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| Zimbabwe: What to see | |||
| Nyanga National Park | |||
>see photographs Best known for Nyanga National Park has dramatic highland scenery, cool green forests, several impressive waterfalls, abundant trout fishing and excellent walks and hikes. Rhodes fell in love with this area and choose to build a house here - now the Rhodes Hotel. Location Situated in the Eastern Highlands on the Mozambique border, they are about 200 km east of Harare, and north of Mutare. Size The Nyanga National Park covers 314 square km. Wildlife The Eastern Highlands are the sole Zimbabwean habitat of the Samango monkey. Another native inhabitant is the blue duiker. Wildebeest and zebra have been recently introduced, and there are duiker and nyala. If extremely fortunate one might see a leopard. There is abundant bird life and well stocked streams containing trout. Environment The altitude within the Park varies between 2 000 and 3 000 metres and is where the country's highest peak, Mount Nyangani is found. This mountainous area is the source of several important rivers and spectacular waterfalls. Many of the rivers have been dammed to form small lakes. Vegetation Most of the natural vegetation was actually cleared many years ago – the adjacent Mtarazi Falls National Park is more undeveloped. The Park contains woodlands, introduced pine and wattle forests and high altitude heath lands. Climate The dry sunny season (winter) runs from April through to September and provides perfect walking weather. Temperatures drop to freezing at night however. The summer is the wetter part of the year and cloudy conditions and mist are common. When to go The Park is open all year round. The best months to go are the sunny months of April through to September in the dry although reasonably cool winter. The wetter part of the year can be "miserable" for fairly long spells (unless you are content to curl up in front of a log fire with a good book). Activities There are some superb hikes, the opportunity to climb (not too difficult) Mt Nyangani, do some quality trout angling, explore on horseback, and golf on one of the three courses. Accommodation Troutbeck Inn , Montclair Casino Hotel, Inn on Ruparara, and Pine Tree Inn are four of the hotel type accommodation available either functioning on a bed and breakfast or a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. The privately run Rhodes Hotel is another option and there are privately owned self catering cottages available within the Park. The scenic Rhodes, Udu and Mare Dam National Parks Lodges are all situated on the shores of dams which are well stocked with trout. There is also a campsite within the Park. How to get there By road Nyanga National Park is 258 km east of Harare on the Mutare road, following signposts to Marondera, Rusape, and then Juliasdale and Nyanga. |
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