Gonarezhou National Park: Introduction
Gonarezhou National Park is Zimbabwe's second largest National Park, taking up an area of 5000 sq km in the far south eastern corner of the country. It lies on the Mozambique border and forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park; a massive Pan-African Park that includes South Africa's popular Kruger National Park and Mozambique's Gaza.
This huge Transfrontier area is dedicated to conservation, biodiversity and the economic development of the surrounding local communities. The combined Park includes more than 500 species of birds, 147 species of mammals, at least 116 species of reptiles, 34 species of frogs and 49 species of fish.
One of the most prominent features of Gonarezhou National Park is the beautiful Chilojo Cliffs, which present magnificent red sandstone cliffs that have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley.
Locate the Gonarezhou National Park
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get there
There are two main entrances to the remote Gonarezhou National Park. In the north, Chipinda Pools, 500km/310mi south of Harare, provides access to the Chilojo Cliffs and Save-Runde Confluence in the northeast. In the southwest, the relatively little-used Boli Gate, near the Mabalauta Office, lies 670km/415mi south of Harare. Internal roads require 4WD vehicle. A Dry season border crossing from Kruger National Park (South Africa), involving a pontoon across the Limpopo River, operates twice-weekly by prior arrangement with the park.
Federal Airlines runs twice-weekly scheduled flights from Johannesburg to Buffalo Range International Airport (BFO) near Chiredzi, the closest town to Chipinda Pools. The road transfer from the airport to Chipinda Pools takes around 1 hour*.
Best time to visit
From June to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season, is the best time for viewing wildlife in Gonarezhou National Park. Spotting animals is easier in these months because wildlife gathers around waterholes and rivers and the vegetation has thinned out. During the Wet season (November to March), access to certain parts of the park is restricted. Gonarezhou usually closes over most of January and February.
Gonarezhou National Park’s climate is warm. Winter (the Dry season) and summer (the Wet season) happen at opposite times to those seasons in Europe, Asia and North America. October to April are the hottest months, while May through to September are cooler. The Dry season (April to October) is characterized by cloudless skies and plenty of sunshine. The Wet season (November to March) brings afternoon storms.