Explore Gonarezhou

Samalema Gorge, Gonarezhou National Park

 

Explore Gonarezhou

Masasani Mananga, Gonarezhou National Park

 

Explore Gonarezhou

Gorwe Pan, Gonarezhou National Park

The Gonarezhou ethos

Gonarezhou  is a unique and special place of varied and scenic, rugged beauty and contains hidden secrets for those who know where to look. The ethos of the Park’s tourism is to tread as softly on this landscape as possible, whilst fully immersing oneself in the experience of being in this vast, wild space.

We therefore request our visitors to respect the spirit of the Gonarezhou, and to leave as little sign of your visit as is possible.  Your actions whilst visiting the Park also has a direct impact on others, and again, we ask that you respect the rights of other visitors to experience the beauty and peace that Gonarezhou has to offer, and therefore request that you take responsibility for your actions and also reflect how these actions might impact on current and future visitors.

Activities

The main activities on offer in the park include game viewing from vehicles and limited walking.   Some of the main roads in the Park, such as those around Mabalauta and the track down to the Chilojo Cliffs are accessible for 2 x 4 vehicles, but, for travellers who want to venture a bit further off the beaten path a 4 x 4 vehicle is a requirement.  Fishing is available for overnight visitors at specifically designated campsites  along the Runde and Mwenezi rivers.

There are a number of picnic sites and view points throughout the park.

Accommodation

The Park offers a variety of accomodation options, from remote wilderness campsites with no facilities, to the comfort of the chalets at Swimuwini.

The main focus however remains on immersing oneself in the experience of being in nature through camping.  The three developed campsites, (Chipinda Pools, Chinguli and Mabalauta), have multiple sites at one spot with running water, a braai place, and access to shared ablution blocks with hot water and flushing toilets available.  The exclusive camping sites are the traditional bush experience where you camp in complete privacy, with just a ‘Blair’ toilet and braai area.  You are responsible for providing your own water and to be fully self-sufficient.  There are also a limited number of wilderness campsites in the Park. These sites shift annually depending on the availability of water in the pans in the central area of Gonarezhou where these sites are located.  There are no facilities at these sites, and visitors to these sites need to be aware that they are to leave no trace of their visit on their departure.

The chalets at Swimuwini have recently been refurbished, and offer visitors  a somewhat more comfortable park experience.  Chalets are equipped with solar geysers, lights, fridge/freezers and fully-equipped kitchens.  Cooking takes place on gas stoves or in the portable braai’s available at every unit.

The tented camp at Chipinda Pools is well established and very popular.  Tents are fully furnished, and have a small en-suite bathroom.  Secure kitchen units have a small gas stove and portable fridge/freezer.  As with Swimuwini, all power is solar, and solar geysers supply hot water.

How to book:

All bookings for Gonarezhou visits are done through our reception team based in Gonarezhou.  They can be contacted on:

reservations@gonarezhou.org
WhatsApp/telephone:  + 263 779 788 811

Our telephone signal does offer challenges at times – so, contact by email or WhatsApp is more reliable.

Maps of Gonarezhou

Click here to view Park Maps

Accommodation options

Type No Description
Wilderness Bushcamp 3 No facilities. User to bring and remove everything, including all litter.
Max 12 people and 3 vehicles.
Exclusive Campsite 18 Long-drop toilet and braai site.
All litter to be removed, (bags provided from reception).
Wood to be purchased at Park entrance or collection points.
Max 12 people, 3 vehicles.  Min. charge covers 3 people.
Transit Campsite 2 For larger 4×4 groups.  Max stay 2 nights. Max. of 5 vehicles.
Developed Campsite 4 Ablutions, water, shade, attendant.
Currently at Chinguli, Chipinda andMabalauta.
Max 6 people per site, two vehicles.
Permanent tented camp 1 Chipinda Pools – 4 tents (2 x 4-beds, 4 x 4-beds)
Chalets 8 Swimuwini Camp.  6 x 2-bedroomed (4-bed) chalets.
2 x 1-bedroom  chalets.
Solar geyser, lights and fridge/freezer and gas stove.
Fully equipped kitchen with gas stove.

