The Gorongosa Restoration Project is a beautiful story about courage, tenacity, community and commitment. For the global conservation community, it is a beacon of hope. For travellers, it offers a rare chance to experience the tangible product of this virtue made real.
Gorongosa promises you an authentic safari experience, Image Credit: David Ryan
Phoenix Rising: A Story of Restoration
A far cry from its war-ravaged past, Gorongosa‘s future looks bright thanks to a diverse, dedicated group of individuals and community members making conservation history through this decades-long rewilding project. The Greg Carr Foundation is instrumental in the restoration of the land and commitment to community upliftment.
Let’s explore Gorongosa together, Image Credit: Muzimu Lodge
First Impressions of Gorongosa
Here, we share insights from our Rhino Africa Travel Experts Carl Preller, Janine Gous, and Justine Ryan, who recently visited the national park in Mozambique and stayed at Muzimu Lodge.
Diverse and pristine, Gorongosa has seven ecosystems three times the size of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa. Currently, the lodge footprint in the south is enough to captivate your senses and safari stays of at least five nights are encouraged to allow the experience to seep into your soul.
The well-travelled trio tell me that with its vast landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique conservation efforts, Gorongosa is an outstanding wilderness destination. Perhaps one of Africa’s last of the great natural strongholds. If matched with the right kind of traveller, the unconventional luxury of this premier destination could work for both seasoned safari-goers and first-timers. Due to the vastness of the landscape, it provides an environment that enables exclusive encounters with nature.
The perfect place to relax between game drives, Image Credit: Muzimu Lodge
More Than a Feeling
Carl Preller, who has been with Rhino Africa for nine years, was “blown away” by the sheer size of the reserve, stretching over 370,000 hectares. He says the scenery changes dramatically every few minutes, from fever tree forests to open plains and winter thorn forests.
He says, “It’s almost like Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana in one. Every day was different, and we saw no vehicles at all.”
Carl recommends Gorongosa for return travellers looking for something different and unique. He also suggests combining it with a premier safari destination like Sabi Sand for first-time visitors. Consider following your safari with one of Mozambique’s gorgeous beach destinations to elevate your experience of the area.
Look forward to thrilling safari adventures, Image Credit: Carl Preller
Location and Access
Long-standing safari consultant Justine highlights the unique location of Gorongosa National Park, reminiscent of the Lower Zambezi, Mana Pools and Okavango Delta, thanks to the diversity of ecosystems.
The national park offers access to game drives, walking safaris, and seasonal water activities like canoeing and boating. With only 14 game drive vehicles in 377,000 hectares, the low vehicle density ensures an exclusive experience without the hefty price tag.
Gorongosa National Park, serviced by the reliable commercial airline Airlink, the flight from Johannesburg to Beira takes one hour and 45 minutes. Next, take an onward Safari Air 30-minute bush plane flight from Beira Airport, followed by a 30-minute game drive from the airstrip to Muzimu Camp.
Discover the different ecosystems on your game drives, Image Credit: Carl Preller
Authentic, Amazing Accommodation
Justine rates the food and beverage offerings at Muzimu Lodge as top quality, with fresh ingredients and 5-star quality. Light, fresh cuisine is the order of the day. If you love a good salad, you’re in luck.
Aerial view of the outside deck, Image Credit: Muzimu Lodge
The staff here are down-to-earth, friendly, optimistic and engaging, earning a 5-star rating for customer service. The team is proud and passionate about their rejuvenation project, and it shows. They’re keen to partner with the tourism supply chain to get the word out about their fantastic commitment to the ecosystem.
Justine says, “The guides, the scenery, the expansive park – [it] feels like you are the only people exploring the national park. Pure, wild, untouched wilderness.”
A majestic encounter, Image Credit: Carl Preller
The Home of Memorable Wildlife Experiences
While Gorongosa is a wilderness immersion destination, the wildlife and birdlife opportunities are exceptional. Justine notes that the guides have extensive experience in Southern and East Africa, providing a top-quality interpretive safari to guests. The lodge managers and safari guides are well-travelled. They’ve cut their teeth in the luxury safari industry at some of Africa’s most revered heart-quickening safari brands.
The national park’s accommodation offering, Wild Camp and Muzimu Lodge, respectively, offers excellent value for money, with unique wildlife experiences that add multifaceted elements to the safari. The exclusivity and limited game vehicles enhance the overall experience.
