Overview
Introduction
Located in Zimbabwe's lowveld region of baobab trees, scrubland and spectacular sandstone cliffs, Gonarezhou is a remote national park infrequently visited by international tourists. Zimbabwe's second-largest river, the Save, flows through it, and where it joins the Rundu River within the park's boundaries is Zimbabwe's lowest elevation point. Facilities are very basic (mostly camping), the roads are in a poor state, and four-wheel-drive vehicles are a necessity. However, the park will appeal to those who like isolation—it's really off the beaten path.
Be cautious when visiting Gonarezhou: The elephants, rhinos and buffalo in the park are more likely to charge humans than in other parks because these species have been heavily hunted and poached in the area. Understandably, they appear to hold something of a grudge against humans. The park has the highest variety of birds in Zimbabwe, and the bird count often reaches more than 400 species. Gonarezhou is now part of the 13,514 sq mi/35,000 sq km Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which links the Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Parque Nacional do Limpopo in Mozambique. Animals can move freely between these three sanctuaries as there are no longer any fences separating them. The park is 265 mi/430 km south of Harare.