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Gorongosa Safaris

Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story

Overview
Accommodation
Availability
Map & Access
Amenities & Activities
Your impact
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Gorongosa National Park is regarded as “Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story,” and a globally acclaimed conservation success story.

Gorongosa National Park is a model for integrating environmental restoration with human development, demonstrating how conservation and livelihoods can flourish together.

DID YOU KNOW?

Gorongosa is recognized as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, supporting exceptional endemism.

The restoration of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique is one of the world’s most remarkable conservation success stories. Once ravaged by civil war, the park’s ecosystem and wildlife were nearly decimated. In 2004, philanthropist Greg Carr partnered with the Mozambican government to rebuild Gorongosa as a haven for biodiversity and sustainable development. This partnership, the Gorongosa Restoration Project, has invested millions in restoring landscapes, reintroducing wildlife, and involving local communities. Rewilding efforts have revived Gorongosa’s ecosystem, now home to over 100,000 large animals and a rich diversity of birds and insects – cementing its status as a global biodiversity hotspot.

Integral to Gorongosa’s success is its focus on people. The project’s initiatives include healthcare programs, education for women and girls, and sustainable agriculture benefiting local farmers, ensuring conservation benefits both nature and communities.

Gorongosa Safaris, the project’s tourism arm, offers high-end safaris combining stays at the classic Muzimu Lodge and immersive Chicari Camp.

A safari in Gorongosa is more than wildlife viewing – it’s a chance to witness and contribute to one of Africa’s most inspiring conservation efforts.

Fast Facts
rates:

Muzimu Lodge:
From US$ 950
per person per night

Chicari Camp:
From US$ 850
per person per night


Access:

FLY: SAFARI AIR operates seat-in rates and charter flights:

Between Beira & Gorongosa (Chitengo Airstrip):
Seat-in Rate: Mo | We | Fr
Duration: +/- 35 min
Charter Rate: Any day

Between Gorongosa & Bazaruto Archipelago:
Seat-in Rate: Mo | Fr
Charter Rate: Any day
Duration: +/- 1hr 35 min


Size:

Gorongosa National Park – 1 000 000 acres


CHILDREN:

12+ years welcome


highlights:

An immersive safari in a vast and biodiverse wilderness, combining game drives, walking safaris and water-based experiences with meaningful insight into one of Africa’s most important conservation landscapes.

VISIT THE GORONGOSA SAFARIS WEBSITE

What we love
Restoration Success

Gorongosa’s restoration transformed a war-torn ecosystem into a thriving park, revitalizing biodiversity, empowering communities, and promoting sustainable conservation.

Vast Untouched Wilderness

4,000 km.sq / 1 million acres of wilderness with savannas, grasslands, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and montane rainforests on Mount Gorongosa.

Biodiversity Hotspot

Gorongosa is recognized as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, with its varied ecosystems and microclimates supporting exceptional endemism. It is also home to the worlds biggest population of waterbuck at over 65,000!

A Complete Safari adventure

The 7-night Gorongosa Discovery includes Muzimu Lodge, Chicari Camp and a range of impactful activities and experience, including foraging with pangolins.

US$ 950
per person per night
Muzimu Lodge
6 Luxury Tents

Nestled in a pristine riverine forest on the edge of an oxbow lagoon, Muzimu Lodge offers an intimate and eco-friendly safari experience in Gorongosa National Park.

Its six spacious safari tents, connected by wooden walkways, blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings, providing an immersive connection to the park’s wildlife and lush landscapes. Each tent features an en-suite bathroom and a private deck, offering a serene space to relax and take in the beauty of the wilderness.

The main lounge and dining area, set under a deep canopy of trees, is a tranquil retreat where guests can unwind while enjoying the area’s natural charm. Guests can enjoy a relaxing outdoor massage or yoga. The pool offers a refreshing escape on warm days, providing the perfect spot to relax. The attentive team ensures every need is met, serving delicious, thoughtfully prepared meals to complete your unforgettable stay.

SEASONALITY:
Open 1 Apr – 30 Nov 2026
CHILDREN:
12+ years
CLASSIFICATION:
Classic
US$ 850
per person per night
Chicari Camp
8 Safari tents + 2 Treehide tents

Formerly known as Gorongosa Wild Camp, the newly built Chicari Camp is a high-spec, low-impact seasonal safari camp that immerses guests in the untamed beauty of Gorongosa National Park. Named after the traditional clay drinking pot, chicari, the camp overlooks a wildlife-rich pan that holds water year-round. Surrounded by fever trees and woodlands, this serene location offers stunning views of the park’s natural wonders.

Chicari Camp features eight en-suite safari tents and two en-suite Treehide Tents, blending contemporary design with comfort. Each tent boasts a private deck overlooking the pan, providing front-row seats to the mesmerizing ebb and flow of wildlife and birds as they drink, feed, and wallow.

The two Treehide Tents, located at the base of a wooden treehide, share an outdoor deck, ideal for two couples or a family traveling together.

With its simple yet refined accommodations, Chicari Camp offers a unique and tranquil way to experience Gorongosa’s wild landscapes. By staying here, guests actively contribute to the park’s vital conservation efforts and the sustainable future of this remarkable ecosystem.

