Set along the remote western reaches of Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, Mana Sands offers two distinct ways to experience one of Africa’s great wilderness areas. With just six tents at both Mana Sands Main Camp and Little Mana Sands, this independently owned safari retreat pairs exceptional guiding and genuine hospitality with an enviable position near the Zambezi River. 

Here, travelers can select the style of safari that speaks to them: the contemporary comforts and generous privacy of Mana Sands Main Camp, or the romance and simplicity of a classic tented safari at Little Mana Sands. 

A Wilder Side of Mana Pools 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mana Pools is celebrated for its wildlife-rich floodplains, walking safari tradition, and magnificent setting along the Zambezi River. Mana Sands occupies the far western reaches of the national park, removed from the greater concentration of camps and visitors farther east. 

That location is an important part of its appeal. During a recent visit, our team encountered remarkably little vehicle traffic, lending the area a feeling of exclusivity that is increasingly rare in Africa’s best-known wildlife destinations. Yet getting here is surprisingly convenient: Mana West Airstrip sits approximately ten minutes from camp. 

The camps themselves are unfenced, allowing wildlife to move freely through the surrounding landscape. Safari, therefore, does not necessarily end when guests return from an activity. Wildlife encounters can unfold over morning coffee, lunch, or an afternoon spent watching the floodplain from camp. 

Mana Sands Main Camp

Contemporary Comfort in the Wild 

For travelers who want an immersive Mana Pools safari without sacrificing space and creature comforts, Mana Sands Main Camp is the natural choice. 

Its six spacious tented suites are deliberately dispersed among the vegetation, giving each a sense of privacy while maintaining a close connection to the wilderness. Five are standard tents, while one extended family tent accommodates up to two adults and two children. 

Sliding glass doors open each suite toward the landscape and onto a generous private deck and plunge pool. Air conditioning is concentrated around the main sleeping area, an especially welcome addition during warmer months. En suite bathrooms feature double showers and a bathtub, with configurations varying between tents to include select outdoor bathing elements. 

The main lodge offers multiple lounge spaces, indoor and outdoor dining, a bar, fire pit, and a large communal swimming pool overlooking the floodplain. Meals move between different settings depending on the weather, season, and plans for the day. 

Who is Mana Sands Main Camp for?

We recommend it for couples, honeymooners, families, and luxury travelers who value privacy and additional space as much as they value a genuine wilderness experience. It is particularly well suited to guests who want air conditioning and a private plunge pool waiting for them after a morning on foot or an afternoon exploring the Zambezi. 

Little Mana Sands

The Romance of Classic Safari 

Approximately half a mile away, Little Mana Sands offers an entirely different interpretation of the same landscape. 

Its six en suite canvas tents embrace the traditions of classic African safari: zipper-front entrances, ceiling fans, private decks, and an openness that allows the sounds of the bush to become part of the experience. Four standard tents accommodate two guests each, while two extended family tents sleep up to two adults and two children. 

The family accommodations are particularly thoughtful. One configuration places the children's sleeping space behind the main bed, creating a greater sense of security for younger travelers. The other is more open, allowing direct access from the additional sleeping area to the deck and making it better suited to families with older children. 

Little Mana Sands' communal spaces follow the same philosophy. The intimate lounge, bar, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, and fire pit are relaxed and uncomplicated. There is no air conditioning and no swimming pool here—and that is precisely the point. 

Who is Little Mana Sands for? 

Ideal for experienced safari-goers, adventurous couples, families, and travelers who find luxury in simplicity and proximity to nature. It is for those who want to unzip the canvas in the morning, hear the wilderness around them, and recapture some of the romance that made the traditional tented safari so compelling in the first place.