Mozambique
National Parks & Game
Reserves
Niassa Game
Reserve
Quirimbus National Park
Gile National Reserve
Gorongosa
National Park
Marromeu National Reserve
Gorongosa
National Park
Chimanimani National Reserve
Bazaruto Archipelago NP
Zinave
National Park
Limpopo National Park
Banhine National Park
Pomene National
Reserve
Maputo National Reserve
One of the
main tourist attractions of Mozambique are the environmental conservation
areas.
Presently, they cover about 12.6% of the total country's
surface, and comprise 6 National Parks and 6 National Reserves.
The
National Parks and Reserves are circumscribed public spaces, delimited, which
represent the natural national heritage. They aim to protect the biodiversity
and fragile ecosystems as well as animals' species and vegetation.
Besides presenting the effort that has been made in order to
continually protect the Mozambican biodiversity, this brochure also shows the
beauties with exceptional characteristics on, both leisure and environmental
education in large scale, promoting, at the same time, the ecological tourism.
Mozambique is not just a travel destination, it is a once in a life
time experience. A countless breathtaking variety of landscape is offered to
the visitor, in terms of flora, as well as fauna.
NIASSA GAME RESERVE
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Location: The Niassa Game Reserve (NGR) is situated in
Niassa Province.
Area: 42,000 km2
Access: Access by road via Marupa district
(there is a road linking Marrupa with Lichinga which is being tarred on a
radius of about 150km). By plane to Lichinga and then by road from Lichinga to
Marrupa, Marrupa to the Game Reserve. The NGR has also an airstrip (Mecula)
which can be used for landing and takeoff of aircrafts. The Pemba airport also
serves as an entry point into the NGR. It can also be used, the road from
Montepuez district in Cabo Delgado Province.
Best
viewing season: During winter season, in the weak months, between April
and October.
Attractions: Landscape
diversity such as miombo forests, mountain forests, riverine vegetation, open
savannah and prairies. Fauna: Lions, leopards, wild dog (wolves) (major
population of the country), elephants, buffaloes, gondongs, zebras, elands,
pala-palas, ox-horse, kudos, inhacoses (waterbucks), impalas, cinereous kid,
kid of rocks.
Viewing hours: The NGR can
be visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: It is one of the world's major natural
reserves and the biggest, in Mozambique. The NGR is presently the conservation
area with the widest range, of wild fauna species in the country, especially
the population of elephants estimated at 13,000 pachyderms. A new species of
lizards was discovered recently in the NGR.
QUIRIMBUS NATIONAL PARK
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Location: The Quirimbas National Park (QNP) is situated
in Cabo Delgado Province, covers six provincial central districts and comprises
11 islands in the Archipelago of Quirimbas.
Area: 7,506 km2
Access: The QNP can be accessed by air travel, from all
provincial capital cities (via Lam and Air Corridor) and regional flights from
the RSA, Tanzania, Kenya to Pemba and later on by road leading to the inner
park or by small aircrafts available at Pemba airport or through local tourist
agents or by sea to the park islands
Best viewing
season: In the weak months, between April and October.
Attractions: Islands, sea environment with coral-reefs
and more than 375 fish species. Wild Life (great mammals, birds, and other
species). Culture (Ibo Island), Banco de Sao Lazaro with unique features.
Mangroves, mountains, miombo and savannah forests.
Fauna: Marine species: whales, dolphins, dugongs,
turtles, sharks and wide range of exotic fish species, and a diversity of
interest for sports, fishing charters and diving. Land Species: elephants,
buffaloes, pala-palas, elands, mabecos (dog-hunters), lions, leopards, spotted
hyenas, jackals, crocodiles. A wide range ol bird species.
Viewing Hours: The QNP can be visited daily from 7.30 to
16.30
Particularities: This Park has a
great potential tor performance ol various ecotourism activities apart from
having the particularity ol combining within its limits different tourist
attractions, such as the sun and the sea, wild and cultural life. Its
coral-reels are ideal for diving and snorkelling.
