Routes, days and drive times
Gonarezhou safari itineraries: 3 nights, 5 nights and combination routes
Gonarezhou is 5,053 square kilometres of slow gravel, and the Trust's own distance chart is the best planning tool you have: 37 km from Chipinda Pools to the Chilojo Cliffs takes about two hours, and the 111 km from Chipinda Pools to Mabalauta in the south takes about five. These routes are built on those numbers, on the camps that actually exist, and on the 2026 rates.
Updated 23 October 2026
The short answer
Plan three nights for the northern Runde section and the Chilojo Cliffs, five nights if you also want the quieter Mwenezi in the south, and about seven if you link Gonarezhou with Kruger through Mozambique or with Great Zimbabwe and Matobo. The park is large, the speed limits are 40 km/h on main roads and 30 km/h on secondary ones, and night driving is not allowed, so moving between areas costs most of a day. Almost everyone drives in from Chiredzi, about an hour from the main gate. A self-drive couple using the Trust's tented camps should budget roughly $350 to $450 per person for three nights, before vehicle hire and food, at 2026 rates.
- Minimum stay we suggest
- 3 nights
- North and south
- 5 nights or more
- Chiredzi to Chipinda Pools
- ±55 km, 1 to 1.5 h
- Chipinda Pools to Chilojo Cliffs
- 37 km, ±2 h
- Chipinda Pools to Mabalauta
- 111 km, ±5 h
- Night driving
- Not allowed
- Park closed
- 10 Jan to 1 Mar
How many days you need, and why
Three nights is the minimum that makes the trip worth the drive. Day one goes on getting in from Chiredzi and settling near the gate, and the last morning goes on getting out, which leaves one or two full days on the Runde and at the Chilojo Cliffs. Two nights is possible from Chiredzi but feels like a lot of driving for a short look.
Five nights lets you see both halves of the park. The north, on the Runde, has the cliffs and most of the camps. The south, on the Mwenezi around Mabalauta, is quieter and has a different feel, but the Trust's 2026 park map puts the transfer at 104 to 111 km and about five hours, so it costs a day.
Seven nights or more is for a combination: Kruger through Mozambique, or the Zimbabwe circuit of Matobo and Great Zimbabwe. The drive times between areas come from the Trust's distance chart and assume no long game stops, so treat them as a minimum.
The rules that shape every itinerary
- No driving at night. The 2026 park map tells you to be in camp from 18:00 to 06:00 from May to September and from 18:30 to 06:00 from October to April.
- Gate hours on the same map are 06:30 to 17:30 from April to October and 06:00 to 18:30 from November to March.
- Speed limits are 40 km/h on primary roads and 30 km/h on secondary roads.
- There is no fuel, shop or food inside the park. Chiredzi is the last full resupply, and you carry all your drinking water.
- The whole park closes to tourists from 10 January to 1 March; remote camps close from late November to March or April.
- Arrivals through Boli or Sango gates must report to the Mabalauta office before going to camp.
Distances and times on this page are from the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust's 2026 park map unless stated otherwise. Allow more when you stop for game, which you will.
Three nights: the Runde and the Chilojo Cliffs
The classic first trip, by self-drive 4x4 from Chiredzi. Spend the night before in Chiredzi to fuel, shop and draw US dollar cash. A couple sleeps in Chipinda Pools Tented Camp the first night and Chipale Tented Camp for two nights near the cliffs; campers can use the Chipinda Pools and Chinguli developed campsites instead.
- Night beforeChiredzi. Fill every tank and jerry can, buy all food and water.
- Day 1Leave around 06:00, 1 to 1.5 hours to the Chipinda Pools gate. Drive the river loops near the gate. Sleep at Chipinda Pools Tented Camp, ten minutes inside.
- Day 2Follow the Runde east to the Chilojo Cliffs, 37 km and about two hours without stops. Check in at Chipale Tented Camp and drive up to the clifftop for the late light.
- Day 3A full day out. Machaniwa Pan is 29 km and about three hours from the cliffs each way, or stay close and work the river below the cliffs. Back in camp before the curfew.
- Day 4Drive back to the gate, about two hours, then 1 to 1.5 hours to Chiredzi.
Rough cost for two people at international rates: tented camps $500 (one night at $150, two at $175, 2026 minimum charges for two), conservation fees $90 (2 x $15 x 3 days), vehicle fees about $24 and diesel about $135. About $750 for two, or roughly $350 to $450 per person. Estimate only, excluding vehicle hire, food, drinking water and the Chiredzi night. With a developed campsite instead of tents it drops to roughly $250 to $350 per person.
Rather have someone put this together?
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and roughly what you want to spend. A safari specialist we work with checks which camps have space and replies with options, usually within a day or two. Free, no obligation.
Five nights: the north and the Mwenezi
Two areas, by self-drive 4x4. Two nights on the Runde in the north, a long transfer day, then the quiet south around Swimuwini and Buffalo Bend. You enter at Chipinda Pools and leave from the south, through Boli Gate towards Mwenezi or Sango Gate into Mozambique.
