Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya & BBC Exclusive Campsites
Wild exclusive campsites · East and west of Nyamepi along the river · ZimParks
A drawing, because nobody has sent us a photograph of Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya & BBC Exclusive Campsites yet. Send five and this page changes the same week.
Budget
Inside the park
Park-run (ZimParks)
A string of single-group sites along the river frontage, most of them braai-and-pit-latrine simple. Gwaya is the comfortable one; the rest trade facilities for privacy. All are sold whole and prepaid through Central Reservations.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Gwaya has a cold shower, flush toilet and basin, the comfort pick
- Nkupe sits on its own river frontage about a kilometre from Nyamepi
- New Ndungu gives small parties the same exclusivity from $90
- A full string of single-group sites along the river frontage
Cons
- Most sites are braai-and-pit-latrine simple; only Gwaya is comfortable
- Bring your own supplies; nothing beyond the pitch is provided
- No child policy found for these unfenced exclusive sites
- 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 Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya & BBC Exclusive Campsites
$235 per site. Per night for up to 6, international rate. New Ndungu 1 and 2 are a cheaper tier at $90 per site for up to 3 people.
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 Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya & BBC Exclusive Campsites
What is the difference between Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya and BBC?
Gwaya is the comfortable choice, with a cold shower, flush toilet and basin, while Nkupe, BBC and the original Ndungu sites are braai-and-pit-latrine simple. New Ndungu 1 and 2 are a cheaper tier at $90 a site for up to three people. All are single-group sites sold exclusively for the night.
How much do the Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya and BBC sites cost?
Most sites, including Nkupe, Gwaya and BBC, cost $235 a night for up to six people, at the international rate. New Ndungu 1 and 2 are the budget option at $90 for up to three. All are sold whole and prepaid through ZimParks Central Reservations before you travel.
Are Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya and BBC good for families?
We found no published child policy for these campsites, so ask when you book. They are single-group exclusive sites, mostly braai-and-pit-latrine simple, except Gwaya, which has a cold shower, flush toilet and basin. Bring everything else yourself, since nothing beyond the pitch is provided.
How do you book a site at Nkupe, Ndungu, Gwaya and BBC?
Book through ZimParks Central Reservations, by phone on +263 718 058 794 or email info@zimparks.org.zw. Sites are sold whole and prepaid before arrival, never at the gate, so decide which site suits you, Gwaya for comfort or New Ndungu for a smaller party, before you call.