Declared a national reserve in 2003, and a national park in 2020, the Chimanimani National Park falls under the governance of Zimparks. Together with the Mozambican Chimanimani National Reserve, the two combined wilderness areas form the Chimanimani Transfrontier Conservation Area. The Chimanimani National Park consists of two separate sectors, one in the west and one in the east. The eastern sector lies on Mozambique border and is characterised by indigenous forests and open mountainous terrain. It covers some 170 km2 at the southern end of the Eastern Highlands, and its extent along the border is about 50 kilometres. The smaller western sector is located some 20 kilometres inland from the border, and butts up against the small town of Chimanimani. The mountains were originally named Mawenje, meaning ‘rocky mountains’ and later Chimanimani from the word Tshimanimani, which means ‘squeezed together’. This describes the deep narrow valley where the Musapa River bisects the Chimanimani mountain range. The park is home to eight biodiversity areas and over 80 archaeological sites, comprising rock art, as well as early and late Iron Age and Stone Age sites. The area is shared with a population of over 135 000 people, 95% of which are rural residents. For mountain climbing and walking enthusiasts, or anyone interested in rich fauna and flora, Chimanimani is worth a visit. The area teems with birdlife and is home to unusual plant species such as the Pineapple Flower and Water Parsnip.