- Night beforeChiredzi, for fuel, food and cash.
- Day 1Chiredzi to the Chipinda Pools gate, 1 to 1.5 hours. Sleep at Chipinda Pools Tented Camp or the Chipinda Pools campsites.
- Day 2East along the Runde to the Chilojo Cliffs, about two hours. Two nights at Chipale Tented Camp, or at Chilojo Bush Camp if you are a group of six or more.
- Day 3Full day on the cliffs, the river and the pans.
- Day 4Chilojo Cliffs to Mabalauta, 104 km and about five hours on the Trust's chart. Leave early. Check in at Swimuwini Rest Camp above Buffalo Bend, or camp at Mabalauta.
- Day 5The Mwenezi loops, Buffalo Bend and the riverine forest. Groups could swap Swimuwini for Mathuli Mananga or Bosman's Community Camp.
- Day 6Leave through Boli Gate, or through Sango Gate, 36 km and about two hours from Mabalauta, into Mozambique.
Rough cost for two people at international rates: Chipinda Pools Tented Camp one night ($150), Chipale two nights ($350), Swimuwini one-bedroom chalet two nights ($240), conservation fees $150, vehicle fees about $40 and diesel for about 550 km of driving at the September 2026 price, about $185. Roughly $1,100 for two, or $500 to $650 per person. Estimate only, excluding vehicle hire, food and the drive onwards from the south.
Three or four nights without driving yourself
If you will not drive a 4x4, the itinerary becomes a lodge stay with guided activities. Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge on the Save River runs game drives into the park, guided walks including the 3 km Chivilila Falls trail, and visits to Mahenye village; it also sells a tented camp on the Runde floodplain and fly-camping, which can be split across a stay. The main lodge runs year-round, though its tented camp is seasonal; it does not publish rates, so ask for a quote. Buffalo Range airport at Chiredzi is the nearest airport.
Singita Pamushana in the private Malilangwe reserve next door is the fly-in option. Singita's guests use the Federal Air flight from Johannesburg to Buffalo Range, about 45 minutes from the lodge, and day trips into Gonarezhou can be arranged. Three nights cost from $7,185 per adult in the off-peak season at Singita's current rates ($2,395 per night), all meals, drinks, activities and airport transfers included, flights not. Our lodge page notes that scheduled flights need a minimum three-night stay for two guests.
A third route is the Trust's own bush camps with a registered operator, which the Trust designed for exclusive, privately guided safaris. Ask the operator for a total; the Trust's camp charge is a minimum for six guests, plus park fees.
Combination: Kruger and Gonarezhou through the Great Limpopo
Gonarezhou, Kruger and Mozambique's Limpopo National Park form the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, but there is no direct crossing from Kruger into Gonarezhou yet. The Trust's FAQ describes the route: leave Kruger through the Pafuri border post into Mozambique, turn north towards Zimbabwe, cross two sand riverbeds on the Limpopo and the Mwenezi, and enter at the Sango border post and Sango Gate. It is a true 4x4 route, best in the dry season. We could not verify a reliable door-to-door time, so plan a full day and confirm border hours before you go.
The other way in from South Africa is via Beitbridge. The Trust's FAQ lists the Malipati Gate in the far south as reachable from Beitbridge along the Beitbridge, Chikwarakwara and Sengwe road, which is gravel.
- Days 1 to 3Three nights in Kruger's far north, for example Punda Maria Rest Camp, close to Punda Maria Gate and the Pafuri area.
- Day 4Pafuri border post into Mozambique, north through the sand crossings to Sango, then 36 km and about two hours to Mabalauta. Report at the Mabalauta office. Two nights at Swimuwini Rest Camp or Mabalauta.
- Day 5The Mwenezi around Buffalo Bend.
- Day 6Mabalauta to the Chilojo Cliffs, 104 km and about five hours. Two nights at Chipale Tented Camp.
- Day 7The cliffs and the Runde.
- Day 8Out through Chipinda Pools to Chiredzi, about three to three and a half hours including the drive from the cliffs to the gate.
Rough cost per person for two sharing, self-drive: Gonarezhou leg about $400 to $500 at the international rate for Trust camps and fees, plus Kruger's conservation fee (R602, about $36, per international adult per day until 31 October 2026, R692 from 1 November) and Kruger accommodation. Roughly $650 to $900 per person in total. Estimate only, excluding vehicle hire, cross-border vehicle paperwork, food and fuel outside Gonarezhou.
Combination: Matobo, Great Zimbabwe and Gonarezhou
The Zimbabwe circuit, by self-drive, from Bulawayo east to the lowveld. Matobo's granite hills and painted caves are about 35 km from Bulawayo, Great Zimbabwe's stone ruins are 30 to 45 minutes from Masvingo, and Gonarezhou adds the big game the first two lack. Matobo has no resident lion or elephant, so the order matters: end in Gonarezhou.
