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Elephant at the Chilojo Cliffs Gonarezhou National Park covers 5,053 km² of Zimbabwe’s remote south-east lowveld, from the Save River in the north to the Mwenezi River in the south. It is Zimbabwe’s second-largest national park, and its name means “place of elephants”: the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust counts over 11,500 of them. The park’s landmark is the Chilojo Cliffs, red sandstone cliffs along the Runde River. Go in the dry season, roughly April to October. The whole park closes to tourists from 10 January to 1 March. Written by Bryan Fawcett.
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026 against the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust’s visitor pages and campsite and bush camp rates, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) Gonarezhou page and 2026 tariff, and SANParks on the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. Rates and closures change. Check with Gonarezhou reservations before you travel.

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Gonarezhou at a glance

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Why go

  • The Chilojo Cliffs. Red sandstone cliffs, about 180 m high according to Singita, along the south bank of the Runde River.
  • Elephants. Over 11,500, which the Trust says is among the highest densities of any protected area in Africa.
  • Wilderness. Few visitors, no shops and many campsites with no facilities at all.
  • Birds. The Trust records more than 450 species.

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Wildlife

The Gonarezhou Conservation Trust records 89 large mammal species, 61 small mammal species, more than 450 bird species, more than 50 fish species, 116 reptile species and 34 amphibian species. ZimParks says the park holds all of the Big Five: elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard. The confluence of the Save and Runde rivers is the lowest point in Zimbabwe, at 162 m above sea level. ZimParks notes that Zambezi sharks and small-tooth sawfish have been recorded there.

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The Chilojo Cliffs

The cliffs are the park’s best-known view. You can see them from the riverbed below or from viewpoints on top. The Trust says the cliffs are about 2.5 hours’ drive from Chipinda Pools, so plan a full day if you stay in the north. See our Chilojo Cliffs guide.

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Where to stay

All of the options below are run by or booked through the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust unless stated.

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Campsites (2026, minimum charge per site, US$)

Developed campsites have shared ablutions and a camp attendant but no electricity. Bush, wilderness and transit sites have a bush loo and a fire pit only, and no drinking water. Water anywhere in the park is untreated, so bring your own.

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Gonarezhou Bush Camps

The Trust runs two bush camps, Chilojo and Mahove, for exclusive-use groups. Each has six en-suite Meru-style tents and takes 6 to 12 guests. In 2026 they cost **US$720 per person per night** for international visitors (US$660 SADC, US$600 local), for accommodation only. Conservation fees, levies and vehicle fees are extra. Chilojo is fully staffed with a chef.

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Lodges near the park

  • Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge is a lodge on the edge of the park near the Save–Runde area.
  • Singita Pamushana is in the private Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve next door. The Malilangwe Trust lists pre-arranged day trips into Gonarezhou.
Check rates directly with each lodge.

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Getting there

The park has six main gates, three in the north and three in the south.
  • Chipinda Pools (north): from Chiredzi, take the main tar road towards Mutare for 21 km, then turn south at the Chipinda Pools sign and follow the gravel road for about 34 km to the park entrance. That is about 55 km from Chiredzi (ZimParks), about an hour’s drive.
  • Save–Runde (north-east): via a sand crossing of the Save River near Mahenye. A 4x4 is required.
  • Boli and Sango (south): from Mwenezi via Boli, or from the Sango border post with Mozambique. Report to the Mabalauta office first.
  • Malipati (south): via the Sengwe–Tshipise corridor from the Limpopo, or on gravel from Beitbridge.
  • By air: flights need pre-authorisation. There are registered airstrips at Chipinda Pools, Mabalauta and Malipati. International charters clear customs at Buffalo Range Airport, Chiredzi. Contact reservations at least seven days before you arrive.
There are no shops in the park. Chiredzi has supermarkets, so stock up there. There is no direct crossing from Kruger yet: the Trust describes a route through Pafuri into Mozambique and back into Zimbabwe at Sango, with two sand-river crossings.

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When to go

  • April to September: the best camping conditions, according to the Trust. Game concentrates on the rivers as the dry season goes on. October is very hot.
  • November to March: hot and wet, often above 35°C, with frequent thunderstorms. Remote camps close from late November to March or April, and the whole park is closed from 10 January to 1 March.

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Self-drive tips

  • Vehicle: in the dry season, most of the park is passable in a high-clearance 2WD apart from river crossings, but the Trust prefers 4x4. For remote areas or sand-river crossings, travel with two vehicles and recovery gear.
  • Big vehicles: vehicles over 3 tonnes pay a larger entry fee and must stay on primary roads. Vehicles over 5 tonnes need advance notice.
  • No motorbikes without special permission.
  • Carry in, carry out. Take all your rubbish home. Fires are not allowed at picnic sites.
  • Fishing only at designated sites. Catch and release is recommended, and fish may not leave the park.
  • Stay on designated roads, and don’t try a crossing you aren’t sure about. The park is remote.

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Conservation

Gonarezhou became a game reserve in 1935 and a national park in 1975. Since 1 March 2017 it has been run by the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, a co-management partnership between ZimParks and the Frankfurt Zoological Society, under a 20-year agreement. The park is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, set up by a treaty signed in December 2002 by Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. SANParks describes the transfrontier park as about 35,000 km², linking Gonarezhou with Kruger National Park in South Africa and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. Gonarezhou shares a 100 km border with Mozambique.

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Combine Gonarezhou with

Chilojo Cliffs

Park fees 2026

Safari planning

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Sources

Last modified on October 21, 2026