Guided tours of Victoria Falls, cultural, museum and market tours, morning or evening game drives in Mosi-Oa-Tunya and morning or evening boat cruises on the Zambezi River. Victoria Falls is rated as one of the world’s top destinations for adrenaline and river activities. The most popular of these include (at an additional cost): seasonal white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swing, micro lighting over the Victoria Falls, brunch and breakfast canoe trips on the Zambezi and falls-edge dining.

Overnight Luxury Safari Lodge Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11: Tour Ends

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Victoria falls airport for your onward flight.

Trail Exploration includes:

  • Accommodation on a per person sharing basis, all meals from lunch on Day 1 to the end of the scheduled safari, a reasonable amount of soft drinks, mineral water, fruit juice, house wine and beer as well as local spirits such as gin and Amarula on camping days (excluding premium imported brands), National Park fees and activities as specified in the detailed itinerary.
Trail Exploration excludes:
  • International flights, visas, compulsory comprehensive insurance, laundry, all relevant entry and departure Government taxes, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, etc.), gratuities, optional extra activities, pre and post safari tours and meals or accommodation, any new Government taxes, levies, fuel or industry increases which are beyond our control.

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