Zimbabwe is rather spoiled when it comes to nature reserves and national parks, boasting an array of diverse and beautiful landscapes. If you would like the very best safari experiences in Zimbabwe, two corners of the country offer the finest game viewing available. These are two national parks that are bastions of ecosystem and wildlife protection: Hwange and Mana Pools. They really are in a league of their own!
Hwange, to the extreme west of the country and on the border with Botswana, is hugely diverse. It stakes its claim as Zimbabwe’s premier safari area and has the most productive game viewing. Mana Pools is, and I don’t use this word lightly, iconic. Few parts of Africa are as wild and distinctive, alive with monstrously big trees, elephants, rivers, and mountains. The light here is a photographer’s dream and the sense of adventure is palpable.
I thought it might be useful for me to outline the main differences between the two parks, as hopefully this might help anyone who is torn between them. My snapshot below also shows why I believe it is ideal to combine the two!