Gonarezhou Roars: Sanganai Media Tour Puts Zimbabwe’s Wild Side in the Spotlight

Elephants emerging from the bush, hippos in the water and herds of impala and kudu moving through the wilderness — even gloomy weather could not stop Gonarezhou National Park from putting on a show for journalists attending the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe 2026 in Masvingo.

The media delegation was taken into Gonarezhou as part of a tourism familiarisation tour aimed at showcasing Zimbabwe’s diverse attractions to journalists covering the country’s premier tourism marketplace.

And the park delivered.

Despite overcast conditions, journalists were treated to close encounters with some of Zimbabwe’s most iconic wildlife, offering a powerful reminder that the country’s tourism story stretches far beyond the famous Victoria Falls.

Gonarezhou — meaning “Place of Elephants” — is one of Zimbabwe’s great wilderness destinations and is renowned for its vast landscapes and rich wildlife.

The park is home to a huge elephant population, estimated at more than 10,000 elephants, making it one of the most important elephant strongholds in the region.

Its location within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which connects protected areas in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa, further enhances its importance as a conservation and tourism destination.

For visitors, however, the statistics quickly become secondary when the real experience begins.

An elephant crossing the road.

A kudu disappearing into the woodland.

Impala grazing in the distance.

Hippos gathered around the water.

These are the moments that turn a safari into a story.

The media tour also highlighted the challenges facing wildlife across the wider region.

Conservation and tourism stakeholders have raised concerns about poaching and increasing human-wildlife conflict in parts of the Mozambique side of the transfrontier landscape.

Wildlife does not recognise international borders, and animals move between ecosystems in search of food, water and safe habitats.

This makes regional conservation cooperation critical.

It also underlines the importance of sustainable tourism.

When visitors come to Gonarezhou, their spending supports a wider tourism ecosystem involving guides, accommodation providers, transport operators, conservation initiatives and surrounding communities.

Tourism can therefore become an economic reason to protect the very wildlife that attracts visitors.

Gonarezhou: Zimbabwe’s next big safari story?

While destinations such as Victoria Falls and Hwange remain household names on the international tourism circuit, Gonarezhou offers something increasingly valuable to today’s traveller — space, wilderness and authenticity.

The park provides opportunities for game drives, walking safaris, birding, photography and immersive wilderness experiences.

And for those who want to stay longer, accommodation within and around the park offers visitors the chance to experience the wilderness beyond a few hours on a game drive.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of the African bush, spending the morning tracking wildlife and watching the sunset over one of Zimbabwe’s great wilderness landscapes.

That is the product Zimbabwe has the opportunity to sell to the world.

But Zimbabweans should be visiting too

The Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe 2026 media tour has also brought domestic tourism into sharp focus.

Why should Zimbabweans wait for international tourists to discover Gonarezhou first?

The country has an extraordinary collection of national parks, monuments, cultural sites and adventure destinations — yet many locals have never experienced them.

Gonarezhou presents an opportunity for Zimbabwean families, schools, companies and domestic travellers to explore their own country.

A weekend safari could be the perfect escape from the routine of city life.

And beyond the memories, domestic tourism puts money directly into the tourism economy.

From Masvingo to the world

The timing of the Gonarezhou tour could not be more appropriate.

With tourism stakeholders, buyers and media gathered in Masvingo for Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe 2026, the familiarisation visit has provided journalists with something far more powerful than a brochure or exhibition stand.

They experienced the destination.

They saw the wildlife.

They travelled through the landscape.

And now they have a story to tell.

For Gonarezhou, that exposure could be invaluable.

The park has the wildlife. It has the wilderness. It has the landscapes.

What it needs is for more people — both internationally and locally — to discover it.

The message from Gonarezhou

As the media vehicles left the park, one message stood out:

Zimbabwe’s tourism treasures are not confined to one destination.

From the mighty Victoria Falls to the wildlife-rich Hwange, the ancient Great Zimbabwe Monument and the vast wilderness of Gonarezhou, Zimbabwe has a tourism portfolio capable of competing with the best destinations on the continent.

And sometimes, the best way to sell a destination is simply to let the destination speak for itself.

In Gonarezhou, the elephants are already doing the talking.

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