SEASONALITY
Open 1 Apr – 30 Nov 2026
CHILDREN
12+ Years
CLASSIFICATION
Classic
US$ 5280
Per night
Expedition Camp
6 Dome Tents

Venture into the wilder edges of Gorongosa with Expedition Camp, an exclusive-use mobile camp created for travellers who want to go beyond the traditional safari experience. Hosting up to six guests in six private dome tents, the camp is set up solely for your group, giving you rare access, complete flexibility, and a remarkable sense of space and solitude.

From this remote base, each day is shaped by expert walking guides who lead you through Gorongosa’s diverse habitats – open floodplains, shaded woodlands, and riverine corridors alive with tracks and quiet movement. Exploring on foot reveals the park in a completely different way, allowing for slow, attentive encounters with the landscape and its wildlife.

A major highlight of the experience is time on the Bunga Plains, an expansive and dramatic ecosystem known for its big skies, shifting light and wide-open horizons. Your journey may also include visits to Gorongosa’s cave systems, where hidden chambers and unusual geological formations reveal an entirely different layer of the park’s natural story.

With a dedicated walking-level guide, a private vehicle, and a fully serviced camp team focusing entirely on your group, Expedition Camp offers a deeply personalised and adventurous way to experience Gorongosa at its most untouched and evocative.

Only 5 expeditions on offer in 2026

SEASONALITY
Open 1 Jun - 31 Jul & 1 Sep - 15 Oct
CHILDREN
12+ Years
CLASSIFICATION
Expedition
Availability

Bookings can be made by contacting the Gorongosa reservations team.

Email: res@gorongosasafaris.com

Tel: +27 71 389 1140

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm. Based in Franschhoek.

 

Camps are open 1 Apr to 30 Nov 2026

Getting There
FLY:

AIRLINK
Daily flights from Johannesburg (OR Tambo) to Beira International Airport

SAFARI AIR CHARTER SERVICES

Beira to Gorongosa National Park (Chitengo Airstrip)

Duration: ± 35 minutes

Seat-in Flights: Mon, Wed, Fri (min 2 pax)

Gorongosa – Vilanculos (Bazaruto Archipelago)

Duration: ± 1 hour 35 minutes

Seat-in Flights: Mon, Fri (min 2 pax)

*Both routes are available as private charters: Available any day.

DRIVE:

Gorongosa Safaris do not take any responsibility for road transfers and recommend flying.

Beira to Gorongosa: ± 4 hours
Guests arriving after 2pm in Beira must overnight and transfer the next morning.

Chimoio to Gorongosa: ± 2.5 hours

Amenities & Activities

Amenities

  • Fully inclusive stays with daily shared safari activities, meals, local beverages, and laundry
  • Intimate tented camps and lodges designed for a light footprint and close-to-nature comfort
  • Limited WiFi across camps (no WiFi at Expedition Camp)
  • In-room massage treatments at Muzimu Lodge (extra cost)
  • Swimming pool at Muzimu Lodge
  • Private vehicles and privately guided experiences are available on request
  • Exclusive-use Expedition Camp for private mobile fly-camp adventures

Included Activities

  • Morning and afternoon game drives (maximum 6 guests per vehicle)
  • Guided walking safaris
  • Full-day explorer drives
  • Seasonal boating and canoeing
  • EO Wilson Lab Tours
  • Community Visits
  • Pangolin Foraging Walk (Included for guests staying 5+ nights only)

Activities at an Additional Cost

  • Night drives (Muzimu & Chicari)
  • Full-day Mount Gorongosa & Coffee experience, including a waterfall hike and picnic
  • Behind-the-scenes conservation encounters with the Gorongosa Restoration Project team (Available for guests staying 5+ nights only)
  • Scenic helicopter flights with Wildlife Helicopters over plains, limestone gorges, and Mount Gorongosa

Sustainability & Community Impact

  • Every stay contributes directly to the Gorongosa Restoration Project, supporting wildlife protection, ecological restoration, community upliftment, and sustainable livelihoods.
    A daily park fee (US$20) and Conservation & Community Levy (US$100) apply.
The impact of your stay
IMPACT: VERY HIGH

The restoration of Gorongosa National Park is a globally acclaimed conservation success story. Known as ‘a Park for the people’, Gorongosa is a story of the resilience of nature and humanity against all odds. After the devastation of conflict, dedicated conservation, and community ownership efforts have resulted in an extraordinary transformation – where Gorongosa now boasts one of the highest densities of large mammals on the continent, and is one of the largest employers in Mozambique.

Tourists visiting Gorongosa National Park directly contribute to its conservation and community development efforts in several impactful ways:

Every stay contributes through:
  • Revenue Generation: Tourism generates crucial funding through the daily park fee (US$20) and Conservation & Community Levy (US$100). These funds directly support conservation programs, including wildlife protection, anti-poaching initiatives, and habitat restoration.
  • Employment Opportunities: Tourism creates jobs for local residents as guides, rangers, hospitality staff, and service providers. This provides economic stability and reduces reliance on activities that may harm the environment, such as logging or poaching.
  • Community Support: A portion of tourism revenue supports education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihood programs for the communities living near the park. By linking their well-being to the park’s success, residents become key allies in conservation efforts.
  • Awareness and Advocacy: Tourists become ambassadors for Gorongosa, spreading awareness of its conservation mission and attracting further support. Their experiences help highlight the importance of preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable tourism.
  • Minimized Impact: Eco-tourism initiatives in Gorongosa are designed to have a low environmental footprint, ensuring that tourist activities align with the park’s long-term conservation goals.

By visiting Gorongosa, tourists help protect its unique ecosystems and support the harmonious coexistence of nature and local communities.