Gonarezhou National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is our Zimbabwe expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Most of Africa’s iconic large mammals are present in Gonarezhou National Park. This includes all the Big Five, following the reintroduction of black rhino in 2021 after 27 years’ absence. The elephant population is estimated at 11,500, and buffalo herds of up to 500 are sometimes encountered. Other wildlife includes giraffe, zebra, hippo, warthog, baboon and a variety of carnivores and antelope.

ElephantAbundant

GiraffeOccasional

HippoCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoRare

LionOccasional

LeopardRare

CheetahRare

HyenaOccasional

Wild DogRare

Wildlife Highlights

Gonarezhou is a Shangaan name meaning ‘Place of Elephants’, and the high profile of these magnificent creatures is the park’s defining wildlife experience. Lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and African wild dog all occur at low densities, but sightings are relatively uncommon. Gonarezhou is a good place to see some unusual antelope species, such as the handsome nyala, the magnificently horned greater kudu and the tiny suni.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for viewing wildlife in Gonarezhou is from June to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season. Wildlife is easier to spot then because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around predictable water sources. Roads might become difficult to navigate in the Wet Season (November to March). The park usually closes over most of January and February.