Gonarezhou itinerary advice

[Leonette]

Hi everyone

We are planning a trip to Gonarezhou in June 2024, and I simply cannot contain my excitement!

At this stage I have our route as follows, but would love some advice from those with more recent experience of the park, roads, etc:

Starting off with a few nights at Nthakeni bush camp
Crossing the border to Gona (most likely through Sango gate OR the new crossing) - 1st night at Malugwe platform.
3 nights at Lisoda
3 nights at Runde Gorge
Most likely exit at Chipinda Pools. Travel down to Lion & Elephant for the night.
Beitbridge crossing back to SA.
Few nights at Panda Maria (to act as a buffer between the bush and the reality of a fast paced life back home...)

Does this sound realistic? We will be 2 vehicles travelling together, and we'll be towing an off-road trailer.

Thanks for any insights!

[ortelius]

I can't comment on how your plans are realistic or not (I'm sure they are!), but just want to mention we were at Lisoda campsite last year, and found it simply amazing! I'm sure you will have a wonderful time in Gonarezhou. My blog from the Gonarezhou: https://safaribug.wordpress.com/2022...22-gonarezhou/

[RobH]

Also a fan of Lisoda, great choice.

[Leonette]

Thank you! That's great to hear about Lisoda.

[MikevR]

I can't comment on how your plans are realistic or not (I'm sure they are!), but just want to mention we were at Lisoda campsite last year, and found it simply amazing! I'm sure you will have a wonderful time in Gonarezhou. My blog from the Gonarezhou: https://safaribug.wordpress.com/2022...22-gonarezhou/

Your trip reports on Gonarezhou and Matopos were great Ortelius. Thank you

[MikevR]

Hi Leonette,

Your itinerary looks great. I am a great believer on stopping 3 nights at a time. The only notes I would add to your itinerary is if you come through new border post it must be a Tuesday or Friday. Confirm with Gona Reception. 2nd the Makonde camp just after crossing the Mwenezi at the southern entrance to Mabalauta, has diesel available. It would be prudent to fill up there. Otherwise you can get at Chipinda pools.

[Leonette]

Hi Leonette,

Your itinerary looks great. I am a great believer on stopping 3 nights at a time. The only notes I would add to your itinerary is if you come through new border post it must be a Tuesday or Friday. Confirm with Gona Reception. 2nd the Makonde camp just after crossing the Mwenezi at the southern entrance to Mabalauta, has diesel available. It would be prudent to fill up there. Otherwise you can get at Chipinda pools.

Fabulous, thank you Mike. Yes, I'd much rather have time to sit and absorb the place, than pack and unpack the whole time. And we will be crossing the border on a Friday, so the new border post can work. Thanks for advice on filling up in Makonde.

[Ubbo]

We have just secured our booking for August 2024 - 3 nights Chipinda and 2 nights Chitove. We are 4 vehicles, mostly towing offroad vans/trailers.

I'm also looking for info of entry and exit. Our plan is to enter at Beit Bridge and drive to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, spend 2 or three nights there and then go to Gonerezhou. The exit route we heard is possible over the Limpopo river, but this depends on the water levels.

Could anyone that has been share of the routes they took and why? We have a year to plan our routes.

The alternative is to enter at Pafuri, see Gonerezhou first and then go to the Great Zimbabwe. At this point only Chipinda and Chitove are reserved dates so we can chop and change the entry/exit routes dates as we decide

Thanks in advance

[MikevR]

[QUOTE=Ubbo;5120233]

Hi Ubbo

If you are going to want a worthwhile visit I would suggest, come up via new Limpopo crossing on a Tuesday or Friday (I will send details -Crossing must be prebooked through Reservations office at Gonarezhou) -Spend one / two nights at one of the South Camps. Rossi's pools camp is quite popular but if you want good ablution facilities then book for Mabalauta camp itself. (Fill up with Diesel at Makonde Camp just after crossing bridge at Southern entrance) you then can travel via Boli to North camps and spend 4 nights at Chinguli which gives you enough time to explore most of the north. Spend your last night and Chipinda Pools and also fill up before heading to Zim Ruins. See my PM I sent you. The Boli road is quite corrugated in places but at least half the time, compared to traveling through the center of the park.

[Ubbo]

[QUOTE=MikevR;5120406]

Hi Ubbo

If you are going to want a worthwhile visit I would suggest, come up via new Limpopo crossing on a Tuesday or Friday (I will send details -Crossing must be prebooked through Reservations office at Gonarezhou) -Spend one / two nights at one of the South Camps. Rossi's pools camp is quite popular but if you want good ablution facilities then book for Mabalauta camp itself. (Fill up with Diesel at Makonde Camp just after crossing bridge at Southern entrance) you then can travel via Boli to North camps and spend 4 nights at Chinguli which gives you enough time to explore most of the north. Spend your last night and Chipinda Pools and also fill up before heading to Zim Ruins. See my PM I sent you. The Boli road is quite corrugated in places but at least half the time, compared to traveling through the center of the park.

Thanks Mike. Will look at it in T4A
Sounds like a nice route

[Leonette]

I need some advice from those who have done this route before. Is it possible/wise to do Malugwe platform - Lisoda - Runde Gorge route with just one 4x4? Or would you recommend 2 vehicles? And am I right that you have a river crossing going from Lisoda to Runde Gorge?

[mcowell]

[QUOTE=MikevR;5120406][QUOTE=Ubbo;5120233]

Hi Ubbo

If you are going to want a worthwhile visit I would suggest, come up via new Limpopo crossing on a Tuesday or Friday (I will send details -Crossing must be prebooked through Reservations office at Gonarezhou) -Spend one / two nights at one of the South Camps. Rossi's pools camp is quite popular but if you want good ablution facilities then book for Mabalauta camp itself.



