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Leonard Ncube
GONAREZHOU National Park harbors a rare unique gem, the Chilojo Cliffs.
Located on the banks of Runde River within the 5 000 square kilometre wildlife sanctuary, the cliffs rise for about 200 metres and stretch for 20km downstream.
The cliffs, made of towering sandstones, could even challenge the splendor of the Great Canyons in America.
However, no tourism activity takes place at the cliffs, save for the northern side, which hosts picnics. There is a top deck viewing point on top of the cliff, only accessible from the southern side.
With the right investments, the cliffs could be used for movie making, gorge swings and a zip line.
Tour guides said the cliffs are just 20km from the border with Mozambique as the park stretches into Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe under the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.
The game park is accessible both by road and air.
“These are the only cliffs found here in the southern lowveld and people come from as far as Europe and America to view them due to their uniqueness,” Mr Aleck Simbani, a tour guide, told journalists who were on a tour of the park.
The tour was organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority as part of the pre-Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo that is set for Bulawayo starting today.
Gonarezhou National Park is home to the big five after the re-introduction of 28 rhinos in 2021. The herd has grown to 38.
There are more than 400 bird species, 11 000 elephants and hundreds of animal species.
The Runde River, fed by Mutirikwi River and several other rivers, cuts across the park and provides water for the animals.
Online Reporter