Best Time to Visit Mana Pools National Park

Visiting this safari haven is rewarding - but when is the ideal time for a safari in Mana Pools National Park?

Mana Pools, one of Zimbabwe's four World Heritage Sites, is the stage for one of Africa's greatest natural spectacles - a classic theatre of the wild, attracting hordes of animals during the long, hot African summer, drawn by the abundance of water and the lush grazing along its banks.

Mana Pools Climate

Winter Months - Mid May, June, July, early August, the days are warm with beautiful blue skies, the evenings are cool.
Summer months - September through to May. Hot to extremely hot days and warm evenings.
Rainy season - Generally between mid November and April although the occasional rain can occur out of these dates.

Best Time to Visit Mana for Game Viewing

August, September, October and early November are by far the best months for game viewing in this park. Water inland has become extremely scarce so the animals naturally migrate to the bountiful river and the natural pools of Mana.

The dry season in Mana Pools

During the rainy season from late November through to April, a completely different park emerges to that of the dry season. Parched savannahs turn into lush fields with an abundance of grazing. Many animals disperse inland and game viewing becomes limited although resident animals do remain. This is the green season and is when the park and all the animals rejuvenate themselves, feeding like crazy on the abundance of food. Newly born animals can be seen everywhere and the birdlife is absolutely prolific. Access by road is often limited.

Lush green Mana Pools

Kanga Camp at Kanga Pan inland in Mana Pools

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Last update: 20 September 2022

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