Mana Pools National Park is a wildlife conservation area and national park in northern Zimbabwe. It covers an area of 2,196 square kilometers (848 square miles) and is located in the lower Zambezi region of Zimbabwe. After each rainy season, the floodplain becomes a large area of lakes. As these lakes slowly dry and shrink, the region draws many large animals seeking water, making it one of Africa’s most famous places for wildlife viewing.
The park, along with the Sapi Safari Area (1,180 square kilometers (460 square miles)) and Chewore Safari Area (3,390 square kilometers (1,310 square miles)), was designated as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. The total area protected under this designation is 6,766 square kilometers (2,612 square miles). In 2013, Mana Pools was also recognized as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. The park is a World Heritage Site because of its untouched wilderness and natural beauty. It is home to many mammals, over 350 bird species, and aquatic wildlife, and it is considered one of the world’s wildest and best-preserved natural ecosystems.
Ecology
Mana means "four" in the Shona language, referring to the four large, permanent pools created by the winding path of the middle Zambezi River. This area, which includes 2,500 km (970 sq mi) of riverfront, islands, sandbanks, and pools, is surrounded by forests with mahogany, wild figs, ebonies, and baobab trees. It is one of the least developed national parks in Southern Africa. The park has the largest group of hippos and crocodiles in the country and supports large numbers of zebras, elephants, and Cape buffalo during the dry season. Other animals living there include lions, cheetahs, Cape wild dogs, leopards, and brown hyenas, some of which are endangered or near endangered.
When the area was added to UNESCO's list, it was a key refuge for eastern black rhinos in Africa, with about 500 rhinos. However, by 1994, poaching had reduced the population to only 10 rhinos, which were moved to another location for protection.
Threat
On April 28, 2023, the Zimbabwean government said that Shalom Mining Corporation Pvt Ltd has applied for a permit to look for oil and natural gas in an area with very high conservation value next to Mana Pools. If allowed to go ahead, this project could harm the nearby World Heritage Site.
Conservation
In the early 1980s, the area was protected from a hydroelectric project that would have caused flooding. The region's ecosystem is influenced by the way the Kariba Dam controls water levels on the Zambezi River. There are worries that a new dam planned for the Mapata Gorge could greatly reduce the area's ecological and environmental value. Recently, the area was once again protected from a hydroelectric project in the Mupata Gorge, as the Batoka Dam was selected instead.
Surrounding area
The park is connected to Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park on the other side of the Zambezi River. The larger UNESCO area is also connected to three safari areas: the Urungwe Safari Area, which covers 2,870 square kilometers (1,110 square miles); the Dande Safari Area, covering 523 square kilometers (202 square miles); and the Doma Safari Area, covering 764 square kilometers (295 square miles).
Gallery
- A bridge over the Rukomechi River near Nyakasikana Gate in Mana Pools National Park
- The Zambezi River near Mutsango Lodge in Mana Pools National Park
- A view of the Zambezi River and the Zambezi Cliff in Zambia from Mana Pools National Park
- An island in the Zambezi River as seen from Mana Pools National Park
- The Rukomechi River viewed from Nyakasikana Bridge in Mana Pools National Park