Day 46 – Mana Pools Canoe Trail

Canoeing down the Zambezi river, what could be simpler than that?
Throw in Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffaloes and the odd Lion and the journey becomes a little more hazardous.
Add a very strong current and an erratic easterly wind, and the mix makes for a journey that required good fitness and much concentration.

Our secret weapon was Henry, our excellent guide. His knowledge of the river was essential, without him it would have been impossible. He knew where all the hippos lurked, where all the sandbanks were located and where it was safe to come ashore to try and catch Tiger fish.

The Hippo is a not an endearing animal…… foul tempered and highly unpredictable. They have to be avoided at all times. The Zambezi is full of them.
Then there is the Crocodile, one is located every 10 metres on the banks of the Zambezi, so say the guides. We didn’t see that many, but we saw enough of them to know that capsizing your canoe was not an option..
In addition, many Elephant and Buffalo can be found on the banks of the river.
The Buffalo’s attitude mirrors that of the Hippo. Ernest Hemingway said that Buffalo look at you as if you owe them money! Happily, they don’t like to swim, unless they really have to.
The Elephant can swim and some swam the whole width of the river in front of us. They must always be treated with respect.

Canoeing the river is a treat for birdwatchers, the variety of species is enormous, but the Carmine Bee-Eater has to be one of the favourites.

The scenery was breathtaking throughout and the experience was exciting and memorable.