Practical questions
Gonarezhou National Park: frequently asked questions
The questions first-time Gonarezhou visitors ask, answered plainly and with current 2026 figures.
How much does it cost to enter Gonarezhou?
From the official 2026 ZimParks tariff: international visitors pay $25 per person per day as a self-drive or day visitor, or $15 per day when staying in a park camp. SADC visitors pay $20 or $10, Zimbabwe residents $10 or $5. Camping starts at $50 per person per night for locals at a transit site and runs to $180 international at the exclusive sites. One honest gap: it is not published whether the camping minimum charges include the daily conservation fee, so confirm the total when you book.
Can I self-drive in Gonarezhou?
Yes, and more than that: the Trust calls self-drive game viewing the park's primary offering. You need high clearance everywhere and a true 4x4 for the Save River sand crossing and the remote campsite tracks; 2WD is not realistic for most of the park. Carry all your fuel, food and drinking water, because none of the three is available inside.
When is the best time to visit?
April to August is the Trust's own peak season, cool and dry, and September to November delivers the best game viewing as animals concentrate on the shrinking rivers, at the price of serious heat. The non-negotiable date: the park closes completely to tourists from 10 January to 1 March every year, and the remote camps close for a wider window from late November to March or April.
How do I book the camps?
By email or phone; there is no online booking portal or payment gateway. Write to reservations@gonarezhou.org for camping and self-catering camps, gbc@gonarezhou.org for the bush camps, or call +263 779 788 811. Day visitors are explicitly welcome without prior booking. Payment methods at the gates are not published anywhere, so carry US dollars in cash.
What are the Chilojo Cliffs?
A wall of red-orange sandstone about 180 metres high running some 20 kilometres along the south bank of the Runde River, and the park's defining landmark. The viewpoint drive is the marquee outing in Gonarezhou, and the Trust's Chilojo Bush Camp sits on the river directly opposite the cliffs.
Is Gonarezhou good for a budget trip?
For self-sufficient campers, genuinely yes. Zimbabwe residents camp from $50 and internationals from $100 per person per night on a minimum-charge basis, Swimuwini Rest Camp's self-catering lodges start at $90 per unit for locals, and your daily conservation fee drops to the accommodated rate when you sleep inside. The cost driver is not the park, it is the capable 4x4 and full self-sufficiency you need to visit it.
Will I see elephants?
Yes. The park holds roughly 11,000 elephants based on the 2022 aerial survey, spread along all three river systems, and its name literally means the place of elephants. Treat them with respect: keep well clear of cows with calves, especially at unfenced camps where elephants walk through at night.
Is it safe, and what should I bring?
Gonarezhou is remote rather than dangerous, but the remoteness is real: patchy to zero mobile signal, no shops, no fuel and mostly unfenced camps. Bring all drinking water (camp supplies are untreated borehole or river water), all food and fuel with reserve, offline maps, and a first-aid kit. This is lowveld Zimbabwe, so take standard malaria precautions and ask your travel clinic before you go.