Walking/Canoe Safari

We invite you to join us on this most amazing raw out there walking/canoeing Safari in Zimbabwe. PNG Trekking Adventures spent 18 months putting together this expedition concentrating on the dynamics and needs of their past and future clients.

We now have a very unique package which once again is away from the tourist routes, catering for the fit and healthy with the additional and most importantly, educating themselves about the African bush and the animals that live in it.

You cannot go all the way to Africa and not visit Victoria Falls. This is where your adventure starts. One of the greatest attractions in the world. The Falls and tourist town of Victoria Falls are situated in the western most part of Zimbabwe. The mighty Zambezi River is 1.7 km wide at the point where it plunges from a maximum height of 107 metres into the gorge below. This is the world’s largest falling sheet of water.

The walk through the rain forest (which can be very wet) provides some of the best views of the Falls, as well as some close encounters with wildlife such as mongoose, bushbuck, vervet monkeys and warthog.

After Victoria Falls we fly into Mana Pools to begin our trekking safari. Mana Pools has an incredible amount and diversity of wildlife. Particularly in the dry months of September and October when the animals move closer to the river. Four of the big five can be seen here: lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo; as well as hippo, waterbuck, impala, zebra, eland, kudu, and over 380 species of bird life. The birds found here include Lilian’s lovebird, Livingstone’s flycatchers, kingfishers, herons, bee eaters, fish eagles, hornbills (including the ground hornbill), and coucals.

After 3 days trekking we start out canoeing adventure, paddling leisurely down the mighty Zambezi River. This is anything but dull. The river is busy with elephants, crocodiles, hippo’s, lions walking down the banks, just to name a few, and of course the magnificent bird life.

This is confronting, you are among the animals and looking at them at eye level. But once you have experienced this you will never go back to a driving safari. Families encouraged to book and give your children the opportunity to see animals that their grandchildren will not be privileged to see.

The Seasons of Mana Pools

Mana Pools is seasonal, with the first rains (Dec to Mar) the barren earth bursts into life with grasses and seeds that have lain dormant over the dry season. It is at this time that the impala drop their calves in unison with one of nature’s incredible ironies to overwhelm the ever present predators. Larger game like elephants and buffalo will generally move away from the flood plains, but some of the older resident bulls of both species tend to stay in their uninterrupted world. In winter (May to July) the pans start to dry up and the cow herds of elephant and buffalo start to return to the river. The flood plain becomes a mass of highways of integrated game trails as the animals compete for their share of the food. As the season gets drier (Aug to Nov) the predators come into their own due to the abundant numbers of prey congregating on the flood plain in search of water and the pods of the Acacia albida. By mid November the rain clouds are building every day and finally the heavens open to a scorched earth and so the cycle of life begins again.

Day 1: 31/08/24 Sunrock Guest House, Johannesburg

Having arrived at OR Tambo International Airport we will be met by the Sunrock Guesthouse shuttle and transferred to the guest house. It is family owner operated, only 4km from the airport, 10 minutes from either the Festival Mall in Kempton Park or East Rand Mall in Boksburg. Meals: B 

Day 2: 01/09/24 Batonka Guest Lodge, Victoria Falls

Having departed from Johannesburg for Victoria Falls, on your morning flight, we will be met at VF airport by Batonka Guest House shuttle. It is around 20 minutes drive to the Lodge in Victoria Falls.  

After booking in we can go and visit the Falls and surrounding rain forest to stretch our legs after the flights. 
The Lodge shuttle goes into town and the Falls 2.1klms away at 10am and 3pm. Taxi's are cheap and safe and can be booked outside of these times. 
For dinner tonight there is a choice of great restaurants around Victoria Falls. 

Day 3: 02/09/24 Victoria Falls

After a hearty breakfast, day 2 in Victoria Falls offers you the chance to enjoy a wide variety of activities, including a river cruise on the grand Zambezi River above the Vic Falls waterfall, 13 minute helicopter ride over the Falls, a canopy tour, a gorge swing or the flying fox, and elephant interaction, and much more!
Once again for dinner a wide choice of restaurants for our last night in Victoria Falls. Meals B

Day 4: 03/09/24 Chitake Mana Pools National Park

After breakfast at Batonka we will transfer to VF airport for our 2 hour small plane transfer to Mana Pools NP.
We will be met at Mana or Ruckomechi Airstrip by our guide and transferred on a game drive open 4x4 vehicle to our tented camp at Chitake Springs, a renowned magnet for wildlife and one of Africa's wildest location. 
After lunch and a siesta we will head out  on an afternoon safari walk to see what Chitake has to offer. Elephant, herds of Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Hyena and Painted Dogs frequent this sanctuary. 
Mana Pools is located in northern Zimbabwe the life giving power of the Zambezi River makes Mana Pools NP one of Zimbabwe's most lush and flourishing regions. The landscape is diverse and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural beauty. 

Day 5: 04/09/24 Chitake Mana Pools NP

Day 2 of our walking safari will involve usually both an early morning and late afternoon guided walk tracking animals.
Our exclusive mobile tent camp is located very close to the Chitake Spring itself, we get the opportunity to sit and watch and photograph the exciting array of wildlife that come down to drink. 

Day 6: 05/09/24 Chitake Mana Pools NP

Day 3 of our walking safari will involve usually both an early morning and late afternoon guided walk.
Between walks again can take our camp chairs down to the spring and view the animals coming own to drink. 

Day 7: 06/09/24 Mana Shoreline Canoe Safari

This morning after our walking safari mid morning we will drive from Chitake to the Mana Pool floodplain area of the park to start our 3 night odyssey canoeing safari along the shoreline of the Zambezi River. The lifeline of the park. 
After a tasty lunch, expect to hone our canoeing skills for a few hours this afternoon. Enjoy the Hippo, Crocodiles and dazzling variety of birdlife along this incredible river. 
After memorable sundowners, a campfire and wonderful dinner, we will enjoy sleeping in our tents on the edge of the Zambezi with the night sounds of Hippo, Lion and much more all around us. 

Day 8: 07/09/24 Mana Shoreline Canoe Safari. 

Its day 8 of our African adventure, today after rising for coffee and a light breakfast we will enjoy a short guided walk along the floodplain of Mana.
Waterbuck, Zebra, Eland, Impala, Warthog, Buffalo, Baboon, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Hyena, Painted Dogs roam the floodplain. 
Mid-morning its time to head off by canoe down river once again. Lunch is given on a sand bar where possible with ice cold drinks. 
By sunset and having enjoyed a sundowner floating down the river we arrive at our new tented camp location to be met by our friendly camp staff for campfire stories, dinner and sleeping under the stars in this paradise. 

Day 9: 08/09/24 Mana Shoreline Canoe Safari.

Its day 9 and our 3rd day of our canoeing safari, today after rising for coffee and a light breakfast, we will enjoy a short guided walk along the floodplain of Mana. 
Viewing on foot all the animals nature has to offer here. 
Mid morning its time to head off by canoe down river once again. Lunch is on another sand bar with cold drinks provided. 
Sundowners on the river as we float down stream arriving at our new tented camp location at Ilala. Once again greeted by our amazing camp staff. Another evening watched the African sun go down around the camp fire on this our last night in Mana Pools NP.

Day 10: 09/09/24 Depart Mana Pools NP

Sadly our last day of this amazing safari. After breakfast connect with our charter flight back to Victoria Falls. 
Guests will either be heading home from here or will be transferred to Botswana to start our Botswana Safari expedition.