Gonarezhou National Park
Encyclopedia
Gonarezhou National Park is a National Park located in south-eastern Zimbabwe
. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique
border. The park is a lowveld
region of baobab
s, scrublands and sandstone cliffs. Owing to its vast size, rugged terrain and its location away from main tourist routes, large tracts of Gonarezhou remain as pristine wilderness.
At 5,053 km² Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park
. Gonarezhou is a Shona
name meaning "elephant
's tusk."
It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
, a peace park
that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park
in South Africa
and the Limpopo National Park
in Mozambique
. Animals can move freely between the three sanctuaries.
along the border with Mozambique
. Gona re Zhou National Park is the second largest game preserve in Zimbabwe. Historically the Park has been a habitat
for the endangered African Wild Dog
, Lycaon pictus; and in 2010 there have been several sightings of wild dogs in the park. It is thought that the best opportunity to restore or preserve the viability of this species in the Park is by ensuring a migration corridor with adjacent national parks in the adjoining countries of South Africa
and Mozambique
. The Park is part of the international Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
.
tsetse fly
control corridors.
The park was closed to the public during the Rhodesian War and again during much of the Mozambique civil war but was re-opened in 1994.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is situated in a relatively remote corner of Masvingo Province, south of Chimanimani along the Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
border. The park is a lowveld
Veld
The term Veld refers primarily to the wide open rural spaces of South Africa or southern Africa and in particular to certain flatter areas or districts covered in grass or low scrub...
region of baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
s, scrublands and sandstone cliffs. Owing to its vast size, rugged terrain and its location away from main tourist routes, large tracts of Gonarezhou remain as pristine wilderness.
At 5,053 km² Gonarezhou is the country’s second largest game reserve after Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe. The park lies in the west, on the main road between Bulawayo and the widely noted Victoria Falls.It was founded around 1928 by a 22-year-old game ranger, Ted Davidson...
. Gonarezhou is a Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
name meaning "elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
's tusk."
It forms part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the...
, a peace park
Peace Park
Peace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
that links Gonarezhou with the Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the Limpopo National Park
Limpopo National Park
The Limpopo National Park was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province, Mozambique, was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area....
in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Animals can move freely between the three sanctuaries.
Natural history
Gonarezhou National Park is a natural protected area in ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
along the border with Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Gona re Zhou National Park is the second largest game preserve in Zimbabwe. Historically the Park has been a habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
for the endangered African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
, Lycaon pictus; and in 2010 there have been several sightings of wild dogs in the park. It is thought that the best opportunity to restore or preserve the viability of this species in the Park is by ensuring a migration corridor with adjacent national parks in the adjoining countries of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. The Park is part of the international Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the...
.
History
The Gonarezhou National Park was formed in 1975, by uniting former hunting areas andtsetse fly
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
control corridors.
The park was closed to the public during the Rhodesian War and again during much of the Mozambique civil war but was re-opened in 1994.
Accommodation
- Swimuwini Rest Camp - managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Authority, this is self-catering accommodation on the Mwenezi RiverMwenezi RiverMwenezi River is a major tributary of the Limpopo River. The Mwenezi River starts up in south central Zimbabwe and flows south-east along what is known as the Mwenezi River Vally that bisects the district into two sectors.. The river is found in both Zimbabwe and Mozambique...
- Mahenye Safari Lodge - a group of ShangaanShangaanThe Tsonga people inhabit the southern coastal plain of Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe and Swaziland, and the Limpopo Province of South Africa...
-style thatched lodgeSafari lodgeA safari lodge is a type of tourist accommodation in southern and eastern Africa. Lodges are mainly used by tourists on wildlife safaris, and are typically located in or near national parks or game reserves....
s in a riverine forest on an island in the Save River. - Senuko Safari Lodge - meaning the place where animals drink in Shangaan
- Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge
- Gonarezhou Bush Camp is a privately-operated mobile tented camp