GILE NATIONAL RESERVE
Location: The Gile National Reserve (GNR) is situated in
Zambeze Province, covering the districts of Gile and Pebane. The GNR was
initially declared at first proclaimed Partial Game Reserve of Gile in 1932.
Area: 2,860 km2
Access: Road access from Zambezia capital city,
Quelimane or from other points of the Province. Guests are urged to travel in
4x4 vehicles due to the conditions of the roads. Other access is also possible
from Nampula city (Nampula Province).
Best
viewing Season.- In the weak months during winter, between April and
October. However, the best period for bird watching is during the rain season
(November-March).
Accommodation: There is
no tourism development in the GNR. Accommodation under the form of camping can
be arranged through the GNR administration in the Musseia main campsite and in
the Lice inspection campsite.
Attractions:
It is mainly made up of miombo forest, dambos, reforested savannah and riverine
vegetation along various rivers and rivulets. Of great interest the granitic
Kopjes' habitats which are either inside or around the GNR.
Fauna:
There are listed 95 mammal species, amongst which the elephants, lions,
leopards, wild dogs (wolves), spotted hyenas (crocutacrocuta), pala-palas,
kudos, impalas. There are also listed 114 bird species.
Viewing Hours: The GNR can be visited daily from 7h30 to
16h30.
Particularities: The mounts
surrounding the Reserve are ideal for mountaineering. The GNR can have tourist
connections, with the beautiful Pebane beach, the Gurue landscape, the Moebasse
beach and with the first and second islands, (Zambeze Province) as well as with
Mozambique Island (Nampula Province).
GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK
Location: The Gorongosa National Park (GNP) is situated
in Sofala Province; it lies on the south edge of the Great Rift Valley, 80km
north-west of Beira.
Area: 5,732 km2
Access: By road either from Chimoio or
Beira city.
Best viewing season: During
winter season, in the weak months, between April and October.
Accommodation: Camping.
Attractions: Gorongosa Mountain Ridge, Cheringoma
Plateau, Urema Lake. The house of lions is also one of the park's attractions,
as well as the rivers and lakes, river Murombo's waterfall and the Gorongosa
mountain ridge cascades.
Fauna: Buffaloes,
elephants, ox-horses, hippos, zebras, inhacoses (waterbucks), elands, oribis,
impalas, pala-palas, changes, pivas, facoceros (phacochoerus aethiopicus),
imbabalas (females bushbucks), lions, leopards, spotted hyenas (crocuta
crocuta), wild dogs (wolves) and crocodiles.
Viewing hours: The GNP can be visited daily from 7h30 to
16h30.
Particularities: It is one of the
world's most known conservation areas of Mozambique. With tremendous potential
for bird watching and touring around Gorongosa Mountain Ridge as well as guided
visits to watch the animals.
MARROWMEU NATIONAL RESERVE
Location: The Marromeu National Reserve (Marromeu NR) is
situated in Sofala Province.
Area:
1,560km2
Access: By road, from Beira city.
Best viewing season: During winter season, in the weak months, between April
and October.
Accommodation: There is no
tourist development in Marromeu RN. Accommodation under the form of campsite
can be arranged through the administration of the Reserve.
Attractions: It has great population of buffalos and
other mammals, but the most important attraction is the great quantum of birds,
both seasonal and permanent.
Fauna: Lions,
leopards, buffaloes, elephants, kudos, impalas, changes, inhalas, wild boars,
ox-horse, elands, wild pigs.
Viewing
hours: The Marromeu NR can be visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: The Marromeu NR protects
the major humid area along the delta of Zambeze. Due to the great importance of
the conservation of the habitat, the Marromeu NR was declared as "RAMSAR Area"
CHIMANIMANI NATIONAL RESERVE
Location: The Chimanimani National Reserve (CNR) is
situated in the Sussundenga district, Manica Province.
Area: 640 km2
Access to CNR is possible by road, either from Chimoio
city or via a road, from the airports of the cities of Tete, Chimoio and Beira.
It is advisable to travel in a 4x4 due to the state of the roads.
Best viewing season: Throughout the year. During the
winter months (June to August) the temperature scale, can fall below zero
degrees Celsius.
Accommodation: Basic
campsites are available in Chikukwa and Mahate.
