Name: 6 Day Kariba to Mana Pools Fisheagle Canoe Safari on Zambezi River
Brand: Natureways Safaris
Price: 2380 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 7.5 (1 reviews)

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

07:30

Check-out Time:

15:00

During this safari, you will be accommodated in various campsites along the Lower Zambezi River, including Crocodile Rocks Island (first night), Twin Logs Island (second night), Kakomarara Island (third night), Lone Acacia Island (fourth night), and Trichelia Island (fifth night). Accommodation is in small dome tents.

This safari is a semi-participatory - meaning the camps are not already set up for your arrival and that everyone helps to put up tents, cooking, and washing up each evening.

TAll camping equipment is supplied. This includes gas stoves, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, plastic plates, mugs, tables, stools, camping mattresses, sleeping bags and liners, candles, matches, cooler boxes, and dome tents. Clients can bring their own sleeping bags if preferred.

TThere are no ablution facilities on these safaris. Clients are provided with a spade, toilet paper, and matches - with which to burn the toilet paper. Bathing is done from a bucket using water scooped out of the river.

Program

This semi-participatory explorer canoe safari begins and ends in Kariba (unless by other arrangements) and it is recommended that clients spend the night prior to their safari’s departure in Kariba town. Natureways Safaris can assist with booking this accommodation.

Your safari departs from Natureways Safaris' offices in Kariba, clients can self-drive there or, be picked up from their various hotels at 07:30. Once at the office, clients may arrange for excess luggage and valuables to be locked away safely until their return (it is not recommended to take passports or valuables onto the river).

A short briefing will then be given to help clients understand what the trip entails and any questions will be answered. A shopping trip follows to allow the purchase of any additional groceries or personal items required, as well to purchase particular drinks clients may want. Clients will then be driven to the starting point of their safari.

Animals that can be seen on the trip usually include elephant, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, hippo, crocodile, and plentiful birdlife. Lion, leopard, painted hunting dog etc. are more rarely seen but are certainly in the area. Natureways Safaris cannot guarantee plenty of game while on safari, particularly during the green (rainy) season.

The canoes used in this safari are two-man Canadian-style canoes, and the paddles are American Carlisle paddles.No previous canoeing experience is necessary but guests are required to be reasonably fit and healthy.

The maximum luggage limit per client to take on the river is 10 kilograms, packed in a soft duffel bag, not a suitcase. A luggage room and safe facilities are provided for any extra luggage at the Kariba office. This safari is a self-contained, all equipment and food are carried in the canoes and there is no vehicle back-up apart from drop-off and pick-up.

Daily routines

Generally, the day starts with tea / coffee and biscuits at sunrise. The camp is then packed up and the party sets off. Early mornings make for easy paddling as the wind is calm and it is not yet too hot. A stop will be made for breakfast, usually after a couple of hours. The trip continues after breakfast, until breaking for a light lunch and siesta to avoid the midday heat. The night stop is reached at approximately 17:00 and the camp are unpacked and setup. Campsites are typically set up on islands and all sites are designated by national parks.

Itinerary

Day 1 (18 kilometers)

Natureways Safaris will collect you on the morning of your safari at 07:30, in good time for a check-in at Natureways' office, handing in extra luggage and valuables. Please do not take your passport on the river. There will be a short briefing to summarise what the safari entails and questions may be asked. Guests will be required to sign an indemnity form before leaving on the safari.

After the briefing, a visit to the shops will be made, purchasing any extra drinks wanted for the trip before setting off for the river. Please note that credit cards are not a recommended payment option in Zimbabwe.

After arriving at the start point, luggage will be portered into the gorge and your group will walk for 1.5 kilometers down to the river - quite a long, steep descent. All canoes and camping equipment will have already been carried into the gorge and packed. A safety talk and demonstration on how to paddle a canoe will be given after which you will be launched, then paddling until a stop is made for lunch.

After a picnic-style lunch, there will be time for a siesta to avoid the heat of the day after which, paddling recommences. At approximately 17:00, you will arrive and set up camp on an island named Crocodile Rocks. There will be time to have a bucket bath, relax, and have dinner after a brief safety talk on camping.

Day 2 (27 kilometers)

You will be woken at sunrise for tea, coffee, and biscuits before canoeing for a couple of hours then stopping for a leisurely breakfast. After breakfast, you will set off once again to enjoy the incredible scenery of the Zambezi Valley. A lunch stop will be made at the first suitable spot with time, once again, for a siesta. In the early evening, you will reach your second campsite at Twin Logs Island.

Day 3 (28 kilometers)

Again, up at sunrise for tea, coffee, biscuits and also breakfast, before canoeing. A packed lunch is taken on the river. At approximately 17:00, the camp is set up on an island named Kakomarara.

