Wilderness Chikwenya

Wilderness Chikwenya is a wildlife photographer’s paradise as it overlooks an open floodplain and the broad Zambezi River. If you are in search of a Mana Pools National Park adventure, look no further than this Wilderness Safaris classic camp. The views are endless at Chikwenya Camp, capture epic moments with a perfect backdrop provided by the mountains of the Rift Valley escarpment.

The camp features seven tented units including two family units that are surrounded by a dense forest of albida and Natal mahogany trees that allow guests solace from the heat of the day. Each tent is set on low decks with wooden walkways linking to the main area. The lounge, dining and bar areas are places of hospitality and relaxation. Guests tend to enjoy in wondrous banter and share their adventure stories by the pool, deck and fireplace while enjoying the various wildlife species passing by.

As a private-access area neighbouring Mana Pools National Park, Chikwenya Camp plays an important role in protecting what is considered to be one of the great wildlife spectacles on the continent and in preserving a feel of real wilderness – a function that is recognised in its World Heritage Site status.

About Mana Pools National Park

The Mana Pools National Park is regarded as one of Zimbabwe’s best parks and is one of the finest wilderness areas in Africa. Mana Pools National Park is a superb safari destination suited for wildlife enthusiasts of all sorts. Situated at the northernmost point of Zimbabwe straddling the Zambian border, Mana Pools is remarkably beautiful: a riverine wilderness on the Zambezi River of pools, floodplains, baobab trees and forests that feels totally remote and never gets crowded.

The park is famous for its huge elephant herds and is known for great sightings of lion and leopard as well as being one of the best places in Africa to find endangered wild dogs. The appeal of the park is not just its wildlife – it’s how you get to experience the bush in immersive ways: staying in unfenced campsites in the midst of the wilderness and going on walking and canoeing safaris to see animals without the noise of a car. Mana Pools is also one of the only parks in Africa where you can walk without a guide (although this isn’t recommended for safety reasons unless you have a lot of bush experience).

Staying in one of Mana Pool’s exclusive unfenced campsites along the Zambezi River is a highlight for many intrepid visitors to the park. Booking one of these campsites for just your group means you’ll be able to have a totally wild experience in the bush with no one else around – just the wild animals that might wander in between your tents.

Mana Pools is one of Africa’s best places to do walking safaris – the thin vegetation means that visibility is excellent, so you’ll have the chance to get up close to big game. In addition, the walking guides in the park are among the best in Africa.

Canoeing safaris in Mana Pools are an incredible way to experience raw nature at its best: you spend your days paddling along the Zambezi past pods of hippos and scores of animals drinking on the banks, and at nighttime you’ll camp under the stars on untouched islands.