Zimbabwe & Zambia: Kariba, Mana Pools and the Zambezi
6 Jul –
15 Jul 2027
- 10 Days
- Lake Kariba · Mana Pools · Lusaka
NEW DATES RELEASED
This journey follows water through Zimbabwe and Zambia. We leave Johannesburg and arrive in Harare the same morning spending the first night in the bush before three nights aboard a private charter houseboat on Lake Kariba. From there four nights at Mana Pools one of Africa’s great floodplain wilderness areas before a final night outside Lusaka and the journey home.
Itinerary
A private game reserve on the Serui River, outside Harare. Game drives, horse rides and canoe excursions offer the first wildlife encounters of the journey.
A fully private charter houseboat cruising the shores of Matusadona National Park. No shared decks, no other groups. Morning and afternoon tender boat safaris, sundowners on deck, and nights moored on a stretch of water so large it often feels more like a coastline than a lake.
A UNESCO World Heritage floodplain where walking safaris, game drives and canoe excursions take place in genuinely open country. Wildlife, including elephant, lion, buffalo and painted dog, moves through the unfenced camp throughout the day.
Lilayi Lodge, a quiet property set in established grounds about 20 kilometres outside the city. A restful close to the safari before the return flight to Johannesburg.
A private game reserve on the Serui River, outside Harare. Game drives, horse rides and canoe excursions offer the first wildlife encounters of the journey.
A fully private charter houseboat cruising the shores of Matusadona National Park. No shared decks, no other groups. Morning and afternoon tender boat safaris, sundowners on deck, and nights moored on a stretch of water so large it often feels more like a coastline than a lake.
A UNESCO World Heritage floodplain where walking safaris, game drives and canoe excursions take place in genuinely open country. Wildlife, including elephant, lion, buffalo and painted dog, moves through the unfenced camp throughout the day.
Lilayi Lodge, a quiet property set in established grounds about 20 kilometres outside the city. A restful close to the safari before the return flight to Johannesburg.
Some of my happiest childhood memories were created in Zimbabwe. Winter holidays with family, fishing on Kariba with game moving around the lake edge, and ultimately falling in love with traveling and Africa.
A house boat on Lake Kariba is not a river cruise. It is a 280-kilometre inland sea on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, created when the Kariba Gorge was dammed in the late 1950s. The houseboat is fully private; no shared decks, no other groups. You move along the shoreline. Animals come down to drink. The light changes through the day. At some point over the three nights, the idea of a lodge with walls and set schedules starts to feel quite unnecessary.
Mana Pools is the other reason this tour earns its place on our programme. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in my view, one of the few genuinely wild places left in southern Africa. What makes it special is not one activity, but the atmosphere: open floodplains, old trees, elephant moving through camp, painted dogs in the area, and the feeling that the wild has not been arranged for your convenience.
The combination of the two, water first, then floodplain, gives this journey a contrast that is difficult to find on a single-environment itinerary.
Elizabeth
Seagull Travel & Tours
Before You Go
A little context makes the experience richer.
To Read: African Silences by Peter Matthiessen
Matthiessen’s account of his travels through central and southern Africa includes a section on Mana Pools that remains one of the most precise descriptions of the place in print. Worth reading before you arrive.
To Read: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
A memoir of a white Zimbabwean childhood, raw and specific about the landscape, the light and the particular quality of the country. Not a safari book, but it gives Zimbabwe a texture that most travel writing does not.
To Watch: Dynasty (BBC, 2018)
Sir David Attenborough’s five-part series follows animal dynasties across Africa. The elephant and painted dog episodes in particular prepare you for what Mana Pools looks, sounds and feels like from inside it.
The Physical Level
This is not a strenuous journey. Most game viewing takes place from tender boats, open vehicles or on foot at a measured pace. Mana Pools walking safaris involve uneven ground and variable distances depending on wildlife and conditions. Good general mobility is necessary. Guests should be comfortable walking for one to two hours at a time in dry heat.
The Weather
June is mid-winter in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Days are warm, clear and dry. Mornings on the lake and in the Mana Pools floodplain are cold, sometimes very cold before sunrise. Layers are not optional.
The Wildlife
This is a wildlife-focused journey. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the combination of Kariba’s Matusadona shoreline and Mana Pools’ open terrain gives consistent opportunity. Species regularly encountered include elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippopotamus, crocodile and painted dog.
The Pace
The houseboat moves on its own schedule. Mana Pools operates to early mornings and late afternoons, with a long rest in the heat of the day. The rhythm here follows the bush, not a hotel timetable.
This journey suits travellers who have done a conventional lodge-based safari and want something with more variety and less predictability. It also suits travellers who enjoy staying put once they arrive somewhere good. The houseboat element is genuinely different from any land-based experience. Mana Pools is a destination for those who want to encounter wildlife in open country rather than from behind glass.
We travel in a small group with English-speaking guides and a Seagull tour leader throughout. The logistics are managed on your behalf. Your attention can stay with the journey.
Neutral Colours
Khaki, olive, brown and grey for game activities. Avoid white, black and bright colours in the field.
Layers
June mornings on Lake Kariba and in the Mana Pools floodplain are cold. A warm fleece, a beanie and gloves are not excessive for this departure.
Walking Shoes
Properly worn-in and comfortable. Sandals are not suitable for Mana Pools walking safaris.
Sun Protection
Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses. The midday light on Kariba is strong.
Binoculars
What is a private charter houseboat?
The houseboat is chartered exclusively for our group. There are no other passengers. The vessel has air-conditioned cabins, a sundeck, a dining area and a crew. Tender boats are used for shore excursions and wildlife viewing along the Matusadona shoreline.
How many single cabins are available?
Single supplement cabins are strictly limited to a maximum of two per departure. If you are travelling alone and require a single cabin, early booking is strongly recommended.
Do I have to do walking safaris at Mana Pools?
No. Walking safaris are optional and always subject to guide discretion, conditions and park regulations. Many guests are perfectly happy enjoying Mana Pools from game drives, the lodge setting and river-based activities.
How physical are the walking safaris at Mana Pools?
Walks are led by experienced armed rangers and vary in length and terrain depending on wildlife and conditions. You should be comfortable walking for one to two hours at a time on uneven ground in dry heat. This is a genuine field experience, not a guided stroll.
Do we need visas?
No. Neither Zimbabwe, nor Zambia require visas for South African passport holders. For international passport holders, current fees and entry procedures must be confirmed at the time of booking, as requirements can change.
What currency should we bring?
USD is widely accepted in Zimbabwe. Zambian kwacha is useful in Lusaka. ZAR is accepted at some properties. Detailed pre-departure guidance is provided for all group members.
Can South African expats join?
Yes. We coordinate international join arrangements for travellers joining from outside South Africa. Please indicate your country of residence when you register your interest.
Is there a South Luangwa extension?
A tailor-made extension to South Luangwa, Zambia can be arranged after the main tour. Please speak to us directly for options and pricing.
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The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
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Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
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You can contact us at info@seagulltours.co.za or +27 42 296 0475