Kyle Recreational Park

The Kyle Recreational Park is 16 900 hectares in extent. Of the total Park area, 9 300 hectares is occupied by the lake (Lake Mutirikwi) at full supply level. The dam was constructed in 1960 and that same year the Park was established.

The Park itself exists as a secondary resource, the primary reason for the construction of Kyle Dam was to act as an irrigation reservoir for the lowveld farming estates. Due to the fact that Lake Mutirikwi’s total annual yield of water is committed, the level of the lake is subject to considerable fluctuation.

The Park area is bounded on the north by the Beza Range which rises to a height of 1485m. Between this range and Lake Mutirikwi, is an undulating plain averaging 1070m above sea level. The plain terminates in an area of broken hills dividing Lake Mutirikwi into to two main areas: east and west. Four main estuaries are a feature of the lakeshore in the central section of the area. Great Zimbabwe, Africa’s second largest ancient stone structure, is situated on the Southern side of the Park while Masvingo city which derives its name from the afore-mentioned ancient stone city is to the west of the Park.

On the south of the lake, granite hills dominated by almost bare whalebacks of solid rock occupy the area. The Park originated from traditional communal land formerly occupied by the Basutu and Kalanga tribes.

Animals found in the Park:
The Park is home to more than 25 species of wild mammals. Some commonly sited animals include:

• Buffalo
• Common Duiker
• Eland
• Impala
• Kudu
• Reedbuck
• Warthog
• Waterbuck
• White Rhinoceros
• Wildebeest
• Zebra
• Giraffe
• Squirrel
• Black-backed Jackal
• Leopard
• Honey badger
• Rock dassie
• Hippopotamus
• Ostrich
• Crocodile
• Porcupine.

Some of the rarer species include:

• Antbear
• Bushbuck
• Bushpig
• Klipspringer
• Sable
• Steenbuck

Fish found in and around the lake:

• Largemouth bass 
• Nembwe 
• Greenhead bream 
• Sabi/ red-breasted bream
• Mozambique bream
• Black bream
• Limpopo sardine
• Three spot minnow
• Spotted minnow
• Hamilton barb
• Straight fin barb
• Beira barb
• Southern kneria
• Spotted catlet
• Mottled eel
• Eastern bottlenose 
• Smallmouth yellow fish
• Red-spotted mudsucker
• Red-eye mudsucker
• Catfish or barbell
• Banded bream

Vegetation:
The vegetation varies from small patches of evergreen riverine species, through thicket woodland, open woodland, grassland and rocky hills to a barren zone along the lake shore which is subject to periodic inundation and which supports only a sparse cover of annual herbs and grasses.

The vegetation changes from the predominance of miombo woodland with brachstegia spiciformis and jubernada globiflora to thickets dominated by peltophorum africanum, terminalia sericea, comberetum and acacia karoo.

Facilities:

Lodges
Accommodation facilities are located about 1 km from the Tourist Office. There are a wide variety of self-catering lodges available at Kyle Recreational Park.

Caravan Site

There are 5 caravan sites of which 4 have electric power. The maximum capacity for the site is 6 people per site.

Picnic Site
The picnic sites have ablution and fireplaces. The sites are mainly for day use.

• Popoteke Picnic Site 
  Located approximately 10 km from the Kyle entrance gate and situated in the northern portion of the Park. The Popoteke gorge site adjoins a special conservation area; a refuge rich in estuarine for spawning fish. The woodland type is predominantly Miombo with brachystegia spiciformis and julbernada globiflora as constituent species. The gorge offers a spectacular view.
• Mutirikwi Picnic Site 
  Located 6 km from the Tourist Office.

Conference Facility

Waterbuck lodge may be used as an alternative conference facility for 20 people upon request.

Activities

• Game viewing – visitors use their own vehicles for transport.
• Fishing – visitors bring their own fishing gear and boats.
• Guided walks
• Guided horse rides
• Arboretum walk – unguided walk from Tourist Office to the camp sites
• Scenic view – Uchicho; view of the lake and mountains
• Bompst boat club

Why Visit Kyle?

• The Park is rich in wildlife, including 3 of the Big Five; White Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard
• Beautiful well maintained accommodation
• The lake is the largest inland man-made lake in Zimbabwe
• Wide variety of fish; about 21 species
• Geographically the Park is one of the most centrally located
• Variety of scenic views
• Perennially good weather conditions

How to get to Kyle Recreational Park
Visitors to the Park use the Mutare/Birchenough Bridge Road up to the 13km peg to Masvingo and then turn right and travel for 14 km to the Entrance Gate. From there to the Tourist Office is a distance of 5 km. The general condition of all roads leading to the Park is surfaced and in very good condition. However, some tourist roads within the Park may require four wheel drive vehicles.