Attractions: The CNR has an intact ecosystem and rich in
biodiversity especially in the mountainous areas, landscapes, archaeological
tools, (rupstart paintings), intact beliefs and traditional structures. It has
a great diversity of species of plants and endemic species of birds, reptiles
and butterflies.
Fauna: Buffaloes,
oribias, elands, blue goats, cinereous kids, kids of rocks, imbabalas (female
bushbucks), changanes, pala-palas, changes, pivas and facoceros(phacochoerus
aethiopicus). A wide variety of bird species and reptiles, including endemic
species.
Viewing Hours: The RNC can be
visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: The RNC protects a series of ecosystems
of great value, including prairies and high mountain vegetation. It has
favourable conditions for the practice of various activities: Mountaineering,
safaris, canoeing, equitation and cultural tourism. The LNP is part of the
Chimanimani Transfrontier Conservation area.
BAZARUTO
ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK
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Location: The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (BANP)
is situated in the districts of Vilanculos and Inhassoro in Inhambane Province.
Comprises 5 islands in the Bazaruto Archipelago, 20 km from the coast of
Vilanculos and Inhassoro.
Area: 1,400 km2
Access: Either by road or plane to
Vilanculos or Inhasooro and later on by air or sea into the islands.
Best viewing season: Throughout the year.
Attractions: It has a wide range of marine
species diversity and it is considered one of the worlds major dive centers.
Beaches with transparent and clear waters and an avifauna rich in species.
Fauna: Dugongs, various species of whales,
dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and rays. Various species of exotic birds,
including the flamingo.
Viewing hours: The
Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, can be visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: The BANP has sea and road
component. It was set up to protect sea fauna species namely the dugongs,
marine turtles and dolphins and also the weak ecosystems of the islands. It is
worth stressing that about 150 dugongs occurring in this area, are a major
population in the coast of East Africa.
ZINAVE NATIONAL
PARK
Location: The Zinave National
Park (ZNP) is situated along River Save in Inhambane Province.
Area: 4,000 km2 Access:
Access by road from Inhambane city and Gaza or other
points of the province, being advisable to travel in 4x4 vehicles due to the
conditions of the road (precarious roads).
Best
viewing season: In the weak months during the winter season, between
April and October.
Accommodation: There is
no tourist development in the ZNP. Accommodation under the form of camping can
be arranged through the local administration in the main campsite.
Attractions: The ZNP has a diversity of
landscapes namely: miombo forests, bushes, riverine vegetation. The ZNP has
also lagoons.
Fauna: Kudos, inhalas,
imbalabalas (female bushbucks), hippos, impalas, inhalas, changes, chipenes,
cinereous kid kid of rocks, changanes, leopards, lions, cheetah, spotted hyenas
(crocuta crocuta).
Viewing hours: The ZNP
can be visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: It is part of the Great Limpopo
Transboundary Conservation Area Programme.
LIMPOPO NATIONAL
PARK
Location: The Limpopo National
Park (LNP) is situated west of Gaza Province, near the South Africa border and
south of Zimbabwe border (it comprises an area ol 200 km).
Area: 10,000 km2
Access: The LNP can be accessed via beaten road through
Ginyondo Border Post leaving from Kruger Park and the Paluri Border Post
(natural road). From inland Mozambique it is possible to access the park by
road leaving from Massingir and Mapai.
Best
viewing season: In the weak months, Irom April to October.
Accommodation: The LNP has two campsites with
accommodation facilities - tourists are urged to bring along their own tents
and supplies). Additionally, there are campsites available along the Safari
routes (Paluri-Massingir) Tambolie, Mamba Pan and Machamba.
Attractions:
This park has the particularity of presenting a landscape which is still intact
almost across its surface with 10 distinct landscapes. In an indoor environment
visitors can gaze at almost 100% of Southern African species of wild fauna,
including the Big Five. The Massingir Dam, the zone ol river Shingwedzi and
Mapai are attracting zones in terms of fauna, and culture.