Rossi Pools is a great site, but I think you will struggle with 4 vehicles plus trailers.

[Ubbo]

Thanks for the info much appreciated. Will be interested to find out more info on the new Limpopo crossing.

Please send info to my email address [email protected]

Thanks again

[MikevR]

I need some advice from those who have done this route before. Is it possible/wise to do Malugwe platform - Lisoda - Runde Gorge route with just one 4x4? Or would you recommend 2 vehicles? And am I right that you have a river crossing going from Lisoda to Runde Gorge?

When we went up in August 23 the Beit bridge border crossing was so smooth, I can now only recommend that way. You need to decide whether you want to do the Malungwe Platform or stick to the North Camps.

There is the new Causeway NKWANGULATILO that crosses the Runde River between Runde Gorge and Chivalila which will get you across the river without getting your tyres wet. Remember you need to get Fuel so a wise stop is, in at the Chipinda Pools offices and Fuel depot. If you want to go south then read my notes above. There is a fuel depot at Makondo Camp and workshop just after you cross the Mwanesi River South Entrance. I have travelled a few times on my own. You need a trustworthy vehicle though. I am moving away from the thought of doing both North and South unless you have 10 days to plan around. Just too much travel. The night life at Machinawa camp is much more that you would get at any of the platforms so consider that camp for a night or two. All the best with your planning.

[Leonette]

When we went up in August 23 the Beit bridge border crossing was so smooth, I can now only recommend that way. You need to decide whether you want to do the Malungwe Platform or stick to the North Camps.

There is the new Causeway NKWANGULATILO that crosses the Runde River between Runde Gorge and Chivalila which will get you across the river without getting your tyres wet. Remember you need to get Fuel so a wise stop is, in at the Chipinda Pools offices and Fuel depot. If you want to go south then read my notes above. There is a fuel depot at Makondo Camp and workshop just after you cross the Mwanesi River South Entrance. I have travelled a few times on my own. You need a trustworthy vehicle though. I am moving away from the thought of doing both North and South unless you have 10 days to plan around. Just too much travel. The night life at Machinawa camp is much more that you would get at any of the platforms so consider that camp for a night or two. All the best with your planning.

Thank you Mike. Appreciate your input. This morning I discovered, with a bit of a shock, that they actually booked us at Benji Weir, and not Malugwe as requested. So that changes our route a bit. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Now it would make sense to cross at Beit bridge (and not through new border post from Kruger, as first planned), enter and exit at Chipinda Pools, so sticking to the north of the park this time.

[clivemd]

Thank you Mike. Appreciate your input. This morning I discovered, with a bit of a shock, that they actually booked us at Benji Weir, and not Malugwe as requested. So that changes our route a bit. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Now it would make sense to cross at Beit bridge (and not through new border post from Kruger, as first planned), enter and exit at Chipinda Pools, so sticking to the north of the park this time.

when I go back again I will only do the north end, hoping to go back next year and not stay at the weirs
i also preferred the drive from Durban to Maputo then upto the park via EN221

[MikevR]

Thank you Mike. Appreciate your input. This morning I discovered, with a bit of a shock, that they actually booked us at Benji Weir, and not Malugwe as requested. So that changes our route a bit. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Now it would make sense to cross at Beit bridge (and not through new border post from Kruger, as first planned), enter and exit at Chipinda Pools, so sticking to the north of the park this time.

Hi Leonette
I would be interested in your final booking please. Getting to Benji Weir platform from the new causeway is very easy coming from Chipinda Pools. Stop over at Chivalila View site on your way through. Very pleasant.

[Reece]

When we went up in August 23 the Beit bridge border crossing was so smooth, I can now only recommend that way. You need to decide whether you want to do the Malungwe Platform or stick to the North Camps.

There is the new Causeway NKWANGULATILO that crosses the Runde River between Runde Gorge and Chivalila which will get you across the river without getting your tyres wet. Remember you need to get Fuel so a wise stop is, in at the Chipinda Pools offices and Fuel depot. If you want to go south then read my notes above. There is a fuel depot at Makondo Camp and workshop just after you cross the Mwanesi River South Entrance. I have travelled a few times on my own. You need a trustworthy vehicle though. I am moving away from the thought of doing both North and South unless you have 10 days to plan around. Just too much travel. The night life at Machinawa camp is much more that you would get at any of the platforms so consider that camp for a night or two. All the best with your planning.

Hi Mike

Please elaborate on the procedure at Beit Bridge? I know you have mentioned it before. Last time I went through there, 2015, I vowed never again and have thus always avoided it when heading into Zim. We have booked Gona with the kids for June, hoping that the Limpopo crossing will be up and running but need to start working on plan B.

[mudgrubber]

when I go back again I will only do the north end, hoping to go back next year and not stay at the weirs
i also preferred the drive from Durban to Maputo then upto the park via EN221

We were there in October 2023 so the Limpopo crossing from Dumela in Moz was easy, as was the trip to Sango where there is fuel. Hot to very hot and occasionally windy that time of year though.

Thoroughly enjoyed the park driving it south (Mabalauta & Mathuli Mananga were very comfortable; never got to Rossi sadly) to north (takes about one day) but the north is more scenic and the elephants less wild, maybe better game viewing overall. Good birding in some middle sections and north west of the park (if you can get in at Machiniwa, bonus). All the Runde R wild camp sites were brilliant and the river crossings comfortable that time of year. The all weather concrete causeway is in quite a scenic valley, as is Chinguli. Would love to go back and hard to go wrong I think.

[mcowell]

[QUOTE=Reece;5181351]Hi Mike

Please elaborate on the procedure at Beit Bridge? I know you have mentioned it before.


I saw this posted on FB recently.