Chizarira National Park

Chizarira is a remote national park of 1,910 km² of gorges, springs and miombo woodland on top of the Zambezi Escarpment, looking down over the Zambezi Valley and the upper end of Lake Kariba. Go for the scenery, the solitude and the birds rather than easy game viewing. The dry months from about June to October are the best time to visit. There is no tar road all the way in: you drive from Harare via Kwekwe and Gokwe, or from Bulawayo via Kamativi, and finish on dirt roads up the escarpment. A 4x4 and full self-sufficiency are essential. Written by Bryan Fawcett.

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Chizarira at a glance

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Wildlife

ZimParks lists lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant in Chizarira, along with roan, sable and klipspringer. The park is large, the terrain is broken and animals are often shy, so sightings take patience. People come here for the wilderness as much as the game.

• Birds: more than 360 species are on the park checklist. ZimParks notes that the rare Taita falcon and the Angola pitta are seen here, the falcon on the cliffs.
• Habitats: miombo woodland covers most of the escarpment. The lower ground has mopane scrub and baobabs.
• Scenery: deep gorges and numerous natural springs. The views north across the Zambezi Valley are the park’s best-known feature.

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Getting there

Chizarira is remote and the last stretch is dirt road up and over the escarpment. These are the routes ZimParks gives to the park headquarters at Manzituba.

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From Harare

1. Take the A5 to Kwekwe and turn off towards Gokwe.
2. At Gokwe, take the tarred Binga road via Chitekete for 120 km to a T-junction signposted to Binga on the left.
3. Follow this dirt road towards Binga via Siabuwa Business Centre. At the 47 km peg, turn left at the Chizarira National Park sign.
4. Drive 20 km to the park headquarters.

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From Bulawayo

1. Take the A8 towards Victoria Falls and turn east at Cross Roads, 50 km south of Hwange town.
2. Drive 28 km on gravel to Kamativi, then 50 km to the Mlibizi turn-off.
3. Continue east for 54 km to the Binga turn-off, then carry on towards Siabuwa.
4. After 47 km, just after crossing the Mucheni River, turn right at the Chizarira sign.
5. A final 20 km of dirt road climbs over the escarpment to Manzituba.

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By air

There is an airstrip at the park camp for private and charter aircraft. You need permission to land from the Chizarira park office first. You can also fly into Binga airstrip and drive about 95 km to the park along the Siabuwa road. See distances and driving times and getting around Zimbabwe for the rest of your route.

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Where to stay

Accommodation in Chizarira is basic camping run by ZimParks. The 2026 ZimParks tariff lists five exclusive campsites, where your group has the site to itself: Mucheni View, Mucheni Gorge, Kaswiswi 1, Kaswiswi 2 and Mobola. Expect a cleared site with simple facilities at best. You need your own tent, bedding, cooking kit, food and water treatment. ZimParks’ own packing list for the park includes camping tents, a sleeping bag and a torch. We couldn’t confirm any private safari lodge operating inside the park in 2026. If you’d rather not go it alone, ask a booking partner about a guided trip. Book campsites through ZimParks before you set off.

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Park fees

Chizarira is one of ZimParks’ lower-priced parks. 2026 conservation fees for international visitors are US$12 a day (day visit) or US$5 a day if you stay overnight in the park. SADC visitors pay US$10 or US$4, and Zimbabweans US$5 or US$2.

• Vehicle: US$10 a day for a foreign-registered car (US$3 a day if staying overnight), US$5 for a Zimbabwe-registered car (US$2 overnight).
• Exclusive camping: US$40 per person per night for international visitors, US$25 for locals.

See our 2026 national park fees guide for the full table and how to pay. Bring US dollars in cash.

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Best time to visit

• June to October (dry season): the best time. Roads are passable, vegetation thins out and animals gather near the springs and remaining water. Nights on the escarpment are cool in June and July.
• November to March (rains): hot and green, with good birding, but the dirt roads up the escarpment can become very difficult. Many visitors avoid this period.
• April and May: the end of the rains. Roads are drying out and the bush is still thick.

ZimParks recommends cool clothing, a hat and sunscreen from September to March, and warm clothes for the evenings from April to August. See Zimbabwe weather by month.

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Practical tips

• Be self-sufficient. Carry food, water, fuel, spares and recovery gear. Treat Chizarira as a wilderness trip, not a game drive park.
• Travel with two vehicles if you can. The park is far from towns and help, so don’t count on phone signal.
• Pack for walking and birding. ZimParks suggests binoculars, cameras, walking shoes and a field guide or bird app.
• Bring a first-aid kit. ZimParks recommends antihistamines, plasters, something for sprains and an antiseptic for stings and cuts.
• Wear earthy colours. Avoid bright red, yellow and green.
• Ask about malaria. Get advice from a travel clinic before you go. See health and safety.
• Combine it. Chizarira sits between Hwange and Lake Kariba, so it fits into a longer north-west route.

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Related guides

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Sources

• Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) — Chizarira National Park, accessed 21 October 2026
• Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) — De-Gazetted Tariff 2026 (PDF), dated February 2026, accessed 21 October 2026