Fauna: Big Five, elephants, white rhinos, buffaloes,
lions, leopards. Other Animals: wild dogs, hippos, zebras, impalas, kudos, wild
boars, wild pigs, cinereous kid, kid ol rocks, ox-horses, inhalas, spotted
hyenas, pala-palas, pivas, changes, oribis (ourebia ourebi) and crocodiles.
Viewing Hours: The LNP may be visited
daily Irom 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities:
The LNP is part ol the Great Limpopo Transboundary Conservation
Programme. The area ol river Shingwedzi is ideal for dismounted tourism based
on wild fauna. The Massingir Dam is favorable for diverse adventure water
sports. Cultural tourism may also be conducted in Mapai.
BANHINE NATIONAL
PARK
Location: The Banhine National
Park (BMP) is situated in Gaza Province.
Area: 6,000 km2
Access: By road from Inhambane village or Gaza Province
(roads in precarious conditions).
Best viewing
season: In the weak months during the winter season, between April and
October.
Accommodation: There is no
tourist development in the BNP. Accommodation under the form of camping can be
arranged through the BNP administration in the main campsite.
Attractions: The park has well distinct landscapes like
in human areas, open savannah, mopane and miombo forests.
Fauna: Lions, leopards, kudos, impalas, changes,
inhalas, cinereous kid, hippos, oribis, (ourebia ourebi), pala-palas, ostriches
and crocodiles.
Viewing Hours: The BNP can
be visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: It forms part of the Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Conservation Area Programme. It has the most humid area inland
Mozambique, ecologically regulated by trends related to cyclical rainfall
fluctuations and draughts.
POMENE NATIONAL RESERVE
Location: The Pomene National Reserve (PNR) is situated
in Massinga District in Inhambane Province
Area: I26km2
Access: Access by road either from Maputo or Beira city.
Guests are urged to travel in a 4x4 vehicle. Access is also possible by plane
from Inhambane airstrip.
Best viewing
season: throughout Ihe year.
Attractions: The different landscapes of the Reserve
such as vegetation of the dunes, savannahs, mangroves and marshes are a
combination which offers great ecotourism opportunities for the PNR.
Fauna: Ox-horses, wild boars, cinereous
kid, chipenhes, irnpalas, monkey-dogs and grey monkeys. A wide range of bird
species.
Viewing hours: the PNR can be
visited daily from 7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: Set of land and sea habitats,
vegetation of dunes and sandy soil forests.
MAPUTO NATIONAL
RESERVE
Location: The Maputo
National Reserve (Maputo NR) is situated in Maputo Province, inside Matutuine
district.
Area: 778 km2
Access: From the country's capital Maputo crossing the
Bay and then by road from Catembe or simply by road from Boane.
Best viewing season: Throughout the year.
Accommodation: Milibangalala camping area. A couple of
community lodges in areas near the Maputo NR. Various tourist undertakings are
available in the south of the Maputo NR, in the area of Ponta do Ouro.
Attractions: Various beaches along the
coast (Ponta Chemucane, Ponta Menbene, Ponta Milibangalala and Ponta Dobela):
Different landscapes (sandy soil forests, humid land forests, marshes,
mangroves, dunes). Lagoons (Piti, Maunde, Nela, Machai, Chinguti). Holy and
cultural places (ideal for cultural tourism).
Fauna: Elephants, changes, kudos, pivas, changanes,
cinereous kid, kid of rocks, crocodiles. A wide variety of bird species. The
marine fauna is very varied, including whales, dolphins, marine turtles, which
build nests along the coast and countless fish species.
Viewing Hours: The Maputo NR can be visited daily from
7h30 to 16h30.
Particularities: The Maputo
NR protects one of the most valuable habitats (Maputoland regional centre of
endemism). The MNR has a scenic beauty with a diversity of habitats, landscapes
and sea sceneries of exceptional beauty. The reserve is an ideal place for
watching animals and birds, and offers opportunities for sports fishing,
diving, canoeing, with a great peculiarity of being a strategically situated
destination, because it receives national tourists from South Africa and
Swaziland. It forms part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
Programme.
The information shown on this page has been kindly provided by
the Mozambique Tourist Office: please visit their website Ministério do
Turismo
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