The 16 900ha Lake Kyle Recreational Park is situated on the shoreline of Lake Muturikwe and includes the lake and a 4 800ha game park which is stocked with a variety of animals including white Rhino, Giraffe, Zebra and several species of antelope. The habitat in the park is varied and includes miombo woodland, granite outcrops, acacia thornveld and the lake shoreline. Over 270 species of birds have been recorded here.

Birding

If time is spent in the miombo woodland in the park it is possible to see many of the miombo specials. These include Miombo Rock-Thrush, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, African Golden Oriole, Miombo Tit, Red-faced Crombec, Retz's Helmet-Shrike and Southern Hyliota. Look for Yellow-mantled Widowbird and Yellow Bishop in the open grassland. Both Cape Longclaw and Yellow-throated Longclaw can be found in the vlei areas. Marsh Owl,  African Grass-Owl, African Marsh-Harrier and Red-chested Flufftail have been recorded here.

Augur Buzzard is a common resident around the granite outcrops and other species that can be found here include White-necked Raven, Lanner Falcon, and Cape Bunting and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. In the acacia scrub look for Common Whitethroat and Icterine Warbler (summer only), Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler, Burnt-necked Eremomela and Marico Flycatcher. Cormorants, African Darter, Egrets, Herons and Ducks are common on the lake, as is African Fish-Eagle.

Several species of sunbird are attracted to the flowering plants around great Zimbabwe Monument including Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird and Scarlet-chested Sunbird. Mocking Cliff-Chat and Familiar Chat hunt for insects within the Great Enclosure and Purple-crested Turaco and African Emerald Cuckoo (summer only) call from the nearby forest.

General
Accommodation is available in the National Park and includes chalets, lodges and campsites. Contact National Parks Central Reservations tel+263-4-706077 or 706078, fax+263-4-726089 or 724914. e-mail: NationalParks@gta.gov.za. National Parks Bulawayo Office tel+263-9-63646, fax+263-965592.

There is also a variety of private accommodation available on the banks of the lake, including;

Inn on great Zimbabwe, close to the great Zimbabwe Monument. Tel+263-4-703633 tel/fax+263-4-703634 e-mail: innsofzw@mweb.co.zw or www.innsofzim.co.zw

The turnoff to great Zimbabwe is 1.5km south of Masvingo on the main road to Beit Bridge. The hotel and Monument are approximately 25km down this road. It is possible to reach the entrance to Lake Kyle Recreational Park from this road (it eventually becomes a gravel road). Alternatively take the road from Masvingo to Birchenough Bridge and at the 13km peg turn right at the Lake Kyle signpost and follow this road for 13km to the Park entrance. An entry fee of US$10 is payable at the gate as well as an entry fee (depends on size of vehicle) for cars. Reservations for chalets and camping must be made with the National Parks booking office in Harare.

Great Zimbabwe monument is managed by the National Museums and Monuments and a separate entry fee is payable here (currently US$5 per person)

Website: http://www.zimparks.com
 

Derek Solomon 1997.
On Safari International
Tel: +263-4-487703
osi@ecoweb.co.zw
www.osi.co.zw