Musangu & Muchichiri Lodges
Self-catering 8-bed thatched lodges · On the Zambezi bank near park HQ · ZimParks
Budget
Inside the park
Park-run (ZimParks)
The two big ZimParks lodges are the best-value roofs in the park and the first accommodation to sell out, often close to a year ahead. They are honest rather than fancy: a local source calls them tired and overdue for refurbishment, but the position on the river is worth more than the paintwork.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A full 8-sleeper lodge on the Zambezi for $235 a night
- Full kitchen with stove, deep-freeze, bedding and utensils supplied
- Outside braai with river views and better airflow than the 4-sleepers
- Zimbabwe residents pay $170 instead of the international rate
Cons
- Sells out close to a year ahead, so book early
- Tired and overdue for refurbishment, by a local account
- No child policy found for this self-catering riverside lodge
- Closed roughly mid-November to April in the wet season
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Mana Pools National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entryVAT and the tourism levy are included.
- $24per person, per day
- VehicleForeign-registered vehicle, if you are staying inside.
- $3per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $153 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Mana Pools National ParkRates at Musangu & Muchichiri Lodges
$235 per lodge. Per unit per night, international rate, sleeping 8 in 2 bedrooms. Zimbabwe residents $170. Extra beds $35.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Very few Mana Pools camps publish rates, so treat all dollar figures as indicative and confirm with the lodge. ZimParks accommodation is priced per site or unit, not per person, from the February 2026 tariff. Private camp bands reflect operator and agent data gathered July 2026; check whether park fees are included when you compare.
Questions about Musangu & Muchichiri Lodges
How much does it cost to stay at Musangu and Muchichiri?
The two 8-sleeper lodges cost $235 a night at the international rate, or $170 for Zimbabwe residents, with extra beds at $35. That price is for the whole unit, sleeping eight across two bedrooms, so it splits well for a group. Book well ahead: these are the first Mana Pools units to sell out, often close to a year in advance.
What do you need to bring to Musangu and Muchichiri?
Bedding and kitchen utensils are supplied, and the kitchen has a stove and deep-freeze, so you only need to bring food and personal gear. There is an outside braai with river views. A local source describes the lodges as tired and overdue for refurbishment, so expect honest rather than polished finishes.
Is Musangu and Muchichiri good for families?
We found no published child policy for these lodges, so ask when you book. What helps families is the per-unit pricing: $235 covers the whole 8-sleeper lodge rather than per person, and the kitchen is set up for self-catering with a full stove and deep-freeze.
How do you book Musangu and Muchichiri?
Book through ZimParks Central Reservations, since units are sold whole and prepaid, never at the gate. Call the Mana Pools office on +263 718 058 794 or email info@zimparks.org.zw. Book well ahead, as these lodges are often reserved close to a year in advance.