Gonarezhou National Park is a protected area in southeastern Zimbabwe. It is located in Masvingo Province, far from major cities, near the border with Mozambique and south of Chimanimani. Because of its large size, rough and rocky land, and distance from popular tourist paths, much of Gonarezhou remains untouched natural areas.

Gonarezhou covers 5,053 square kilometers, making it Zimbabwe's second-largest national park after Hwange National Park. The name "Gonarezhou" comes from the Shona language and means "The Place of Elephants."

Gonarezhou is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a shared conservation area that connects Gonarezhou with Kruger National Park in South Africa and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Animals can travel freely between these three protected areas. The northeastern part of Gonarezhou is in the Zambezian and mopane woodlands, while the southwestern part is in the Southern Africa bushveld ecoregion.

History

The Gonarezhou National Park was first created as a protected area in 1936 as a Game Reserve. It was later declared a National Park in 1975. The park faced difficult times and was closed to the public during the Rhodesian War and much of the Mozambique civil war. It reopened in 1994. From 1994 to 2007, the park was completely managed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. However, economic problems in Zimbabwe up to 2007 limited investment in the park’s infrastructure and protection. In 2007, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority partnered with the Frankfurt Zoological Society to provide financial and technical support for the park. This partnership lasted until 2017 and focused on improving infrastructure and protecting the park’s resources. In March 2017, management of the park was transferred to the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, a partnership between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. This partnership, managed by a board of trustees with equal representation from both groups, was created to support the park’s long-term sustainability. A key part of this plan is keeping tourism money at the park level to reinvest directly into Gonarezhou.

Features

Gonarezhou National Park is a famous natural area in Africa, with few visitors but many different types of landscapes, features, and growing animal populations. The most well-known part of the park is the Chilojo Cliffs, which are sandstone rock formations that rise 180 meters high and stretch for about 20 kilometers along the southern side of the Runde River. In the northern part of the park, two large natural pans, Tembwahata and Machanu, are located where the Save River and Runde River meet. In the central and southern areas, there are the Naymtongwe Plateau, a leftover part of the Chilojo Cliffs, the Ntambambomvu Red Hills, which are wooded hills above the Malvernia sand beds, the Mwenezi River Valley, and the Samalema Gorge, where the Mwenezi River cuts through solid igneous rock to form a braided river gorge.

Historically, the park has been home to the endangered Cape wild dog (Lycaon pictus). In 2010, several wild dogs were seen in the park. It is believed that the connection between Gonarezhou National Park and national parks in Mozambique could help protect or restore the survival of this species in nearby parks in South Africa and Mozambique. Other animals that live in the park include elephants, giraffes, hippos, Cape buffalo, zebras, wildebeests, black and white rhinoceroses, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas.

Accommodation and camping

Swimuwini Rest Camp is a place to stay located on the Mwenezi River. It is run by the National Parks and Wildlife Authority. Guests prepare their own meals here.

Gallery

• Chilojo Cliffs
• Chilo Lodge
• Crocodile and Makokwani Pools
• Nyala
• Makokwani Pools
• Rossi Pool and Hide
• Samalena Gorge
• View from Wright's Tower