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3-Night Zambezi River Sunset Cruise
Luxury houseboat experience on the wild Zambezi
- Luxury accommodation
- All meals
- Game viewing
Zimbabwe attraction
Mana Pools
A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Zambezi.
About this place
Mana Pools is Zimbabwe's walking-safari park — guides can take you on foot in big-game country, including with elephant. The riverine forest of giant acacia and mahogany creates one of the most photographed safari landscapes in Africa: cathedral-like trees, soft light, and elephants standing on their hind legs to feed.
What to do
Walking safaris with licensed guides (the park's signature offering)
Canoe safaris on the Zambezi (multi-day options available)
Game drives along the river floodplain
Fishing for tiger fish (catch and release, October-November best)
Photography hides
Practical information
Park is open April through November (closed wet season because the road in floods). Fly-in from Harare or Lusaka is the standard access. Premium camps include Nyamatusi, Vundu, and Kanga Camp. Visit June-October for the strongest game viewing.
Combine with
Lower Zambezi (Zambia side, same river)
Hwange
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Yes, popular options include: Victoria Falls Backpackers (Zimbabwe), Shoestrings Backpackers, and in Livingstone: Jollyboys Backpackers, Fawlty Towers. Prices: $15-25 for dorms, $40-60 for private rooms. Often include bars, pools, and tour booking services.
Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) serves the Zimbabwe side and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI) serves Livingstone, Zambia. Both have basic facilities including currency exchange, car rentals, and transfers to hotels. VFA has recently been upgraded with improved terminals and amenities.
Zimbabwe side: VFA (Victoria Falls International Airport). Zambia side: LVI (Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Livingstone). These codes are used for flight bookings and airport identification.
The Zimbabwe side offers: 75% of the viewpoints, better panoramic views, the main falls viewpoint, Devil's Cataract, Danger Point, and excellent photography spots. The town has more infrastructure, shops, and restaurants. Entrance: $30 for international visitors.
It depends: Zimbabwe has more viewpoints and better overall views. Zambia offers unique experiences like Devil's Pool and closer waterfall access. Most visitors recommend seeing both sides if possible. Zimbabwe is better for first-time visitors wanting comprehensive views.
There are several licensed operators including: Batoka Sky, Zambezi Helicopter Company, and United Air Charters. All follow strict safety regulations. Flights depart from both Zimbabwe and Zambia sides, with similar pricing and routes.
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