A Safari in Gorongosa

Day 1

Gorongosa National Park

Staying at Muzimu Lodge

Fly from Johannesburg OR Tambo into Beira, where you are met for the scheduled flight (on a Wednesday and Friday only) to Gorongosa Muzimu Camp.

Settle in and unwind before an afternoon game drive—your first introduction to the park’s famous landscapes and wildlife. Enjoy sundowners in the park, soaking in the breathtaking scenery.

Return to camp for dinner and an early night for a well-rested start to your adventure.

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Day 2

Gorongosa National Park

Staying at Muzimu Lodge

Today focuses on the humanitarian foundation of the Gorongosa Restoration Project.

In the morning, you visit the local communities outside the park to experience key initiatives: Education at primary schools, Girls’ Empowerment Groups, Sustainable farming & beekeeping projects, Human-wildlife conflict mitigation efforts.

Your guide will organise the day as per your preference and you can explore on foot and by bicycle for an immersive experience.

In the afternoon, depart for an afternoon game drive and a delicious dinner back at camp.

Gorongosa hosts a very effective conservation project for large carnivores. In recent years, lions have become increasingly habituated and visitors are often treated to quality sightings. Fourteen wild dogs were reintroduced in 2018, and today more than 100 individuals (split into three packs) roam the park. Seeing these charismatic predators hunting is an experience of a lifetime. Recent reintroductions of several leopards and spotted hyenas also help to fully restore Gorongosa’s ecosystem.

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Day 3

Gorongosa National Park

Staying at Chicari Camp

Depart early for a full day expedition to the historic Mt Gorongosa.

You will travel through the south gate, circling the park’s western edge, and gain insight into the communities living in the buffer zone. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the Murombodzi waterfalls.

In the afternoon, you will drive back through the park, taking in the diversity of Gorongosa’s landscapes as you reach Chicari Camp. Unwind with sundowners by the campfire and dinner at Chicari.

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Day 4

Gorongosa National Park

Staying at Chicari Camp

Today, dive into the conservation and scientific work behind Gorongosa’s world famous successes.

During the morning safari meet the Pangolin Guardians as they walk with with rescued pangolins for a morning of wild foraging. The success of the Pangolin Project heavily relies on community involvement. Gorongosa’s conservation strategy includes educating local communities about the importance of pangolins and the threats they face. By fostering a sense of stewardship and providing alternative livelihoods, the project helps reduce poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Community members become allies in the fight to protect pangolins, creating a sustainable model for conservation that benefits both wildlife and people.

You visit the EO Wilson Science Laboratories at the park headquarters, where leading researchers are making groundbreaking discoveries in this globally significant biodiversity hotspot.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive with sundowners and return to camp for a hearty dinner.

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Day 5

Gorongosa National Park

Staying at Chicari Camp

Today is dedicated to game viewing, enjoying the abundance of wildlife and the beauty of the park. You can choose to experience a guided walk or game drive.

Apart from the usual wildlife, Gorongosa is known for some unique creatures.

Chameleons are common animals in Gorongosa and across Africa, but Mount Gorongosa Pygmy Chameleon (Rhampholeon gorongosae) can be found nowhere else. This remarkable lizard was discovered only in 1971 by botanists studying plants of the rainforest on the mountain.

The Green-headed Oriole (Oriolus chlorocephalus), found only on Mount Gorongosa, tops the “most wanted” list of any serious birder. The bird that you’ll find on Mount Gorongosa is a unique race of Green-headed Oriole that is distinguished by the white panel on its wings.

Zebras in Gorongosa are not your typical zebra – they’re members of a distinct subspecies, called Crawshay’s zebra (Equus quagga crawshayi). This special zebra only lives in a relatively small area that spans eastern Zambia, Malawi, southeastern Tanzania, and Mozambique. Gorongosa’s zebras live at the southernmost part of this range. You can tell Crawshay’s zebras apart from other zebras by their thinner and denser black stripes, which extend all across their underbelly and all the way down to the hooves.

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Day 6

End of Itinerary

After breakfast, transfer to the airstrip for the return flight to Beira and the connecting flight to Johannesburg.

Chat to us if you wish to extend with a few days on the beach, we can add a charter flight to Vilanculos and a hop to the islands.