Mana Pools National Park

Mana Pools National Park is a 2,196-square-kilometer wildlife conservation area situated in northernmost Zimbabwe along the lower Zambezi River, directly across the border from Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. Located in the Hurungwe District of Mashonaland West Province, the park forms the core of a 6,766-square-kilometer UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the neighboring Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas, and was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2013.The park derives its name from Mana, which means four in the local Shona language, referring to four permanent oxbow lakes created by the historical meanderings of the Zambezi River: Green Pool, Chisasiko, Chine, and Long Pool. During the summer rainy season, rising river waters flood the alluvial plains, transforming the terrain into broad expanses of water. As floodwaters recede during the dry winter months, animals congregate around these remaining water sources. The riverbanks and floodplains are shaded by dense riverine woodlands consisting of apple-ring acacia, natal mahogany, wild fig, and ebony trees, which transition inland toward dry mopane woodlands, jesse bush, and towering baobabs.Mana Pools supports large resident populations of hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, Cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, and endangered African wild dogs, as well as over 380 bird species. The park is internationally recognized for its elephants that balance on their hind legs to browse high acacia pods. Administered by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, the park is renowned for guided walking safaris, canoeing along the Zambezi River, game drives, and catch-and-release tigerfish angling.