Gonarezhou National Park is situated in the south eastern corner of Zimbabwe, south of the lowveld sugar plantations. Zimbabwe’s second largest game reserve (after Hwange National Park), Gonarezhou borders Kruger National Park of South Africa and Limpopo National Park of Mozambique. Of course the wildlife does not abide by political boundaries and moves freely between the three parks. In particular Kruger’s elephant migrate to Gonarezhou seasonally. There are plans to combine the parks into one large peace park.

The main feature of this Park is the Chilojo Cliffs, which are visible from 50 kilometres away. Morning and evening light give the cliffs a rich hue and dramatically silhouette the distinctive baobab trees. These trees are said to be the source of the famous ‘cream of tartar’. The flowers are pollinated by bats and are a delicacy for antelopes.

Gonarezhou (Gona-re-Zhou) means “Place of the Elephant” in Shona. The Park is divided into two main regions: the Chipinda Pools section in the north and the Mwenezi region in the south. Covering an area of 5,000 square kilometres, the terrain is mainly open grasslands and dense mopane and acacia woodlands. The broad Runde River runs through the Park, flanked by the dramatic red Chilojo cliffs. Composed of oxide-rich sandstone, the cliffs are spectacularly colourful at sunset.

Gonarezhou is a great place for botanists and the southeast section of the Park offers some of the best birding in Zimbabwe. The living-fossil lungfish and Zambezi sharks occur in the rivers. This is an excellent place to walk and explore the real wilderness.

At the end of a hunt it is possible and encouraged for clients to go in to Gonarezhou National Park with their professional hunters on a day trip to see the Chilojo Cliffs and all that the park has to offer.

Around the Park are villages of a highly respected tribe called the Shangaani, whose origins are from South Africa. They have retained their traditional way of life and it would be a privilege to visit one of the homes to share the rich culture of these peaceful people.