Overview–mozambique

Gorongosa National Park

Gorongosa National Park was once one of Africa’s finest wildlife destinations. Sadly, it was abandoned and depleted of animals during the civil war. Despite many setbacks, big efforts have been made to rehabilitate Gorongosa. Today, although far from fully recovered, the park is once again a great safari destination. One that is far away from any crowds.

Best Time to Visit

The best wildlife-viewing months in Gorongosa National Park are from July to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season. At this time, the bush has thinned out and animals gather around permanent water sources. However, October is very hot and best avoided if you don’t like extreme heat.

May to October –Dry Season – Winter

Best time for wildlife viewing
Sunny skies with little rainfall
Risk of malaria is minimal
Although this is the high season, the park never gets busy
The sky is very hazy and the bush looks parched
October is unbearably hot
There is a chill in the morning air from May to August

November to April –Wet Season – Summer

Landscapes are lush and green
With migrants present, it’s the best time for birding
There are many newborn animals
Park closes from mid-December to the end of March
Wildlife viewing is superior in the Dry season
Very hot and humid
Risk of malaria is greater
Roads become bad and are sometimes impassable

Scenery

Situated at the very end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Gorongosa has a large variety of landscapes. These include Lake Urema and its network of rivers; vast floodplains, savannahs and woodlands; and rainforest on Mt Gorongosa. A hike to Morumbodzi Falls on the mountain is a great addition to a safari.

Activities

All activities at Gorongosa are guided. Self-drive is currently not allowed. A walking safari is always a nice change from the usual game drives in open safari vehicles. Also, don’t miss out on a boat safari on Lake Urema, or a scenic canoe trip with morning coffee or sundowner drinks on the Pungué River. Furthermore, you can visit the local communities on a cycling trip or spend a full day exploring Mt Gorongosa. If you’re a birder, you might want to go on a birding adventure with a specialized guide.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Jan

Feb

Mar

Dec

April

May

Jun

Nov

Rates

From: $156 to $831 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: July to October (Dry bush, animals are easy to find)

High Season

From: June to October (The park never gets busy)

Size

From: 4,067km² / 1,570mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Wildlife viewing in Gorongosa National Park is quite good, with four of the Big Five present (no rhino). Elephant numbers have recovered well after being depleted during the civil war, but buffalo are still scarce. Waterbuck and impala are numerous on the floodplains, and other antelope species you might see include greater kudu, nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck and oribi. In the camp area, you can watch warthogs digging around in the dust and naughty baboons are never far off either.

Wildlife Highlights

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.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The middle and end of the Dry season, from July to October, is the best time for wildlife viewing in Gorongosa. Wildlife is easier to spot at that time because vegetation is thinning out and animals gather around the lake and other permanent water sources.

General Wheather

Gorongosa National Park has a tropical, hot climate with a Wet and Dry season. The cool Dry season from May to October offers the most comfortable travel conditions and these are the best wildlife-viewing months.

Dry Season –May to October – Winter

There is little rain in the Dry season. Animals gather more and more around the lake and other permanent water sources. It is warm during the day but cool at night.

May – At the start of the Dry season the bush is still lush but the rain has stopped.
June & July – There is almost no rain and the bush is drying out. These are the coolest months with daytime temperatures around 29°C/84°F. It gets cold at night, with an average of 14°C/57°F. Warm clothing for early morning game drives is recommended.
August & September – It is still very dry. The bush is starting to look parched. It is also warming up, with an average daytime temperature in September of 32°C/90°F. Mornings are getting less cold.
October – Daytime temperatures keep ramping up to an average of 34°C/93°F. Peak temperatures are much higher, and the heat can become unbearable during the day. Mornings are ideal, with temperatures around 20°C/68°F.

Wet Season –November to April – Summer

This is the warm Wet season. The roads get very bad after heavy rain and the park closes from mid-December to the end of March. Showers in the afternoon are common and spectacular thunderstorms rumble overhead. The sky is clear and the bush is lush.

November – When the rains start, it’s a relief because the bush is very dry and the skies are hazy. It is still very hot. The average temperature is 35°C/95°F. When it rains, it mostly comes in afternoon thunderstorms.
December, January, February & March – The wettest months bring rain most days, but it rarely lasts the whole day. Daytime temperatures average 35°C/95°F, while at night and in the early morning temperatures average about 20°C/68°F. The park is closed.
April – This is a lovely month as the rain is winding down but everything is lush and green. The park reopens. Some of the roads might be closed until they dry out.

Prons

Good wildlife viewing and superb birding
Off-the-beaten-track destination
A chance to support a great conservation effort
Community development projects and village visits
Game drives as well as walking, boat and canoe safaris

Cons

Only one lodge in the park, at the entrance, with little bush appeal
Ongoing political unrest in the area
Self-drive is not allowed at present for security reasons

How To Get There

Maputo International Airport (MPM) will most likely be your entry point into Mozambique. It is about 3km/2mi from the capital, Maputo.

There are no scheduled flights to Gorongosa National Park. From Maputo, you can take a scheduled flight to Beira or Chimoio, then drive to Gorongosa via Inchope junction. Montebelo Gorongosa Lodge & Safari can organize transfers from either airport, or you can rent a car at Beira airport.

The drive from Beira to Inchope (135km/84 mi) takes about 2½ hours*, while the drive from Chimoio to Inchope (67km/42mi) takes about 1½ hours*. Note, however, that the road from Inchope to Gorongosa (70km/44mi) is in very poor condition. A sturdy 4x4 vehicle is necessary and the drive might take 4 to 5 hours. Self-driving within the park is currently not allowed due to security concerns.

Your tour operator will arrange and book all domestic and charter flights as part of your package. LAM flies from Maputo to Beira and Chimoio, and from Johannesburg in South Africa to Beira. SA Airlink flies from Johannesburg to Maputo and Beira. There is also an airstrip in the park for charter flights.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Maputo International Airport (MPM), and what tickets would cost.