National Park in Zimbabwe
The red cliffs of the Runde River
Gonarezhou National Park, in the far south-east of Zimbabwe, is one of the country's wildest and most scenic parks. Its name means Place of Elephants in Shona. The park covers more than 5,000 square kilometres of mopane woodland, riverine forest and sandstone cliffs, and the Chilojo Cliffs, a towering red-and-white wall above the Runde River, are its great landmark.
Gonarezhou is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which links it with Kruger in South Africa and Limpopo in Mozambique. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are common, and nyala, suni, lion, leopard, wild dog and a growing population of black and white rhino live here. The park is run in partnership with the Frankfurt Zoological Society.
The camps are few and remote, and visitors are rare. The park is open from about April to November.
Gonarezhou has large herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as lion, leopard, spotted hyena and wild dog. Nyala, suni, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, eland, sable, kudu and giraffe live here. Rhino are being re-established, and the park also has hippo and crocodile on the Runde and Save rivers.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The Chilojo Cliffs are a dramatic wall of coloured sandstone above the Runde River, set among baobabs, fever trees and mopane forest. The park is remote and rarely crowded.
Activities here
Gonarezhou is hot and semi-arid. Daytime temperatures are 26°C to 33°C, with cooler nights in winter. The rains fall from November to March, and the park is largely closed during the wet season.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 22 | 110 |
| Feb | 33 | 22 | 90 |
| Mar | 32 | 21 | 70 |
| Apr | 31 | 18 | 30 |
| May | 29 | 14 | 12 |
| Jun | 26 | 11 | 6 |
| Jul | 26 | 10 | 6 |
| Aug | 28 | 12 | 6 |
| Sep | 31 | 16 | 10 |
| Oct | 33 | 19 | 25 |
| Nov | 33 | 20 | 60 |
| Dec | 33 | 22 | 100 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
May to October is dry, with warm days and cool nights. Animals concentrate along the Runde and Save rivers.
November to March is hot and wet. Roads are impassable, and the park is largely closed.
June to October is the best time. The park is open from about April or May to November, depending on the rains.
Best time to visit Jun to Oct
Gonarezhou is reached by road from Harare in about eight to ten hours via Masvingo, or by charter flight to the camps. Most visitors arrive on a fly-in itinerary.
Park fees are included in our safaris. Please see the Zimbabwe page for visa details.
Gonarezhou is a malaria area, so please take advice. The park is remote and evacuation is by air, so good insurance is essential.
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“Our take”
Gonarezhou is for travellers who want a quiet park. Stay at least three nights, and go to the cliffs at sunset.
Safaris from
US$3,384 per person
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