Camping in Mana Pools
1. BOOKING IN ADVANCE IS A MUST: Mana Pools is one of the most popular destinations in Zimbabwe and rightly so you need to secure all your reservations prior to travelling. Contact us for Mana Pools Campsites or lodge bookings prior to your trip.
2. CHECK IN AT MARONGORA AS WELL AS MANA HQ: All tourists to Mana Pools National Park MUST ensure that they check in and get an entry permit at the Parks Zambezi Valley HQ at Marongora at the top of the Zambezi escarpment BEFORE you descend the hills and turn in at the first entry gate. This entry permit s free of charge.
Without the permit you will be asked by the officers at the gate to drive back up to Maronga to collect it.
On arrival at the Zambezi River in Mana Pools you must also check in at the National Parks HQ. This is where you show your accommodation booking forms and also for payment of conservation fees.
3. NYAMEPI CAMPSITE LAYOUT:
4. CAMPSITE CHARGES )(SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE):
PRICES IN USD ($)
| Non Residents | Locals | ||
| Mana Pools | Special Lodge 2 bedrooms 8 beds | 250.00 | 200.00 |
| Standard Lodge 2 bedrooms 4 beds | 150.00 | 100.00 | |
| Mvee lodge (2edrooms 4 beds) | 120.00 | 90.00 | |
| Standard Campsite per site/night (Nyamepi)-For 3 people 4,7,8,10,12,13,14,15,24,26,28 | 70.00 | 30.00 | |
| Standard Campsite per site/night other (Nyamepi) | |||
| (6 pple max) | 115.00 | 75.00 | |
| Exclusive Campsites/site( 6 pple max, | |||
| any extras to pay US$30p/p/n | 172.00 | 115.00 | |
| Chitake Exclusive Camps/site( 6 pple | |||
| max, any extra to pay US$45 | 230.00 | 150.00 | |
| Exclusive sites for 3 people/night- N/Ndungu 1 & 2 & Chitake 2 | 90.00 | 45.00 | |
| Chitake Picnic site – day use (6 pple maximum)-only when site is not booked. | 34.00 | 45.00 | |
| Tour Operators Site/site for up to people and extras to pay (Mucheni 1, 4, Old Ndungu 1, Old Ndungu 2) US$30.00/person/night Chitake 3 – max 6 people | $172.00 $230.00 | $172.00 $230.00 | |
| Ordinary sites | |||
| to be charged per person on arrival | Standard Campsite per site/night | 23.00 | 10.00 |
5. TOILET/ABLUTION FACILITIES:
Only four (4) ablution blocks are available at Nyamepi Campsite, with flush toilets, basins and shower facilities. The ablution blocks are basic. Hot water is provided using wood burning boilers but you have to make sure you bring your own toiletries.
Note that the Public Exclusive Campsites elsewhere in the Park do NOT have Ablution Blocks or running water. The only facility provided at each site is a very basic “long-drop” toilet with a thatched surround for privacy. Campers at these sites need to be completely self-contained and able to provide their own water and ablution facilities. A spadeful or two of cold campfire ash sprinkled regularly into the “long-drop” toilet serves to reduce odours and help sanitise it.
6. CHILDREN:
Children are allowed on campsites BUT we advise that if you have young children you should make use of the five Park lodges available for to book (also in advance/prior to travelling). This is a safer option for young children as the park sites are not fenced. If you are camping with children under the age of 12, keep them well within the confines of your campsite and NEVER let them move away alone (day or night).
7. UN-GUIDED WALKING IS PERMITTED, BUT ONLY WITH A PERMIT FROM THE OFFICE AND ONLY IF YOU ARE WILDERNESS-SAVVY.
Mana Pools is as wild as it can get and again we do not advise you to attempt unguided walks UNLESS you are well experienced. Visitors are permitted to walk un-guided on the “floodplain” area near the Zambezi River, as long as you pay for a permit to do so from the office at Nyamepi. NOT EXPERIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO WALK, Rather hire the services of an armed ranger from the National Parks office at Nyamepi who will take your group out to enjoy this privilege.
