Kyle Recreational Park

Kyle Recreational Park is 16,900 hectares in extent. Of the total Park area, 9 300 hectares is occupied by the Lake Mutirikwi, at full supply level. The dam was constructed in 1960 and that same year the Park was established. 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. 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 hyrax , hippopotamus, ostrich, crocodile and porcupine. Some of the rarer species include; ant bear, bushbuck, bush pig, klipsringer, sable and steenbuck. The vegetation changes from predominance of miombo woodland with brachstegia spiciformis and jubernada globiflora to thickets dominated by peltophorum africanum, terminalia sericea, comberetum and acacia karoo.