Attractions - Gonarezhou National Park

Gonarezhou National Park Overview
At 5053 km2, Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park, and is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province along the Mozambique Border. Formed in 1975, the park is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, wildlife can move freely between the three protected areas. This huge area is set to become one of the finest “peace parks” in the world and is dedicated to conservation, biodiversity and the economic development of the surrounding local communities. The vast and diverse nature of the mega-park will provide world-class ecotourism to visitors with one of it’s major aims being to re-establish historical animal migration routes and fragile regional ecosystems.

Owing to its vast size, rugged terrain and its location away from main tourist routes, large tracts of Gonarezhou remain as pristine wilderness and its diverse landscape stands in stark contrast to the rest of the country, with one of the most prominent and enduring natural features being the spectacular Chilojo Cliffs. These magnificent red sandstone cliffs have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley.

“Gonarezhou” meaning “Place of many Elephants” is an extremely scenic Park full of rugged and beautiful landscapes, primarily made up of lowveld scrublands, baobabs and sandstone cliffs. As its name implies, Gonarezhou is famous for its elephants, with many of the largest-tusked elephants in the region being found within the Park.

Gonarezhou has plenty of appeal in the wildlife department and hosts a wide range of predators and herbivores, but often what people find most astounding about this remote region is its incredible landscape; rocky outcrops, sandstone cliff faces, flowing rivers, and plateaus of dense bush, and baobabs.

Three major rivers; The Save, Runde and Mwenezi, cut their courses through the Park, forming pools and natural oases from which hundreds of species of birds, wildlife and fish gather to feed and drink. In addition, the park contains a number of perennial pools and springs as well as the impressive Chivilila Falls.

There are few truly wild places in Africa that remain unspoiled by mass tourism and for the time being, Gonarezhou is one of them. Located far from the heavily tramped northern circuit, Gonarezhou is an absolute jewel of a wilderness area.