Search
Search
Search
High-resolution images available for download
Gorongosa Safaris

Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story

Overview
Accommodation
Availability
Map & Access
Amenities & Activities
Your impact
Gallery
Document downloads
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
2027 rates:

MUZIMU LODGE
From US$1,000 per person, per night

CHICARI CAMP
From US$900 per person, per night

EXPEDITION CAMP
From US$4,500 per night
Semi-exclusive use | 1 – 6 guests


Access:

FLY: AIR GORONGOSA 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.

from US$ 1000
per person per night
Muzimu Lodge
6 Luxury Tents + 3 Island Tents

Set in the riverine forest of Gorongosa National Park, Muzimu Lodge overlooks an oxbow lagoon on the Mussicadzi River. The main area sits beneath a canopy of trees, with a lounge, dining space, swimming pool and shaded deck centred around an open-air fire pit — the perfect spot for sundowners and stories from the day’s adventures.

SAFARI TENTS
Six Safari Tents are raised on hardwood decks beneath the trees, connected to the main lodge by wooden walkways. Each has an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower and a private deck overlooking the surrounding forest.

ISLAND TENTS
Opening in April 2027, three new Island Tents are set on a secluded peninsula across the water from the main lodge. Canvas interiors, natural timber and expansive sliding glass doors bring the surrounding forest into view. Each has an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower, a private outdoor shower and a cold plunge tub. A shaded viewing deck looks out towards the Mussicadzi River.

SEASONALITY:
Open annually 1 Apr – 30 Nov
CHILDREN:
12+ Years
CLASSIFICATION:
Classic
from US$ 900
per person per night
Chicari Camp
9 Safari tents

Formerly known as Gorongosa Wild Camp, Chicari Camp reopened in June – July 2025 following its redevelopment. Set within a band of forest overlooking a large natural pan, the seasonal camp offers views of wildlife gathering at the waterhole. The main area has a lounge, dining space and bar, with a fire pit for relaxed evenings around the camp.

The nine en-suite safari tents combine the simplicity of a classic bush camp with modern comforts. Each has a fan, an indoor shower and a private deck facing the pan, giving guests the opportunity to watch wildlife and birdlife from camp.

SEASONALITY
Open annually 1 Apr – 30 Nov
CHILDREN
12+ Years
CLASSIFICATION
Classic
from US$ 4500
Per night (1 - 6 guests)
Expedition Camp
3 Tents (Semi-exclusive Use) or 6 Tents (Exclusive Use)

Expedition Camp offers an exploratory safari experience in some of Gorongosa’s more remote landscapes. This mobile camp moves between locations within the park, giving guests the opportunity to experience different areas of Gorongosa. Six dome tents are arranged around a central dining and fire area, providing a simple, sociable base for each stay.

Exploration takes place on foot with a Pro-guide, following wildlife tracks and discovering the park’s varied habitats. Game drives can also form part of the experience, with a private vehicle allocated to each booking of up to six guests.

The camp accommodates up to 12 adults across six tents, with shared bathroom and shower facilities. It can be booked on a semi-exclusive basis for up to six guests using three tents, or for exclusive use for up to 12 guests across all six tents.

Expedition Camp operates from one location from May to 31 July, with two locations available from 1 August to 31 October. Only one location operates at a time, but guests can combine both locations in a single itinerary during this period, with a minimum two-night stay at each.

LOCATIONS
One from May to Jul; two from Aug to Oct
SEASONALITY
Operational 1 May – 31 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 April to 30 November each year

Getting There
FLY:

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

AIR GORONGOSA 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 recommends 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 meals, local beverages, laundry and daily safari activities
  • Limited Wi-Fi at Muzimu Lodge and Chicari Camp (no Wi-Fi at Expedition Camp)
  • Swimming pool at Muzimu Lodge
  • In-room massage treatments at Muzimu Lodge (additional cost)
  • Evening Breeze air-conditioning cooling in Muzimu Lodge’s tents
  • Private vehicles: For private game viewing and exploration (additional cost)
  • Private photography vehicle: A dedicated vehicle for photography-focused safaris (additional cost)
  • Expedition Camp available on a semi-exclusive or exclusive-use basis (additional cost)

Included Activities

  • Morning and afternoon game drives (maximum six guests per vehicle)
  • Full-day explorer drives
  • Guided walking safaris
  • Night drives at Muzimu Lodge and Chicari Camp
  • Seasonal boating (April and May)
  • Visits to the E.O. Wilson Science and Research Labs (Monday to Friday)
  • Visits to community initiatives (Monday to Friday)

Included on Stays of 5+ Nights

  • Pangolin Project experience: An opportunity to observe wild pangolins foraging

Activities at an Additional Cost

  • NEW – Lion House Sleep Out: An overnight experience for up to two guests
  • Mount Gorongosa Day Trip: A full-day excursion including a waterfall hike and picnic (minimum four guests)
  • Behind-the-Scenes experience: Meet the team behind the Gorongosa Restoration Project (available for stays of five nights or more)
  • Scenic helicopter flights: Flights over the plains, limestone gorges and Mount Gorongosa
The impact of your stay

Gorongosa is a park that came back from the brink. After the wildlife devastation of Mozambique’s civil war, more than two decades of restoration have brought its large mammal populations home, elephant by elephant, herd by herd, alongside deep investment in the communities who share its borders. Today, the Gorongosa Restoration Project is the largest employer in central Mozambique, proof that a park can be as vital to its people as it is to its wildlife.

Every stay contributes through:
  • Revenue Generation – Your daily park fee (US$20) and Conservation & Community Levy (US$100) fund the work on the ground: wildlife protection, anti-poaching patrols, and habitat restoration.
  • Employment Opportunities – Tourism puts local residents to work as guides, rangers, hospitality staff and service providers, work that gives families a stake in the park’s future rather than its resources.
  • Community Support – A portion of every stay supports education, healthcare and livelihood programmes in the communities living alongside the park.
  • A Front-Row Seat to Recovery – Guests witness one of Africa’s most closely studied conservation stories firsthand, from ranger-led patrols to the ongoing research tracking the park’s return to life.

For more detailed information:
Gorongosa Annual Report