Gorongosa National Park

Mozambique's most famous national park, successfully restored after the civil war, where the Lake Urema floodplain teems with waterbuck, lions and elephants.

Gorongosa National Park (Parque Nacional da Gorongosa) lies in Sofala Province in central Mozambique, at the southern end of the Great Rift Valley, and covers about 4,000 km². At its heart are Lake Urema and the surrounding floodplains on the rift valley floor, with the 1,863 m Mount Gorongosa to the west and the limestone gorges of the Cheringoma Plateau to the east. Grassland, forest and wetland interlock, creating exceptional biodiversity. In the 1960s and 70s it was southern Africa's most celebrated safari destination, but its large animals were almost wiped out by poaching during the civil war. Since 2004, the Gorongosa Project led by American philanthropist Greg Carr has worked with the Mozambican government on its restoration. Today waterbuck number over 100,000, lions, elephants, hippos and sable antelope have recovered well, and African wild dogs, leopards and hyenas have been reintroduced, making the park a benchmark for conservation revival in Africa. Chitengo Camp is the base for the park's morning and evening game drives, birdwatching and boat trips on Lake Urema (water levels permitting). You can also visit the ruins of the Lion House and the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory, or book separate excursions to hike Mount Gorongosa, see its waterfalls and visit community coffee farms. The climate is tropical savanna: the May–Nov dry season, when animals gather near the lake and roads are passable, is the best time to go; the Dec–Apr rainy season is hot and wet, with much of the floodplain underwater and some areas and camps closed. Getting there: it's about a 3–4 hour drive from Beira (via the EN6, then north on the EN1 from Inchope), or charter flights land at the Chitengo airstrip; a high-clearance 4x4 is needed inside the park. Plan on 2–3 nights. Note: this is a malaria area, so take precautions against mosquitoes and use preventive medication; book camp accommodation and safari activities in advance on the official website, and leaving your vehicle on foot is prohibited inside the park (except on guided walks).

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