Gonarezhou National Park

Gonarezhou National Park is a national park located in south-eastern Zimbabwe. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique border. Owing to its vast size, rugged terrain and its location away from main tourist routes, large tracts of Gonarezhou remain as pristine wilderness.

At 5,053 km² Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park.^[1] Gonarezhou is a Shona name meaning "elephant's tusk." It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Animals can move freely between the three sanctuaries.

History of the park

The Gonarezhou National Park was formed in 1975, by uniting former hunting areas and tsetse fly control corridors.

The park was closed to the public during the Rhodesian War and again during much of the Mozambique civil war but was re-opened in 1994.

The park is part of the international Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

Features

The park is a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs.

Fauna

Historically the park has been a habitat for the endangered Cape wild dog (Lycaon pictus pictus); and in 2010 there were several sightings of wild dogs in the park. It is thought that the cross-border link to national parks in Mozambique would be the best opportunity to restore or preserve the viability of this species in adjacent national parks^[2] in the adjoining countries of South Africa and Mozambique.

Accommodation and camping

Swimuwini Rest Camp

• Swimuwini Rest Camp - managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Authority, this is self-catering accommodation on the Mwenezi River

References

Gallery

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  Chilojo Cliffs

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  Chilo Lodge

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  Crocodile, Makokwani Pools

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  Nyala

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  Makokwani Pools

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  Rossi Pool and hide

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  Samalena Gorge

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  View from Wright's Tower