- Days 1 and 2Two nights at Matobo, at Maleme Rest Camp inside the park (camping from $12 per person) or Matobo Hills Lodge near World's View (from $154 per person sharing, bed and breakfast).
- Day 3Bulawayo to Masvingo, about 280 km and four to five hours, then 30 to 45 minutes to Great Zimbabwe. One night near the ruins.
- Day 4Masvingo to Chiredzi, about 200 km on route planners' count. Sleep in Chiredzi, fuel up and shop for the park.
- Days 5 to 8The three-night Runde plan above, with Chipinda Pools Tented Camp and Chipale Tented Camp.
- Day 8Out to Chiredzi, where Buffalo Range airport is; Air Zimbabwe began Harare to Chiredzi flights in September 2026, but check the route is still running.
Rough cost per person for two sharing, self-drive: Matobo about $50 to $100 with camping and ZimParks fees ($10 a day sleeping inside, 2026 tariff), Gonarezhou about $350 to $450 as in the three-night plan. Roughly $500 to $700 per person plus the Great Zimbabwe night and entry, which we have not priced. Estimate only, excluding vehicle hire, food and fuel outside Gonarezhou.
The routes side by side
| Route | Nights | Travel | Rough cost per person | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runde and Chilojo Cliffs | 3 | Self-drive 4x4 from Chiredzi | $350 to $450 (tents), $250 to $350 (camping) | Apr to Oct |
| North and Mwenezi | 5 | Self-drive 4x4, exit south | $500 to $650 | May to Oct |
| Lodge stay at Chilo Gorge | 3 to 4 | Road or charter to Buffalo Range | On request | Apr to Nov |
| Singita Pamushana fly-in | 3 | Federal Air from Johannesburg | From $7,185 (off-peak) | Apr to Nov |
| Kruger and Gonarezhou | 7 | Self-drive 4x4 via Mozambique | $650 to $900 | Jun to Oct |
| Matobo, Great Zimbabwe, Gonarezhou | 7 | Self-drive from Bulawayo | $500 to $700 | Apr to Oct |
Cost bands are our estimates for two people sharing at the 2026 international tier, built from Trust rate cards, the 2026 ZimParks conservation fee and the September 2026 diesel price. They exclude vehicle hire, flights, food and drinks unless stated. The Trust has not published 2027 rates.
When to go, for each route
April to August is the Trust's own peak season, with cool, dry days and every camp open. September to November brings the best game viewing as the rivers shrink to pools, with October and November the hottest months. The remote camps close from late November, and the whole park is shut from 10 January to 1 March, so no itinerary here works in those weeks.
For the Kruger crossing, keep to the dry months, because the route depends on sand crossings of the Limpopo and the Mwenezi. For month-by-month detail see the best time to visit and our green season page.
Vehicle and supplies for these routes
The Trust recommends a high-clearance vehicle at the very least and a high-clearance 4x4 wherever possible, and for the remote corners or sand-river crossings, two vehicles and recovery gear. Our getting there page covers the gates and roads. Vehicles over three tonnes are limited to primary roads, and motorbikes are not allowed.
Fill up in Chiredzi and carry jerry cans for the whole circuit; the five-night route above runs to roughly 550 km. Carry all your drinking water, a spare tyre or two, a compressor and a cooler. There is no mobile signal in most of the park.
How to book an itinerary
Book Trust camps directly with the Trust at reservations@gonarezhou.org or +263 779 788 811, with your dates, group, vehicles and preferred camps in one email, and ask for the total including extra-person charges. Book the Trust's camps first, since they are the hardest to get, then fit Kruger, Matobo or Great Zimbabwe around them.
For a guided trip or a fly-in itinerary, a safari specialist or one of the Trust's registered operators can put the legs together. We do not take bookings ourselves; a request sent through this site goes to a safari specialist we work with, who may pay us a commission. To see what it all costs line by line, use our costs page, and to weigh Gonarezhou against its neighbours, our comparison of Gonarezhou and Matobo.
Where to stay on each leg
Each route above names the camps we would use, but there are alternatives on every leg: the wilderness campsites for experienced campers, the Mananga Camps for families and groups, and the starbed platforms for one night under the sky. Our where to stay page compares all of them by area, budget and who they suit.
Rather have someone put this together?
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and roughly what you want to spend. A safari specialist we work with checks which camps have space and replies with options, usually within a day or two. Free, no obligation.
Sources (10)
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, 2026 park map with distance chart, gate hours and camp rules (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, visitor FAQ: routes from Kruger and Beitbridge, gates, vehicles (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, self-catering accommodation rates (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, camping rates (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Gonarezhou Conservation Trust, Gonarezhou Bush Camps (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, accommodation and activities (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Singita, Pamushana rates and inclusions (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Zimbabwe Travel Info, distances: Bulawayo to Masvingo, Masvingo to Great Zimbabwe, Bulawayo to Matobo (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Travelmath, Masvingo to Chiredzi driving distance (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Official ZimParks Gonarezhou tariff 2026