Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe has long been associated with wild adventure.
It is a place where Africa still feels like its is moving at the same pace it did thousands of years ago, and the rhythm of nature is uninterrupted by human presence.
The epicentre of walking safaris in Southern Africa, Mana Pools is where you can literally go on foot to join a pack of wild dogs as they get on the hunt, or you can stand mere metres from a giant bull elephant as he stands on his back legs to retrieve seedpods from the upper branches.
It feels like anything is possible in this spectacular wilderness of the Zambezi Valley, and with the construction of Mana Sands, a new luxury lodge on the western side of the park, the envelope of what a true bush experience is, is about to be pushed even further…
Mana Sands represents the realisation of a dream; the owners all share a deep love of nature and in particular of this stretch of the Zambezi River, where they all spent holidays as children. The development of the lodge represents a way for them to find a way back to those simple times of wonder, and to be able to pass on a similar feeling to their own children.
That is ultimately what the lodge is aiming to create for those who visit; a way back to a time before emails and traffic and bills and the complications of day to day life. A visit here will get you in touch with the essence of what it is to feel human. Mana Sands will give guests a rare opportunity to be part of a world where natureʼs raw beauty and untamed spirit come alive in the most extraordinary way.
Mana Sands is in fact two lodges; Mana Sands Main Camp, featuring six private ensuite tents each with an expansive private deck and plunge pool, whilst Little Mana, just downstream, boasts four private ensuite tents, each with a private deck, as well as two extended family units allowing space for up to two extra beds to be added for children.
Both camps offer a full range of bush adventures, from guided walks to tiger fishing excursions, birding-focused expeditions and everything in between. All are facilitated through highly competent, professional local guides.
Little delights surprise you at every turn, from gin and tonic stops on the riverbank to stargazing under the brilliance of the southern skies.
Whilst Mana Pools has been on our radar for some years now, it has been a while since we were as excited about this iconic destination; Mana Sands certainly looks like being our top new lodge of 2025.
Although they are still in the final stages of the lodge build, they will be opening for bookings come the new year, so don’t wait to enquire if the archetypal safari adventure is what you are after.
Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about 2025’s most exciting new offering…