National Parks of Zimbabwe

Chimanimani

17,100ha in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands. The 1.6 billion-year-old quartzite mountains are 'squeezedtogether' (Chimanimani in Ndawu) in three distinct, close ridges that rise to 2440m. Cut by deep gorges with perennial streams and waterfalls.

Mainly dry montane (cedar and yellowwood) forests above grasslands. Proteas, aloes and related species grow here. Lichen on granite cliffs and ferns, mosses and orchids in forests. Several antelope species, notably klipspringer and rare Blue duiker. 200 bird species, including specials like Gurney's sugarbird. No roads, but a good network of footpaths and tracks. Hiking and mountain climbing. Safe swimming, trout fishing and an eland sanctuary. A communal hikers' hut and sites and caves in which to camp. Hotel, lodge and guesthouse in Chimanimani village.

Chizarira

Gazetted 1938, made NP 1975. Zimbabwe's remotest park: 192,000ha, 50km south-east of Lake Kariba. Chizarira ('barrier' in Batonka) is hidden behind the 600m msasa-wooded Zambezi escarpment. Mopane stands and grasslands criss-crossed by rocky ridges and deep gorges. Flood plains dominate the Busi Valley to the south.

Plains and flood plains are Big Five country: about 12,000 elephant, herds of 200 - 400 buffalo and assorted antelope. Birds include three notables: the Bat hawk, Livingstone's flycatcher and the elusive Taita falcon. Remote and wild 4x4 country. Guided game drives; wilderness trails of up to 10 days. Very hot in summer (October - January). No permanent accommodation but four basic, exclusive camps. Two private safari lodges on the boundary.

Gonerezhou Created 1975, by uniting 5000km2 of former hunting areas and tsetse fly control corridors. Borders Mozambique and South Africa.

Hot, dry, low-lying bush country with outcrops of broken granite. Three big rivers cut its parched scrubland. The biggest, the Runde, is edged for 30km by the dramatic, red sandstone Chilojo Cliffs. Mopane, ironwood and baobab dominate. There are a number of grasslands.

Gonarezhou means 'the place of the elephant' - more than 6000 here. They're larger, carry more ivory and, thanks to poaching and harassment, are more aggressive than elsewhere. A lot of other wildlife. 230 bird species; two rarities: Angolan pitta and Mashona hyliota. The living-fossil Lungfish and Zambezi sharks occur in the rivers.

Raw, untamed and baking wilderness (40ºC+ in summer). Network of game-viewing roads but most require 4x4. The 4-5 day trails probe real Africa. Main camp with thatched chalets. Camp sites, some primitive, along the rivers. Several private lodges operate around the park.