Day 4 (27 kilometers)

Up at sunrise for tea, coffee, and biscuits before paddling for a couple of hours, then stopping for a relaxed breakfast. Afterwards, canoeing will resume until midday prior to a well-earned lunch and siesta, time to catch up on reading until mid-afternoon (depending on the weather). Canoeing continues until early evening where camp will be set up on Lone Acacia Island for the night.

Day 5 (23 kilometers)

The programme is as per the previous days with the night stop being made at Trichelia Island.

Day 6 (7 kilometers)

Up at sunrise for tea, coffee, biscuits and then breakfast before paddling starts at around 08:00. You will arrive at Mana Pools National Park at 10:00 and here the canoes will be loaded onto the vehicles for the return trip to Kariba. Arrival time in Kariba is approximately at 15:00. As you depart with your memories, this experience will have enriched your life and touched your soul!

Location

The safari begins in Kariba Town where you are collected from your lodge/hotel the morning of your trip. Starting from Kariba Dam wall, and ends in Mana Pools National Park. Mana Pools National Park is a protected World Heritage Site.

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Features

Activities

Fishing

Food

All meals will be supplied and are of a good standard. The meat and poultry dishes are precooked, frozen, and stored in a cooler box during the safari. Some fresh fruit and vegetables will also be supplied on the safari. The meals will consist of:

Breakfast usually consists of fruit, eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans or tomato relish, toast, and jams.
Lunch consists of cold meats, salads, cheese, and bread.
Dinner consists of a variety of meat and vegetable dishes, such as chicken curry, beef stroganoff, fish and chips, etc.

Tea, coffee, cordials, and imported wine will be provided on during this safari. You will also be provided with 2 liters of bottled mineral water per person per day. You are advised to bring your own minerals (soft drinks), beer, and spirits. You will be able to purchase these in the shops prior to departure. Minerals and beers must be bought in cans to reduce the weight and space.

A cooler box is set aside for keeping drinks cold. There are no opportunities to replenish stocks on the river. Natureways Safaris caters for dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or diabetic. However, Natureways Safaris requires advance warning at least 14 days before the trip.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

During this safari, you may go fishing in your spare time.

What's included

5 nights' accommodation
Basic drinks (water, tea, coffee, cordials and imported wine with dinner)
Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners.
Canoeing and Camping Equipment.
Fully qualified Canoe Guide.
Road transfers in open 4x4 vehicles to and from Kariba town at the start and end of your trip.
2% Tourism levy and 15% VAT

What's not included

Additional drinks (soft drinks, beers and alcohol).
Parks fees of USD 175.00 per person subject to change without prior notice and paid directly to the National Parks in cash.
Costs of a Personal Nature.
Anything else not mentioned in the whats included section

How to get there

Recommended Airports

LUN

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport

123 km

Transfer not provided

HRE

Harare International Airport

295 km

Transfer not provided

Driving directions from Harare

The drive from Harare to Kariba is approximately 4 hours. Drive along the main Harare - Chirundu road and turn left at the Kariba signpost just before the Makuti Garage and Hotel. This is approximately 295 kilometers from Harare, about 3 hours travel time.
Once you have turned left, drive down the escarpment towards Kariba. This section takes approximately 1 hour.
You will pass the Kariba Airport (KAB) and Nyamunga Township on your left, continue towards the Kariba Dam Wall.
Once you reach a ‘T’ junction, turn left (right takes you to the Kariba Heights) and travel 1.4 kilometers, passing a Zuva fuel station on your right.
Turn left on to Sable Drive (ZESA Offices are opposite the turning).
Take the second left turning after approximately 400 meters (the swift depot is on the corner).
Travel 1.1 kilometers and turn right on Mhembwe Close.
Natureways Safaris' sign is on the left side.

Driving directions from Kariba Dam Wall

The drive from the Kariba Dam Wall is approximately 10 minutes. Continue straight on the road from the Dam Wall, take the second road on the right hand side onto Sable Drive. ZESA offices are directly opposite the turning on the left hand side.
Take the second left turning after approximately 400 meters (the swift depot is on the corner).
Travel 1.1 kilometers and turn right on Mhembwe Close.
Natureways Safaris' sign is on the left side.

Arrival by airplane

Natureways Safaris can provide transfers from the Kariba Airport (KAB) to lodges and harbors. Please send Natureways Safaris an inquiry for costs and availability.

Arrival by bus

There are coaches that travel between Harare and Kariba town but these cannot be arranged by Natureways Safaris as departure times are not set.

Arrival by ferry / boat

The Kariba Ferry is a convenient and fun way to get to and from Kariba town and Victoria Falls or Hwange. The ferry runs on scheduled departure days to and from Mlibizi and Kariba town. It’s a 22 hour journey departing at 10:30 and arriving at 08:00. The ferry takes both vehicles and passengers.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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