Zimbabwe National Parks
Zimbabwe National Parks at a Glance
Gonarezhou National Park
Lions, cheetah, wild dogs, hyena, buffalo, hippo and giraffe can all be seen within the boundaries of Gonarezhou, but this country is known, first and foremost, as the Land of the Elephant. These massive, intelligent creatures are called nzhou in Shona, and give their name to the national park where they number in their thousands.
Gonarezhou National Park is on the cusp of a great adventure; it forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, an area the size of the Netherlands straddling Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. This colossal tract of land encompasses three national parks including Kruger National Park and Limpopo National Park. As the fences come down, years of struggle and division will be forgotten as the animals of this vast land – above all Gonarezhou’s ubiquitous elephants – will once again be able to resume their ancient migratory routes.
Three rivers run through Gonarezhou National Park; the Mwenezi to the west, the Runde through its heart, and the Save forming its eastern boundary. At over 5,000 km², it is the second largest National Park in Zimbabwe, cutting a swathe of sandstone cliffs, scrub and baobab trees along the country’s southeastern border with Mozambique. Largely undiscovered by the outside world, this striking land is one of the last great pristine wildernesses in Africa and takes in a huge diversity of habitats.
Hwange National Park
Covering an expanse of 5,657 sq miles, Hwange National Park (pronounced ‘Wang-ee’) is one of Africa's largest national parks, and the largest park in Zimbabwe.
Hwange and its surrounding private concessions offer wonderful opportunities to see the Big 5 as well as the less common creatures such as African Wild Cat, White-Tailed Mongoose and Bat-eared Fox. Plains game such as impala, kudu, eland, bushbuck and waterbuck are commonly sighted in great number. Hwange is also famous for its amazing sightings of carnivore – these include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena. Birds of prey are commonly seen as well as well as over 300 other species. However, this park is most famous for its great herds of elephant and buffalo, often sighted in numbers well over 200 at a time. Sightings are good all year round but May – November is when the bush is sparse and dry and game is easier to spot.
Mana Pools National Park
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1984, Mana Pools National Park is one of the most beautiful game reserves in Africa. The Zambezi River forms a natural boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, with Mana Pools National Park being situated on the southern banks. It offers some of the most outstanding walking in Zimbabwe.
Mana Pools is situated in the Zambezi Valley, northern Zimbabwe. Mana means “four” in Shona, (one of the main vernacular languages here) – and it refers to the four large permanent pools left by the Zambezi River as it flows into this flood plain area. Mana Pools is one of Africa’s best game-viewing areas because many large animals come here in search of water. The area is teeming with life, great for fishing and bird-watching, and is rich in vegetation diversity, from river frontage to forests of mahogany, wild fig, acacia albida, and baobabs. Now a World Heritage site, Mana Pools has the largest concentration of hippo and crocodiles and you’ll see many buffalo and elephant here, too.
Matobo Hills, Matobo National Park
The Matobo National Park is Zimbabwe's oldest, first established in 1926 as a bequest by Cecil John Rhodes. The granite domes and castle kopjes found in the Matobo Hills echo the essence of tranquility and the majesty of untamed Africa, where wildlife and birdlife species thrive in prolific numbers.
The area is famous for it's high concentrations of Leopard and Black Eagle, as well as for it's healthy population of the endangered Black and White Rhino, making the area one of the most sought after destinations within Zimbabwe. The most unforgettable safari experience offered in the Matobo Hills is approaching this endangered species on foot.
The Matobo Hills have one of the highest concentrations of rock art in Southern Africa dating back at least 13,000 years. The paintings illustrate evolving artistic styles and also socio-religious beliefs. The whole area bears testimony to a rich cultural tradition that has now disappeared.
