Mana Pools National Park Hotels & Resorts

Canoeing and fishing on the great Zambezi

Canoeing trips normally take place in the afternoon when you’ve got the sun on your back and you’re just flowing down the River Zambezi. Canadian-style canoes made from fibre; two-man seaters or three-man seaters depending on the number of people are used. You can canoe yourself or you can be accompanied.  

You may find elephants feeding by the river and sometimes they may cross right in front of you. Keep an eye on the shoreline as lions, waterbucks, impalas and birdlife come to drink in the river. Sundowners are normally set up by the water just when the sun is setting behind the escarpment on the Zambian side. You may hear the hippos honking and elephants from behind you and sometimes you get to hear lions calling.

Fishing is best in the mornings. Fishing is on a catch-and-release basis and done from the banks of the river except during the rainy season when you will fish from a boat. You don’t need to be an expert, you'll be taught by your guide. There’s a large number of bream species, tiger fish, barbel, bubblebarb squeaker, chessa, nkupe among a few of the many fish found in the Zambezi.

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