Gonarezhou National Park was gazetted in 1975 by combining the former hunting zones and tsetse fly control corridors and was closed to the public during the Rhodesian war as well as the Mozambique Civil war but was re-opened in 1994 as part of the International-Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Three main rivers-Mwenezi, Save, and Runde drain through the National Park and form natural oases and pools that offer shelter to fish species but also attract numerous wildlife and bird species.

Due to its large size, the rugged terrain, and its location from the major tourist routes, the largest part of this National Park has remained as a tranquil wilderness Area that offers tourists the feeling of having the wilderness to themselves. This Park derived its name from a Shona word meaning elephant tucks and forms part of the massive Pan-African Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a vast Park that connects this Zimbabwean Park with Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park and South Africa’s popular Kruger National Park, making the wild animals move freely between the three Conservation Areas.

Flora and Fauna of Gonarezhou National Park

Wildlife in Gonarezhou National Park

The north-eastern corner of this Zimbabwean National Park lies within the Zambezian and Mopane woodlands whereas its south-western part is mainly characterized by the southern Africa Bushveld eco-region.

One of the exceptional animals in this Park is the endangered Cape Wild dog and the cross-border connection to the National Parks in neighboring Mozambique hence offers the perfect chance to see the animals in the neighboring Parks. Nonetheless, other mammals to encounter here include Hyenas, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, lions, Suni, Hippos, white rhinos, Nyala, wildebeests, Cape buffaloes, black rhinos, and zebras among others. Aquatic wildlife species to look out for within this Park include the turquoise killifish, the Zambezi Shark, Black Bream, and Freshwater Goby among others within the Park’s pools and rivers.

Besides the flora and fauna, other attractions to see within this Park include the Chilojo Cliffs, beautiful red sandstone cliffs formed through erosion, and overlooks the stunning Runde River Valley. Also, natural falls such as Duguvi and Chibilila as well as water pans such as Tembahata and Chindhlambai can be explored by tourists who visit this Park and are undeniably some of the best birding spots in the Park.

Some of the tourist activities not to miss within the Park include fishing, bird watching, walking safaris, game viewing, and scenic viewing at the Makonde pool, Chilojo, and Mwatomba Pool cliffs

Where to stay within Gonarezhou National Park?

With the few facilities in the Park, tourists can spend overnights within the self-catering Swimuwini Rest Camp, found on the banks of River Mwenezi and is managed by the Zimbabwean National Parks and Wildlife Authority. Other safari Lodges here include Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge and many others.

The Matopos hills are said to be formed over 2 billion years ago with granite being forced to the Earth’s surface but was eventually eroded to form smooth whaleback dwalas and rugged kopjes that were strewn with big boulders and dotted with sparse thickets of vegetation. It is for this reason that Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele clan named the area its current name meaning “Bald heads”. The highest point of the hills is known as Gulati (standing at 1549 meters/5082 feet above sea level) and is found outside the north-eastern part of the Park. Administratively, this Park includes the Lake Matopos Recreational Park, the area around Lake Matopos, Hazelside, and the Sandy Spruit.

Of the 3100 square kilometers (1200 square miles) covered by the Matopos Hills, only 424 square kilometers (164 square miles) are covered by this exceptional National Park while the remaining part is extensively occupied by communal land while the remaining part is for commercial farmland. Of the total area covered by the National Park, over 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) is mainly a Game Park with high numbers of wildlife species including the extraordinary and endangered white rhinoceros.

The Matobo Hills are made up of main granite (the Matopos Batholiths) and granite weather with spectacular shapes like the balancing rocks referred to as the mother and child kopje. There are also narrow valleys between the Granite Mountains that form headwaters of Mtsheleli, Mpopoma, and Maleme rivers, and the source of River Thuli is found in the eastern part of Matobo National Park.

Flora and Fauna within Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park

Matobo National Park lies within the bushveld eco-region of Southern Africa and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 due to its exceptional flora and fauna diversity but also displays a profusion of different rock landforms standing above the granite shield that stretches through the largest part of Zimbabwe. There are presently over 200 species of trees in the Park including the mountain acacia, paperbark trees, and wild pears as well as numerous aloes, 100 species of grass, and wild herbs.

This Park is a fauna diversity hot spot with over 88 species of mammals including sable antelopes, white and black rhinos, giraffes, hyenas, hyraxes, hippos, leopards, wildebeests, and impalas as well as over 175 species of birds including Ostriches and black eagles, 16 fish and 39 snake species among others.

In addition to the flora and fauna, several archaeological and cultural sites exist within the Park and they include the rock art, Pomongwe, Bambata, Nswatugi, and Inanke Caves as well as the white rhino shelter near the Gordon Park. Therefore, activities to enjoy here include scenic viewing, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding/trail riding, boating, hiking, game viewing, running, and walking safaris.

Accommodation facilities within Matobo National Park

There are several Safari Camps within the Park and including Sandy Spruit, Maleme, Toghwana, Mtsheleli, Mwesilume, Big Cave, Arboretum, and Lake Matopos Camps as well as several Lodges including Farmhouse, Fish Eagle, Matobo Hills, Imbila and Black Eagle Safari Lodges.