Discover the Natural Beauty Of Gonarezhou National Park

By Steve Ephraem

Tucked away in the south-eastern part of Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou National Park is a tranquil oasis that offers a unique wildlife experience. Established as a game reserve in the 1960s and declared a national park in 1975, Gonarezhou is managed by the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks).

With an area of 5,053 square km, Gonarezhou is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national wildlife sanctuary, after Hwange National Park. Its strategic location, bordering South Africa and Mozambique, makes it an integral part of the “peace parks” project, The Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park. This ambitious project combines Gonarezhou with South Africa’s Kruger National Park (19,485 square km) and Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park (10,462 square km), creating a vast and magnificent conservation area of 35,000 square km.

Gonarezhou is situated in an area predominantly inhabited by the Tsonga (Xangani) people, who are spread across Chipinge, Chiredzi, and Mwenezi. The park’s name, Gonarezhou, translates to “place of many elephants” in Shona, although some believe it refers to early traditional herbalists who used elephant tusks as medicine storage.

As part of The Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park, Gonarezhou benefits from joint marketing efforts, encouraging tourists to explore all three destinations. The park’s wildlife is allowed to roam freely within the three parks, creating a unique and immersive experience for visitors.

On September 9, journalists from various media houses in Zimbabwe embarked on a tour of the park, organized by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority as part of a pre-Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo tour. The tour aimed to showcase Gonarezhou’s attractions to both domestic and foreign markets.

The media practitioners visited Chipinda Pools and the breathtaking Chilojo Cliffs, a 170m high red sandstone landmark stretching over 30km along the south bank of the Runde River. The cliffs offer a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and photographers.