The Nyanga Mountains form the northernmost extent of the Eastern Highlands in Zimbabw. They lie about 70 km north-east of Mutare in two rural Districts, Nyanga and Mutasa. The mountains are a popular tourist destination, attracting large numbers of visitors. Nyanga National Park (440 km²) forms the core of this site and also part of an adjacent, contiguous IBA, Nyanga lowlands/Honde valley. The park is surrounded by privately owned commercial farms, forestry plantations, tea estates and communal lands. The Nyangani massif peaks at 2,592 m. The topography is very diverse, with a rolling hilly plateau in the west and north giving rise to several large rivers: the Kairezi, Nyangombe and Pungwe. The plateau is deeply bisected by the gorges of the Pungwe and Nyazengu rivers in the south.

Mount Nyangani, the highest point in Zimbabwe, lies in the centre of the park and Mutarazi Falls, Zimbabwe's highest waterfall, is in the south of the park. Nyanga National park incorporates the former Mutarazi Falls National Park on its southern boundary. There are numerous high waterfalls, with the Mutarazi waterfall being one of the highest in Africa, dropping 380 m. The eastern slopes of the mountains, particularly Nyangani Mountain, form a steep-sided escarpment, dropping down to 900 m into the Honde valley. The west side has an escarpment that drops from Rukotso (2,405 m) and World's View to the Nyanga North Communal Land (1,400 m).

The eastern slopes are often covered in mist. Above 1,800 m the temperatures are cool and relatively temperate. Frost (-4°C) is common in winter. The mountains have extensive Afromontane vegetation at high altitude (1,800 - 2,400 m), comprising fineleaved dwarf shrubland with a large variety of herbaceous plants, including some Afro-alpine species. Afromontane rainforests are found on the eastern (windward) slopes (the Important Bird Area is defined as extending down to the 1,650 m contour, the boundary of the montane forest) and in kloofs on the leeward slopes. Syzygium is dominant in this undisturbed forest. Afrocraniamontane forest occurs on wet boulder-screes and in high valleys.

These forests have affinities with those further norths in Malawi and East Africa. There are small patches of drier Widdringtonia coniferous forest in fireprotected sites. In the drier, flatter west, the grasslands are interspersed with dwarf Brachystegia woodland. Acacia woodlands occur in isolated patches at the base of granite kopjes. There are also extensive plantations and forests of non-native Acacia and Pinus throughout the area. Fire is an important ecological factor, particularly in the grassland environment.

It contains the highest land in Zimbabwe, with green hills and perennial rivers. Most of its terrain consists of rolling downland, sometimes lightly wooded, lying at altitudes between 1,800 - 2,593 metres. Mount Nyangani, the highest point in Zimbabwe, lies in the centre of the park and Mutarazi Falls, Zimbabwe's highest waterfall, is in the south of the park. Nyanga National park incorporates the former Mutarazi Falls National Park on its southern boundary.