Gonarezhou NP
Gonarezhou National Park is situated in the south eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe and covers an area in excess of 5 000 square kilometres. "Gonarezhou" meaning "Place of many Elephants" is an extremely scenic Park full of rugged and beautiful landscapes. The park is a lowveld region of baobabs, scrublands and sandstone cliffs.
Three major rivers - The Save, Runde and Mwenezi - cut their courses through the Park, forming pools and natural oases from which hundreds of species of birds, wildlife and fish gather to feed and drink. As its name implies, Gonarezhou is famous for its elephants, and many of the largest-tusked elephants in the region maybe found within the Park.
Entry Fees to the National Park are very reasonable, as are the camping fees.
See the ZimParks website for further details. URL is listed in the cache description or click here.
The Chilojo Cliffs
The Pinnacle as seen from the Upper Viewpoint
One of the most prominent and enduring natural features of Gonarezhou National Park is the beautiful Chilojo Cliffs. These magnificent red sandstone cliffs have been formed through eons of erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley.
Geology of the Gonarezhou Region
Map of the Chipinda Pools Region of the Gonarezhou National Park
South and south-east of Chiredzi in Zimbabwe, the slightly uneven Pliocene erosion surface extends across the Karoo sediments, basalts and granophyres, at an elevation of approximately 380 metres. Along the northern boundary of the Chipinda Pools area of the Gonarezhou National Park, the Chiwonje Hills form a north-east-trending ridge with summit planation. The highest points at Makamandima (578 metres) and Mutandahwe (571 netres) are in accord with the lowest position of the Post-African erosion surface to the north. The northern scarp of the Chiwonje Hills coincides vith the basalt-granophyre contact, thereby showing the greater resistance of the more acid rocks. West of the Runde River this same belt of resistant marginal granophyre gives rise to the Sibonja Hills.
The Chilojo Cliffs (previously called the Clarendon Cliffs) are composed of the coarse, terrestrial Jurassic/Cretaceous sandstones and conglomerates named the Malvernia Beds by Cox (1963), which occupy the extreme south-eastern corner of Zimbabwe.
The cliffs trend east-west for approximately 20 km immediately south of the Runde River and 180 metres above the river course. The form of the cliffs is two-fold, with the near-vertical lower and upper sections separated from each other by a gently-sloping terrace up to 500 metres wide. This terrace is scored by gullies which cut through the lower cliff to the river bed.
South of the cliff face, the bevel extends into Mozambique territory at in altitude of approximately 370 metres, thereby forming the Chilojo Plateau. This is clearly an erosion surface and is regarded as the Pliocene level. Eroded into the Chilojo Plateau are several small valleys and stream courses, e.g. the Nyamasikana River which, together with the Runde River and the widespread terrace along its northern bank, comprise the Quaternary erosion cycle.
Eastwards, towards the confluence of the Runde and Save rivers, the Chilojo Cliffs fade out and the descent from the Plateau to the river bed is gentle with the two cycles merging into each other through a composite zone.
A line of waterfalls, all within the granophyre outcrop in the central belt of the Gonarezhou National Park marks the nickpoint between the Pliocene and the Quaternary cycles on the northern side of the Runde River. They include the Chiviriga Falls on the Runde River, the Dumbwe Falls on the Pombadzi River and the Chivirira Falls on the Save River.
The confluence of the Runde and Save rivers stretches across several square kilometres of flat river bed, sandbanks and the Rupembi Swamp.
Driving Directions (to published co-ordinates)
Driving directions from Chipinda Pools to the upper cliffs viewsite are listed as additional waypoints. Use waypoints T1 - T5.
Note that the total distance to travel (one-way) is approximately 62 km. Allow a travelling time of 2.5 hours each way.
Causeway over the Runde River
Should you not wish to undertake the full trip to the top of the plateau, two alternative viewpoints are given, and the tasks / questions can be answered from these viewpoints.
Alternative # 1 is the Lower Viewpoint on the left (north) bank of the Runde River and is an easy drive from Chipinda Pools campsite. Use waypoint A1.
Alternative # 2 is an oblique view from Hlaro Campsite and saves the ascent to the top of the plateau. Use waypoint A2.
The cliffs from the Lower Viewpoint (alternative viewpoint # 1)
Sunrise over the cliffs from Hlaro Campsite (Alternative Viewpoint # 2)
However, the view from the Upper Viewpoint (published co-ordinates) is well worth the extra distance.
The Cache
In order to log a find on this Earthcache, you need to complete the tasks detailed below. Please email your answers to me via the GC.com website - do not post your answers in your log. You need not wait for confirmation before logging, if there is a problem with your answers I will get back to you. Note that Found logs where an email is not received within 48 hours will be deleted.
- Describe in your own words how you think the pinnacle was formed. Was water or wind the major force involved?
- Submit a photo of your team with GPS in view, taken from your chosen viewpoint (optional).
