Gonarezhou rewards the self-sufficient visitor willing to go slowly. Game drives along the Runde and Save rivers are the main activity — elephant sightings are almost guaranteed, and lion, wild dog, and leopard are all regularly seen. The park is large and the roads can be rough, so budget more time than you think you need.
The Chilojo Cliffs are the park's centrepiece: great walls of red Clarens sandstone rising above the Runde River, accessible from the Chipinda Pools camp. The cliffs are most striking in the late afternoon when the light turns them deep ochre. From the viewing point above the river you can look out over the floodplain and often spot elephant or buffalo herds moving along the bank below.
Chipinda Pools itself is a lovely spot — a series of natural rock pools on the Runde where hippos and crocodiles are permanent residents. The unfenced campsite here puts you directly in the bush, with animal sounds through the night.
Birding is a serious draw: the park sits in a transition zone between biomes and supports over 500 species. Look for Pel's fishing owl along the rivers, Lilian's lovebird in the mopane, and a wide range of raptors throughout.