Gonarezhou National Park

Zimbabwe's second-largest national park (over 5 000 km²), Gonarezhou, offers spectacular scenery, including the famous Chilojo Cliffs, wide meandering rivers and extensive woodlands.

Home to over 11 000 elephants, 89 species of mammal and over 500 species of bird, Gonarezhou and surrounding private game reserves should be high on the list of attractions to visit when in Zimbabwe.

Gonarezhou National Park Facts

Size: +5 000km²
Location: South-eastern Zimbabwe
Altitude: 165m to 575m above sea level
Accommodation: Gonarezhou Lodges

Where is Gonarezhou National Park located?

Located in the remote and wild south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe on the border with Mozambique. The closest recognisable town would be Masvingo (home of the Great Zimbabwean ruins), and that is in the region of 300 kilometres away depending on what road is taken.

Click here to see the exact location of the Gonarezhou National Park on Google maps; Google Maps - Gonarezhou National Park

Best Time to Visit Gonarezhou National Park?

The dry season (winter) in Zimbabwe is the best time to visit the park for wildlife and mild to warm temperatures, May to October are the months one should be looking at when planning a safari here.

Summer is the wet season, and when the rain falls, access to parts of the park are restricted or cut off due to rising water and bad tracks. November to April are the summer months; temperatures can and do exceed 40° Celcius.

Information On Gonarezhou National Park

Gonarezhou, 'abode of the elephant' in the local language of Shona, offers visitors the chance to spot 4 of Africa's 'Big 5" (unfortunately, all rhino have been poached out of the park) hippo, crocodile and a whole host of other mammals.

The flat, undulating country is broken by the valleys of three rivers (Mwenezi, Rundi and Save) and by isolated hills here and there. The Chilojo Cliffs border the Runde River, and the Park includes the Grieve Pans, which fill with water in the rainy season.

A remote and wild corner of Zimbabwe that sees very few international or local tourists resulting in a safari here where one basically has the entire park to one's self.

A little interesting aspect of Gonarezhou is that the National Park officially forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (the Kruger National Park (South Africa) and Limpopo National Park (Mozambique) in which wildlife can move freely between the three sanctuaries.

Main Attractions Of Gonarezhou National Park

Wildlife
Birdlife
Remote and wild
Chilojo Cliffs
11 000 plus elephants
Incredible wildlife
Save River

Somalisa Expeditions Camp

Somalisa Expeditions Camp is the perfect destination for those who are purely interested in nothing else other than the surrounding wildlife and birdlife, photography and that authentic traditional safari experience that only Hwange can offer.
Somalisa Expeditions Camp
Camelthorn Lodge

Camelthorn Lodge located in a pristine acacia forest near the southern edge of the famed Ngamo Plains just outside the Hwange National Park. Safari activities in which one can partake, including day and night drives, horseback safaris and the exciting "pump run" all-day game drive.
Camelthorn Lodge
Khayelitshe House

Khayelitshe House is an exclusive use option best suited for a small group of friends or family on safari together located just outside the Matobos National Park boundary, with easy access into the national park and all of her attractions.
Khayelitshe House
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is located 4km from Victoria Falls, one of Southern Africa's must-visit destinations with excellent accommodation options and most importantly, access to Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and the Zambezi National Park.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

Along with a strong focus on complete relaxation, Bumi Hills Safari Lodge features the natural wonders of Kariba. Having the Zambezi escarpment as its backdrop, the lodge overlooks the foreshore below and the vastness associated with Lake Kariba.
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge
Nehimba Lodge

Nehimba Lodge within its own private safari concession in the Hwange National Park offers guest exceptional wildlife and birdlife sightings year-round. Evenings at the lodge can be most entertaining with close encounters with elephants should one be lucky enough.
Nehimba Lodge