A bit of history
Before we talk about
Mozambique’s safari parks, we first need to dive into its bloody past. This country, sandwiched between
South Africa and
Tanzania, has only been free from war for about 25 years. The Portuguese once conquered it, then Mozambique was independent for just two years before all hell broke loose—a ruthless civil war. Hunger, an endlessly drawn-out conflict, and poor living conditions led to the mass hunting of animals simply to put food on the table. Over time, the parks became emptier and emptier until there was zero wildlife left. Since the civil war ended in 1992, efforts have been made to slowly but surely reintroduce wildlife to the parks, and more and more animals are now thriving in Mozambique. Better for us!
Maputo Elephant Reserve
Rugged, raw, and wild—that’s Maputo Elephant Reserve. Explore in your own 4×4 and discover a true gem for spotting elephants. With over 200 wild elephants roaming freely, lakes teeming with snorting hippos, and sneaky crocodiles lurking, this park is a real adventurer’s paradise! Plus, it’s one of the only places where you can drive straight from the park onto the beach and camp there. Picture yourself unwinding with your feet in the cool water, a coconut in hand—pure bliss!
Gorongosa National Park
Once hyped in the ’70s by celebs like John Wayne and Joan Crawford, this park attracted more visitors than all of South Africa and Zimbabwe combined. You’d think it was 100% on-the-beaten-track. But after
Renamo rebels took over the park and established their headquarters there, its popularity plummeted.
Lucky for us, the park has now almost fully recovered and is even called the "hotspot of biodiversity." We’d say it’s just a seriously good off-the-beaten-track destination. It remains raw and unspoiled, perfect for a proper wildlife-spotting adventure. Sometimes, you might even find yourself completely alone in the bush—pretty sick, right?
Niassa Game Reserve
Bigger than its southern sibling,
Kruger, this park lies far north in Mozambique. It’s wild, untouched, and home to some unique wildlife. Expect to see Boehm’s zebra, Johnston’s impala, and the Niassa wildebeest, alongside thousands of elephants, wild dogs, leopards, lions, and hyenas. Quite a mouthful, right?
Bird lovers, rejoice! The skies here are teeming with life. Since most animals survived the war, they tend to be quite wary of humans. The trick? Drive slowly and let them get used to your car. Before you know it, you’ll be surrounded!
Tofo beach
Okay, this is epic! Fancy a swim with whale sharks? This is the place to be! Just off the coast of Tofo, you can hop on a boat and head out to sea. You won’t just find whale sharks here—you’ll also spot massive humpback whales, playful dolphins, and giant rays
.
Snorkel on and dive in! Suddenly, you’ll see wildlife from a whole new perspective.
Limpopo National Park
This park shares everything with the touristy Kruger National Park in South Africa. Wildlife roams freely across a vast area roughly the size of Wales—pretty surreal, right?
So why should you visit
this place instead of the now overdone Kruger? Because this is where you’ll experience a true safari! Not yet fully recovered from the war, the park remains in a near-pristine, untouched state. Raw landscapes, elusive wildlife—this is where real spotting begins!