Other facilities

Type Description
Picnic Site Designated sites with Blair Toilet.
View points Viewing area only, no toilet.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted in Gonarezhou, but, as the focus for the Park’s activities are on non-consumptive tourism, the number of fishing sites are limited and fishing is restricted to overnight visitors, fishing from directly in front of their own campsite.

Please familiarise yourself with the Fishing “Code of Conduct”.
Fishing is permitted 150m from your booked camping spot. These are as follows:

People fishing at these sites must have a booking for the associated campsite.

  • Chipinda Pools
  • Chivilila
  • Runde-Gorge
  • Chinguli
  • Chitove
  • Nyavasikana
  • Rossi Pools

Tour operators

There are currently 3 registered Tour Operators offering a variety of activities in Gonarezhou.

Please contact them directly for further information on the services they offer:

Codes of Conduct

  • Feel free to walk around your campsite, but unless you are part of an organised walking tour please do not venture too far.
  • Please use the toilets provided.
  • The use of gas for cooking is encouraged.
  • All firewood to be purchased at one of the collection points. Wood plays an important role in the ecosystem, please don’t remove wood directly from the bush.
  • Ash from fires to be placed adjacent to the fireplace.  Park staff visit the camps on a regular basis and will remove ashes as well as collect any litter.
  • If at the end of your stay you have litter at hand – kindly take litter bag to one of the Park exit points and hand over to a staff member – the Park has recycling facilities at Mabalauta and Chipinda Pools.
  • Please leave a campsite in the state that you would like to find it in – due to the size of the Park it is impossible for staff to clean all campsites between visitor visits – we therefore rely on our clients to assist in keeping Gonarezhou the wild and unsullied place it is.
  • Baboons are a problem at some campsites.  Where possible please take any foodboxes with you when you leave your camp for the day, firmly secure your tents and don’t leave any litter bags outside.
  • Booked campsite visitors can purchase a fishing licence. Designated fishing campsites are:
    Chipinda Pools, Chivilila, Runde Gorge, Chinguli and Chitove on the Runde River, and Nyavasikana and Rossi Pools on the Mwenezi river.
  • Fishing by day visitors is not permitted
  • A fishing licence has to be obtained for every day that a person intends to fish. A maximum of two rods/person/licence, and a bag limit of 6 fish/day.
  • Fishing allowed for 150m either side of the specific camping site for which a person has booked.
  • No fishing from picnic sites or any other day visitor site.
  • The Park encourages catch-and-release of all fish caught, especially of predator species such as tigerfish.
  • No drying or smoking of fish in the Park; gutting of fish must be done at the pool and not at the campsite.
  • No fish to be taken out of the Park.
  • Only cook on gas at picnic sites, please don’t make any fires.
  • Walking permitted within 100 m radius.
4×4 in Wilderness Areas

  • Ensure that your vehicle is mechanically sound
  • Always travel with a minimum of two vehicles
  • Remain on the tracks at all times
  • All litter to be removed
  • All human waste to be buried, toilet paper burnt
  • Ensure that GCT personnel at either Chipinda Pools or Mabalauta knows your movements
  • Carry wood with you that has been purchased from a collection point. Collection of wood from along the trail is not permitted
  • Please leave your site in a pristine condition.
  •  Camp only at the GPS-position given to you – this enables you to privacy (as the site would be away from normal visitor routes, and limits the visitor footprint in our wilderness area).
  • All human waste to be buried at a distance of at least 100 m from the site, and all toilet paper burnt.
  • No soap or soapy water to be disposed of where it can enter any water body.
  • Respect your fellow campsite visitors in all your conducts.
  • Keep noise levels low.
  • No radios or generators are permitted at any of the campsites.
  • Leave ablution facilities in a pristine condition.
  • Limit your usage of hot water.
Chipinda Pools tented camps
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