Gonarezhou National Park

Down south in Zimbabwe and sharing wildlife with parks just across the borders with Mozambique and South Africa, Gonarezhou sees far fewer visitors than it deserves.

That may be because the park was once ravaged by conflict and poaching. Thankfully, those days are long gone. While you have to work a little harder to see animals here than in, say, Hwange or Mana Pools, they’re very much worth it when you do.

In addition to all three big cats and lots of elephants, highlights might include some fascinating antelope varieties – such as nyala, roan, sable and suni – and there are reported to be king cheetah roaming the plains.

But if you weren’t coming here on safari, you might well do so for the scenery alone. Stands of mahogany and acacias provide a special cast to the landscape, while the red cliffs above the Runde River may just be one of Zimbabwe’s most beautiful corners.