By Nigel Pfunde
On a normal work day since graduating from journalism school , my pen tells the stories of others.
I trace the contours of their lived experiences, turning their realities into words that educate, inform, entertain and reflect our shared social life, just like one of my lecturers Dr Tafataona Mahoso taught me.
Today, however, the roles have flipped. Today, I am not merely writing a story – I have lived it!
Lately, I have been writing about ZimBho, passionately urging readers to pack their bags and come experience the magic of Zimbabwe. Today, my plea is personal.
Over the weekend, I found myself deep in Gonarezhou National Park, spending six spellbinding hours watching the raw, untamed beauty of the wilderness unfold. For hours, flora and fauna paraded under the vast African sky. The adrenaline rush was unmistakable when massive wild elephants casually blocked our path which to me was a reminder of who truly rules this terrain. One of my masculine colleagues, whom I won’t name out of loyalty to the game, almost jumped off the tour truck in fear of samanyanga… laugh out loud!!
They run the jungle: Two giant elephants in
Gonarezhou National park
That incident aside, my real, real highlight of the trek was something far more tender.
Deep in the heart of the bush, I met 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Introduced to us by our talkative, endlessly enthusiastic tour guide, Owen Hanyani, these two "lovers" are actually two towering baobab trees whose roots are deeply intertwined, yet separated by the semi-dry bed of the Runde River.
Hanyani, cool and humorous, told us that park authorities once considered separating them but quickly realized it was impossible since their bond was too deep. I had to take a snap of the two trees for my archives.
Dubbed 'Romeo and Juliet', this natural wonder stands as a quiet monument of devotion in the wilderness — living proof that the destination marketing by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority team and its parent ministry led by award winning Minister Barbara Rwodzi, isn't just hollow rhetoric. It is real, authentic, and utterly breathtaking!
In our heritage, the baobab tree carries profound significance, standing as a sacred symbol of resilience, life, and connection across generations.
Standing before those two trees, their roots clinging to one another across the sand, my mind drifted to another eternal story embedded in our soil. I used to hear my Uncle Sam Mupfupi tell me about the legend of Nyaminyami, the Zambezi River spirit.
He taught me that when the Kariba Dam wall was built, it separated Nyaminyami from his beloved wife, unleashing the river god's fury — a timeless story of devotion and separation.
These unique tales of enduring love belong solely to Zimbabwe. To me, Romeo and Juliet embody the deep culture of love, warmth and connection that defines the Zimbabwean people.
Beyond these romantic sentinels, dear reader, you might think ndakudhipisa (far-fetched). Nope. Gonarezhou itself is a marvel of conservation.
According to our tour guide, Hanyani, it spans over 5,000 square kilometres. It is the second-largest national park in Zimbabwe, acting as a crucial sanctuary within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
True to its name, loosely translated to "Place of Many Elephants", it shelters a massive population of nearly 11,000 elephants.
But the park's biodiversity does not stop there. Across its rugged sandstone landscapes and iconic red Chilojo Cliffs where I experienced Kodak moments that I’ve already sent to my daughter Maita to marvel at , you will find 147 mammal species, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and rare antelopes like the nyala. There are also over 500 bird species and dozens of unique reptiles and fish.
Our country’s tourism strategy is built around diverse experiences, spanning key focus clusters that range from Eco-Tourism, Culture and Heritage, to Adventure, Sports, and Wildlife. Places like Gonarezhou show how beautifully these clusters interlock, where raw wilderness meets ancient lore and cultural warmth.
I am not one to keep such wonder to myself. Dear reader, share this story with your friends, your family and your contacts both locally and across the globe. Tell them to come and taste the rich plate of experiences waiting in Zimbabwe. After all, sharing is caring, and this is a story, a place that deserves to be shared with the world!
