Protected area
Hurungwe Safari Area
Hunting area on the Zambezi escarpment that every Mana Pools traveller crosses, home to the Marongora permit office and Chimutsi gate.
2,937 km² · 1 gate · 0 campsites · Run by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks)
About the park
Hurungwe Safari Area covers the Zambezi escarpment and valley country between Kariba and the Ruckomechi River, and with Charara is the only hunting zone along Lake Kariba's shore; hunting is licensed and done with professional hunters. For self-drivers it matters mainly as the gateway to Mana Pools: the A1 Harare–Chirundu road crosses it, the ZimParks Marongora office where Mana permits are issued sits at the top of the escarpment, and the Chimutsi boom gate is at the foot of the descent on the Mana road. Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and sable live here. There are no public camps; the hunting areas close from December to April.
Highlights
- The Zambezi escarpment descent on the A1 and the Mana Pools road
- Marongora office, the stop for Mana Pools permits
Good to know
- Licensed hunting area on the Zambezi escarpment
- Crossed by the A1 Harare–Chirundu road
- Marongora ZimParks office (Mana Pools permits) and Chimutsi gate
- Hunting areas closed December–April
Wildlife you may see
- African elephant
- Buffalo
- Lion
- Leopard
- Sable antelope
Sightings are never guaranteed.
Gates
- Chimutsi GateOpen: Opens 06:00Show your Mana Pools entry permit from Marongora and sign in; without one you are sent back up the escarpment.First boom gate on the Mana Pools road, at the foot of the 6.6 km escarpment descent from Marongora. From here it is about 32 km of corrugated gravel to the Nyakasikana gate.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) before you travel.
Campsites
We're still checking the campsites here. They'll appear as soon as they're verified.
Places to see
- Kariba Dam WalllandmarkThe 128 m concrete arch that holds back Lake Kariba, seen from a viewpoint above the gorge on the Zimbabwe side.
- Kariba Dam wall viewpointpicnic spotViewpoint and curio stalls over the Kariba Dam wall, the main sight in Siavonga.