On the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, Safari Par Excellence offers a half day canoeing trail above the Victoria Falls, lunch on an island in the middle of the Zambezi followed by a game drive.
Day 1 : Kariba to Chirundu
The first day is spent canoeing through the gorge, and with the exception of birdlife and sounds from a few fishing villages en route, it's often a very eerie experience. The second and third days see the Zambian and Zimbabwean escarpments receding as the floodplain widens on both sides of the Zambezi. Hippo pods are usually encountered shortly after the Zambezi passes through the gorge (hippos aren't found in the large numbers on this stretch as they are beyond Chirundu).
If you're short on time and keen for a taste of canoeing the Zambezi River then this is an excellent "camping" option. The overnight sites are on islands in the middle of the river. Departure dates with reliable operators are unfortunately limited on the Gorge Safari.
Day 2 : Chirundu to Mana Pools
The second canoe stretch is a 4 day leg of about 70km from Chirundu to Mana Pools. This is the most popular "full participation" stretch on the lower Zambezi River and is run on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean shorelines. The game is superb (hippo pods will be encountered within about 10 minutes of launch) especially in the dry season, birdlife is good year round but best in the wet season from November to April. On the camping trips, overnight stops are on both the mainland and on islands. One of the Zambian outfits offers a unique "cultural" extension to this safari. Chifungulu channel, lower Zambezi (Shearwater)
The safari passes along the Urungwe Safari Area and goes into Mana Pools on the Zimbabwean bank. This is where canoeists encounter the most game and birdlife on the entire Zambezi River from source to sea. Mana Pools is essentially closed from November to April, and the only really viable way to see the area in the wet season is via canoe.
The Mana Pools shoreline from Ruckomechi down to Chikwenya on the Zimbabwean bank offers the best game viewing opportunities. The best way to explore this section exclusively is on one of the deluxe canoe safaris over four days - these are "backed up" trips with a full camp crew in attendance.
Day 3 : Mana Pools to Kanyemba
The third canoe stretch is a 6 day "full participation" safari of about 120km from Mana Pools to Kanyemba on the Mozambican border. Game around Mana Pools is excellent but tends to thin out downstream especially once the Mupata Gorge is reached. Here the scenery is dramatic and the rare Taita Falcon can be found. The trip passes from the Mana Pools region, into the remote downstream portion of the Zambezi River past the lower Zambezi Safari areas to the top of the Caborra Bassa dam on the border of Mozambique.
In reality only four and a half days is spent canoeing and the last day is a 7 hour (hot and dusty) drive back into Kariba. This stretch appeals mostly to people with extra time and a taste for true wilderness. It gives one the best opportunity to experience the full diversity of the lower Zambezi River from the open flood plains to the confines of the gorge.