African wild dogs once again roam the national park, Image Credit: Carl Preller
If all goes according to plan, Muzimu Lodge’s guiding team will increase by four new trackers in 2025. Gorongosa’s restoration is a work in progress that has spanned two decades.
Key project stakeholders work tirelessly and with fervent dedication, rallying the surrounding communities and building bridges of understanding, cooperation, and posterity. And this is just the beginning.
In addition to safari game drives from the end of March to the end of May, guests may embark on water-based activities such as canoeing and boating safaris to discover water-dwelling fauna, hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds. Morning and afternoon game drives aside, Muzimu Lodge offers night drives and walking safaris, subject to certain favourable conditions.
Our Travel Experts had many great sightings, Image Credit: Carl Preller
Making The Most Of Muzimu Lodge
Justine recommends adding an extra night or two to fully experience all the activities, including a visit to Mount Gorongosa, home to the green-headed oriole, an endemic species highly sought-after in birding circles.
The fly camp at Mount Gorongosa offers an unforgettable sleep-out experience punctuated by an avian chorus to remember. Birdlife is prolific, with the trio clocking over 80 species in around three days.
View of Mount Gorongosa, Image Credit: Judy Gallagher
Learn More Than You Imagined
Aside from the safari activities, guests can visit the Pangolin Rescue Center, which provides opportunities to glean insights into this gentle, secretive species, which sadly is the world’s most trafficked animal. The EO Wilson Laboratory offers a fascinating insight into the ongoing scientific research activity.
Authentic community visits shed light on the excellent work helping to manage human-wildlife conflict in the communities through chilli pepper cultivation and beekeeping along the national park’s buffer zone. Doing so discourages elephants from wandering into the community’s crops. Further, as a potential chilli pepper supplier, the community farming initiative is being eyed by hot sauce titan Nando’s.
As a result of the rewilding efforts, the reserve supports a diverse population of predators and prey. However, the landscape does not support giraffes, rhinos or cheetahs. Going out and seeing what you can find on a game drive, safari walk, canoe, or boat provides incomparable excitement and enduring memories.
Beekeeping, while a quiet hero of conservation, can occasionally blur the line between harmony and havoc. Bees don’t always respect property boundaries; a hollow wall, unused roof space, or old tree near a home can look like prime real estate to a wandering swarm. What begins as an admirable sign of a healthy ecosystem can quickly turn into daily disruption—buzzing doorways, anxious children, and households tiptoeing around an uninvited colony that has decided to settle in for the long haul.
In these moments, experience matters. Safe relocation protects both people and pollinators, preserving the delicate balance communities work so hard to maintain. This is where AA Beekeeper professional bee removal services plays a crucial role, stepping in with calm hands and old-school know-how to remove and rehome bees without harm. It’s a solution rooted in respect for nature rather than panic—because swatting first and thinking later has never ended well for anyone, especially the bees.
Handled properly, bee removal becomes another chapter in coexistence rather than conflict. Communities can continue benefiting from pollination, honey production, and ecological stability, while households regain peace of mind and usable space. Much like managing wildlife along a park’s buffer zone, the goal isn’t to push nature away, but to guide it gently back where it belongs—preferably somewhere that doesn’t involve your kitchen ceiling.
A rescued pangolin
The Feel-Good Factor
Janine was impressed by Gorongosa’s innovative conservation efforts. She felt a part of a conscious movement to rebuild and salvage the land once devastated by civil war. The passion and energy of the guides and lodge staff were evident, making her feel connected to the national park’s impact and conservation initiatives.
Janine exploring Gorongosa
Life-changing Gorongosa Moments
Janine has worked at Rhino Africa for eight years and shares two standout moments from her trip. A seasoned safari-goer, she was captivated by the birdlife on the first day, describing it as a bird haven. The landscape seemed to explode with a cacophony of calls and colours as myriad species flittered between the trees.
Another memorable highlight was the first sundowner stop, where they enjoyed gin and tonics by a large body of water, surrounded by grunting hippos and basking crocodiles, as the sky turned deep shades of pink and orange. She says, “Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a first-time visitor, Gorongosa and Muzimu Lodge promise a safari adventure like no other.”
If remoteness is what you seek, Gorongosa is the perfect place to be, Image Credit: Gorongosa National Park
Are You Ready to Explore Gorongosa?
Discover one of the best-kept safari secrets in Southern Africa with us. Our Travel Experts can’t wait to plan your trip to Gorongosa National Park. Contact us today to make your travel dreams come true!
