> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.travel-info.co.zw/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Chizarira National Park > Chizarira National Park guide for 2026: gorges on the Zambezi Escarpment, wildlife and birds, how to drive there from Harare or Bulawayo, ZimParks camping, fees and the best time to go. **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](/about-this-guide).** > [!NOTE] > > **Last reviewed: 21 October 2026** against the ZimParks Chizarira National Park page and the official ZimParks 2026 tariff. Facilities in Chizarira are basic and change often. Check with ZimParks before you travel. ## Chizarira at a glance | | | | - | - | | **Size** | 1,910 km², Zimbabwe's fourth-largest national park (ZimParks) | | **Location** | Top of the Zambezi Escarpment, north-west Zimbabwe, inland from Binga | | **Headquarters** | Manzituba | | **Known for** | Gorges, natural springs, escarpment views, birding, remote wilderness | | **Vehicle** | 4x4 with good clearance | | **Where to sleep** | Basic ZimParks campsites. Bring everything you need | | **Fee (2026)** | US\$12 a day for international visitors. See [park fees](/essentials/park-fees) | ## 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. > [!WARNING] > > ZimParks warns visitors to keep clear of **elephants with calves** and **lions with cubs**, and not to go beyond the fences at the gorges. ## 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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](/essentials/distances) and [getting around Zimbabwe](/essentials/transportation) for the rest of your route. > [!TIP] > > Fill up with fuel and buy all your food before you leave the main roads. ZimParks advises visitors to bring enough food for their whole stay. ## 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](/book) about a guided trip. Book campsites through [ZimParks](https://www.zimparks.org.zw) before you set off. ## 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](/essentials/park-fees) for the full table and how to pay. Bring US dollars in cash. ## 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](/essentials/weather-by-month). ## 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](/essentials/health-and-safety). * **Combine it.** Chizarira sits between [Hwange](/destinations/hwange-national-park) and [Lake Kariba](/destinations/lake-kariba), so it fits into a longer north-west route. ## Related guides > **[National park fees 2026](/essentials/park-fees)** > > Official ZimParks fees for every park, plus vehicle and camping fees. > **[Walking and canoe safaris](/planning/walking-and-canoe-safaris)** > > How walking safaris work in Zimbabwe and where to do them. > **[Lake Kariba](/destinations/lake-kariba)** > > The lake below the escarpment, with houseboats and fishing. > **[Hwange National Park](/destinations/hwange-national-park)** > > Zimbabwe's largest park, south-west of Chizarira. > **[Safari planning](/planning/safari-planning)** > > When to go, what to pack and how to choose a safari. > **[Hidden gems](/destinations/hidden-gems)** > > More of Zimbabwe's less-visited places. ## Sources * [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) — Chizarira National Park](https://www.zimparks.org.zw/chizarira-national-park/), accessed 21 October 2026 * [Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) — De-Gazetted Tariff 2026 (PDF)](https://www.zimparks.org.zw/media/2026/02/De-Gazetted-Tariff-2026.pdf), dated February 2026, accessed 21 October 2026 Premium booking partner Plan your Chizarira trip with a local Moses Adventures builds tailored Zimbabwe trips and has visited every destination they sell. Share your dates and budget for a quote. Get a quote from Moses Adventures → (opens in a new tab) [See all booking partners](/book) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.