Mana Pools National Park is located in the northernmost part of Zimbabwe along the Zambezi River to its north, which flows towards the Indian Ocean. The park, one of the world’s greatest natural splendours, covers approximately 2196km2, and together with five safari areas - Charara, Hurungwe, Sapi, Chewore and Dande; and Lower Zambezi National Park (Zambia) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mana Pools is remote and remains one of the few real wilderness areas left in the world. The name "Mana'' means "four" in Shona (the local language) and applies to the four pools; Green Pool, Chisasiko, Chine and Long Pool. The latter is the largest of the four, stretching over six kilometres with a large permanent population hippos, crocodiles and drawing large herds of elephant and various aquatic birds.
The park is home to the big four (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard), painted dogs, various antelope and about 380 bird species.
The alluvial soils in the floodplain area support mature riverine woodlands of natal mahogany, rain tree and apple ring acacia while the areas further from the Zambezi River are covered with mopane, thick jesse bush and towering baobab trees.