MANA CANOE & WALKING TRAIL
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The Mana Canoe & Walking Trail is an incredible journey that takes one to the heart of Mana Pools National Park and along its shore line. This camping safari traverses the full length of Mana Pools National Park, starting close to the western boundary of Mana Pools near Ruckomechi Camp and finishing 65 km downstream and many adventures away at the Chikwenya Camp airfield.
Departures are every Monday or Thursday from May through mid November each year. We spend each night on the banks of the Zambezi River moving further down stream. The attraction and fun of this safari is that guests have the opportunity to experience wildlife away from vehicles in canoes and on foot, at exceptionally close quarters under the direction of an experienced guide.
The canoes we use are sturdy Canadian canoes and are paddled by the guests. This is a journey for the adventurous and not for the faint hearted as animal encounters are very close.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Victoria Falls
Guests are transferred from Kariba or their previous overnight stay, to Ruckomechi Camp, by air transfer arriving at about midday. At approximately 2 pm, after meeting the guide and going through a thorough safety briefing, participants leave the Ruckomechi area in their Canadian canoes and paddle downstream to our mobile camp in the Mana Pools National Park. The camp will have already been set up in advance and the first afternoon of paddling covers about 10 to 11 kilometres. This is a relatively easy distance to cover in the time available and gives canoeists a chance to familiarise themselves with the various simple paddle strokes required.
Days 2 & 3
Typically, canoeists are awakened before dawn, at approximately 05h45, with tea/coffee and biscuits and we try to get onto the water just before sunrise. This is a magical time on the river as the water is usually dead calm and the peace and tranquility is amazing. After paddling for a short while, usually about 2 hours, we beach the canoes on the bank and set out for a game walk. The guide chooses a suitable area, based on his knowledge of the area and game movements and we take a few hours to explore on foot, and unravel some of the intricacies of the bush.
After returning to the canoes, and a light snack, we continue canoeing to a suitable lunch spot, arriving around mid-day. Lunch is carried in the canoes and usually consists of a salad and cold meats meal with a quiche or home baked pies, as well as bread rolls (freshly baked on the fire in camp). We normally rest up in the shade for a while or take another short walk before moving on at about 3pm to arrive at the next camp at dusk.
The camp, and all luggage, will have been moved by the camp staff and all that is required to be done by participants is to enjoy a hot shower under the stars, and a cold drink, followed by a fresh cooked meal and to sleep the sleep of the pleasantly weary. The daily distances covered from one camp to the next are around 20 to 25 kilometres and the daily routine will vary according to participant's abilities, needs and interests, as well as wildlife movements.
Day 4
After breakfast by the river, guests can either be transferred by Land Rover to the Chikwenya airstrip for the flight out or take a walk to Chikwenya Camp for an additional night or nights stay if they wish to spend more time in the wonderful Zambezi Valley.
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