Mana Pools National Park

🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

🐘 Elephants Stand Tall for Acacia Pods
🌍 #18 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in Africa #13 in Savanna & Grassland
Southern Africa, Zimbabwe 1189 spp. recorded

Mana Pools National Park lies in northern Zimbabwe, on the flood‑plain of the Zambezi River. The park is a tropical savanna where river islands, grassy banks and scattered mopane woodlands create a mosaic of dry and wet habitats.

-15.902° S   29.526° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

70–80% · Very likely
Meves's Glossy-starling
LC

Meves's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis mevesii

70–80% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

70–80% · Very likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely
Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus rufirostris

60–70% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

50–60% · Likely
Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

50–60% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

40–50% · Likely
Smith's Bush Squirrel
LC

Smith's Bush Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paraxerus cepapi

40–50% · Likely
Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

30–40% · Possible
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

30–40% · Possible
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

30–40% · Possible
Common Eland

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

70–80% · Very likely
Meves's Glossy-starling
LC

Meves's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis mevesii

70–80% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

70–80% · Very likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely
Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus rufirostris

60–70% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Lilac-breasted Roller
LC

Lilac-breasted Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Boubou

Tropical Boubou

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius major

50–60% · Likely
Blue-breasted Cordonbleu
LC

Blue-breasted Cordonbleu

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Uraeginthus angolensis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis wahlbergii

30–40% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

Insufficient data
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

20–30% · Possible
Chobe Dwarf Gecko
LC

Chobe Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus chobiensis

20–30% · Possible
Spotted Bush Snake
LC

Spotted Bush Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Philothamnus semivariegatus

20–30% · Possible
Pointed Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Pointed Thick-toed Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pachydactylus punctatus

Insufficient data
Cape Dwarf Gecko
LC

Cape Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus capensis

Insufficient data
Eastern Black-lined Plated Lizard
LC

Eastern Black-lined Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gerrhosaurus intermedius

Insufficient data
Snouted Cobra
LC

Snouted Cobra

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Naja annulifera

Insufficient data
Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelusios sinuatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

40–50% · Likely
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
LC

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data
Giant bullfrog
LC

Giant bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Insufficient data
Edible bullfrog
LC

Edible bullfrog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pyxicephalus edulis

Insufficient data
African Split-skin Toad
LC

African Split-skin Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Schismaderma carens

Insufficient data
Power's Rain Frog
LC

Power's Rain Frog

Amphibian

Breviceps poweri

Insufficient data
Shovel-nosed Frog
LC

Shovel-nosed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
LC

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data
Sharp-nosed ridged frog
LC

Sharp-nosed ridged frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data
Marbled sand frog
LC

Marbled sand frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Tomopterna marmorata

Insufficient data
Mozambique ridged frog
LC

Mozambique ridged frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena mossambica

Insufficient data
Guinea Snout-burrower
LC

Guinea Snout-burrower

Amphibian

Hemisus guineensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elephant Pod Foraging

JulFeb

During the dry winter months, elephants gather in the Faidherbia albida forests to feed on protein-rich fallen pods, often standing on their hind legs to reach branches.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
🦌

Wild Dog Denning Season

JunJulSepOct

The dry season aligns with the wild dog denning period, offering exceptional opportunities to observe packs caring for their pups in the open riverine terrain.

Painted Hunting Dog
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely
🦌

Spotted Hyena and Predator Activity

MayJulSepNov

As water sources recede, predator interactions peak around shrinking pools, bringing hyenas and big cats into high-frequency contact along the floodplain.

Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
African Bush Elephant
50–60
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
Painted Hunting Dog
30–40
30–40
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
10–20
20–30
Common Hippopotamus
40–50
70–80
40–50
30–40
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Lion
30–40
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
20–30
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
Meves's Glossy-starling
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
Cape Turtle Dove
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
80–90
80–90
White-fronted Bee-eater
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
50–60
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
80–90
Helmeted Guineafowl
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
80–90
60–70
Egyptian Goose
40–50
70–80
40–50
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
60–70
Fork-tailed Drongo
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
Waterbuck
30–40
70–80
40–50
30–40
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
Impala
30–40
70–80
40–50
30–40
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
20–30
30–40
Common Warthog
30–40
30–40
40–50
20–30
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
Nile Crocodile
60–70
70–80
40–50
20–30
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
20–30
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Elephant Pod Foraging
🦌 Wild Dog Denning Season
🦌 Spotted Hyena and Predator Activity

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐘 Elephants Stand Tall for Acacia Pods

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
870
🐒 Mammals
177
🦎 Reptiles
104
🐸 Amphibians
38
1189 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
38 Threatened 5 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
68%
📊
Coverage (291 species at ≥5% of 1189 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 4 mammal)
46% Global avg
59%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
199
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
35
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
57

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Mana Pools National Park?

The most likely sightings are African Bush Elephant (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Meves's Glossy-starling (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), White-fronted Bee-eater (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1189 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Mana Pools National Park for wildlife?

July has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Mana Pools National Park?

Yes — about 77% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Painted Hunting Dog in Mana Pools National Park?

Yes — about 53% of wildlife watchers report a Painted Hunting Dog sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Hippopotamus in Mana Pools National Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 31 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Mana Pools National Park?

Yes — about 58% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Mana Pools National Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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