September closed the door to the chilly but very pleasant Lowveld winters, and welcomed our “spring” with the promise of warmer days and hopefully early summer rains. The amazing Gonarezhou National Park reopened and we welcomed our first guests at the beginning of August, all of us keen to get out into the wild, inhale the crisp fresh air and explore the vast, true wilderness on our doorstep.
The park did not disappoint.
Herds of elephant were there to greet us, wondering where we had been for so long, and keen to get back to business as usual. We were lucky to have numerous sightings of the big cats – lion and leopards, every other drive. While herds of hundreds of buffalo, have been seen coming down to drink at the lively Tembwahata pan, which is a constant hive of activity, for mammal, bird and aquatic life. Reports of regular sightings of packs of the endangered Wild Dogs in our game drive areas have come in, and our eyes are peeled for them on every drive. Nyala antelope galore grace the riverine thickets of the Save and Runde rivers, always a special animal for us to stop and admire.
Birding in the park has been nothing short of amazing. On several occasions our guides have spotted the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl, and gotten stunning photographs to prove it. African Skimmers, the “regular” visitors to the sand banks of the Save and Runde Rivers did not disappoint and have given us incredible shows whilst we sip G&T’s at our sundowners. The onset of spring also brought with it the beautiful migrants – Carmine Bee-Eaters, Purple Rollers and Great White Pelicans, with the promise of many more to come. With over 450 recorded bird species, Gonarezhou is a birders paradise.
Dry and dusty this time of year, the park is beautiful in its wild rustic kind of way. Mopane leaves have turned a rusty golden colour, the plants and trees are flowering, a wonderful array of bright colours against a dry brown backdrop. The riverine thickets and stunning natural pans a startling and refreshing cool green – oases in their own right in the wild Lowveld bush.
We look forward to hosting more of our guests in this special part of the country.
