Chimanimani National Park () is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

next to

Chimoio Chimoio is the capital of Manica Province in Mozambique. It is the fifth-largest city in Mozambique. Chimoio's name under Portuguese administration was ''Vila Pery''. Vila Pery developed under Portuguese rule as an important agricultural and t ...

, capital of

Manica Province Manica is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 62,272 km2 and a population of 1,945,994 (2017 census). The province is surrounded by Zimbabwe to the west, Tete Province to the northwest, Sofala Province to the east, the Save Rive ...

Mozambique Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...

. It is located in the

Chimanimani Mountains The Chimanimani Mountains are a mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The mountains are in the southern portion of the Eastern Highlands, or Manica Highlands, a belt of highlands that extend north and south along the internatio ...

on the border with

Zimbabwe file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...

. Together with Zimbabwe's

Chimanimani National Park The Chimanimani Mountains are a mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The mountains are in the southern portion of the Eastern Highlands, or Manica Highlands, a belt of highlands that extend north and south along the internatio ...

, it forms the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park. It was designated a national reserve in 2003. In 2020 it was designated a national park.

Geography

With an area of 656 km², the park protects the Mozambican portion of the Chimanimani Mountains, including

Monte Binga Monte Binga is the highest mountain in Mozambique and the second-highest in Zimbabwe. It is located in the Chimanimani Mountains, straddling the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park in Manica Province. Its lies ...

(2,436 m), Mozambique's highest peak. The park has a larger buffer zone (1,723 km²), which extends into lower-elevation areas to the south, east, and north, and includes the Moribane, Mpunga, Maronga, and Zomba forest reserves. The Moribane, Mpunga, and Maronga forest reserves were established in 1953.

Flora and fauna

The park contains rare species such as the

red-capped robin-chat The red-capped robin-chat or Natal robin (''Cossypha natalensis'') is a species of passerine bird belonging to the Family (biology), family Muscicapidae. This species is found in central and eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. Taxonomy The red-capped ro ...

and the

Welwitsch's bat Welwitsch's bat also known as Welwitsch's mouse-eared bat or Welwitsch's myotis (''Myotis welwitschii'') is a species of vesper bat native to Africa. Description Welwitsch's bat is a relatively large member of its genus, measuring about in lengt ...

Culture

The locals preserve the cave paintings, ancient traditions and beliefs, all of which give the park a cultural identity.

Access

The park can be reached from the city of Chimoio. The park has several road connections with the north, south and central parts of Mozambique, as well as with Zimbabwe.

References

External links

Eastern Highlands Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic Geography of Manica Province Protected areas established in 2003 National parks of Mozambique Important Bird Areas of Mozambique {{Africa-protected-area-stub Wikivoyage:Chimoio