Zimbabwe’s most undervisited great park — a remote wilderness in the south-east that forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, linking it with Kruger National Park in South Africa and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. The spectacular Chilojo Cliffs, great red sandstone battlements rising from the Runde River, frame one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife landscapes. Gonarezhou’s elephants are known for their large tusks, and neighbouring private conservancies such as Save Valley add further predator diversity to the wider region.
Ratings
Wildlife Density: ★★★★☆ Infrastructure: ★★☆☆☆ Photography: ★★★★☆
Adventure: ★★★★★ Exclusivity: ★★★★★ Price: $$ Scenery: ★★★★★
Key wildlife: Elephant (large-tusked), lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah, nyala, eland, impala, hippo, crocodile, sable antelope, roan antelope
Best for: True wilderness, off-the-beaten-path, Chilojo Cliffs photography, experienced safari travelers
Best time: May–October (dry season, accessible roads, best wildlife viewing)
Wildlife & Ecology
The Runde, Save and Mwenezi rivers create dry-season refuges through extensive mopane and combretum woodland. Elephant, buffalo, nyala, kudu, roan and predators are all present, though distances are large and wildlife is less habituated than in more heavily visited parks.
Best Time to Visit
May to October is dry and best for road access, with wildlife increasingly concentrated near water as the season progresses. The rains transform the park but can close river crossings and roads, and many of the remote camps operate seasonally.
Conservation & Community
Since 2017 the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust has jointly managed the park with Zimbabwe’s national parks authority, rebuilding law enforcement, tourism and ecological monitoring after years of decline.
Activities
Guided walks, wilderness camping, birding and visits to the Chilojo Cliffs and river viewpoints complement the standard game drives.
How to Get There
Buffalo Range Airport near Chiredzi is the closest regional gateway, with a road transfer to the park; charter flights can also use airstrips inside Gonarezhou. Driving from Harare takes about 8–9 hours, and a high-clearance 4×4 is recommended for the internal roads and river crossings.