Zimbabwe: Gonarezhou National Park
This park is 5,053 square kilometres in extent and is characterised by low altitude (most of it is below 400 m above sea level), high temperatures of up to 50ºC and rainfall that is low, varied, and unreliable. Gonarezhou (pronounced Gonna-res-or) or “place of the elephant” is the only large big-game national park in Zimbabwe not in the Zambezi basin. Its situated in the south-east lowveld, and bordering on Mozambique, Gonarezhou is in one of the hotter and drier parts of the country. Despite these apparent drawbacks, the Park is an extraordinary place to visit. It is a true wilderness area. Three drainage systems traverse the park and have created an extraordinary landscape. To watch the light of sunset illuminate the ochre-coloured castellated sandstone of Chilojo Cliffs across the sandy bed of the Runde River is an unforgettable experience. Apart from being known as a bird-watchers paradise, a number of animals considered rare in Zimbabwe occur in this ecosystem. These include the pangolin, wild dog, bat-eared fox, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, roan antelope and nyala. It is the only park in Zimbabwe that has the diminutive suni. This tiny and elegant rufus-brown creature has moderately long ears that seem almost transparent. A shy and secretive browser, it lives exclusively in dry sand forest areas and is found only at the confluence of the Save (pronounced Sah-vie) and Runde rivers in Gonerezhou. Though seldom seen, it is unlikely to cause a stir if you do spot one, being roughly the size of a fox-terrier and of unremarkable features. The elephants that gave their mane to the area are known for their small body size and, in the bulls, relatively large tusks. They have earned the reputation of being among the most irascible and aggressive of their species.
Related Travel Information
Zimbabwe: Chizaria National Park
This national park in western Zimbabwe is one of the country's most remote and least-developed reserves. The park sits astride the dramatic Zambezi Escarpment and is filled with steep cliffs and river gorges. The wildlife, particularly in the Busi Valley, is abundant. There are a few camps in the park, but the Chizaria Wilderness Lodge, just outside the park is the lodging of choice if you can afford it. Be aware that there are no facilities within the park, so you'll need to take along your own supplies. 200 mi/320 km west of Harare.
Climate in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, summer is from October to April. Days are hot and generally sunny in the morning with possible afternoon thunder storms. Day temperatures reach about 30C and night temperatures drop to 14C - 16C. I can also be considerably warmer all year round in the low-lying areas such as Kariba, Victoria Falls, and Zambezi Valley. The rainy season from November to March, although the Eastern Highlands are damp for most of the year. Winter is from May to September, days are dry, sunny and cool to warm (20C) while evening temperatures drop sharply (5C). Exceptionally cold spells
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Gweru (Gwelo)
This town is situated in the middle of the county. The town of Gweru is mostly used as a base for visiting nearby national parks and ruins. While Great Zimbabwe has the most extensive ruins in the country, they are not the only ones: There are more than 200 such sites, and a few are near Gweru. The Dhlo ruins (small ruins with chevron and herringbone designs) are 45 mi/70 km away, and the Nalatale stone ruins, another small but interesting site, are 40 mi/65 km away. Sebakwe National Park (noted for fishing, birding and beautiful
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Kwe Kwe (Que Que)
A small town in central Zimbabwe, Kwe Kwe is best known for its nearby privately owned wildlife reserves and proximity to other sights (see also Gweru Midlands). Cabergeigh Estates, the best of the bunch, includes of a picturesque game lodge set amid 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares of mopane trees and water holes. Open-top all-terrain vehicles make it easy to spot large herds of elephants, wildebeests and impala, while sable, giraffes, eland, nyala, waterbucks, zebras and crocodiles are also common. Licensed hunting is possible in the park. 110 mi/180 km southwest of Harare.
Zimbabwe Travel Destination: Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second-largest city in Zimbabwe. The country was originally known as "Rhodesia", named after Cecil John Rhodes who made a lasting impact on the country's history. One of Rhodes' favourite places was the Matobo Hills south of Bulawayo. He was so moved by the fascinating rock formations and the wild spirit of this area that he chose to be buried at the highest point of the hills which he named "World's View". His burial site is visited by thousands of tourists to Zimbabwe.
Set in cattle and mining country, Although it has more than
