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National park in Mozambique
Photo: Ton Rulkens from Mozambique, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The 4,000 km2 Gorongosa National Park in Central Mozambique is at the southern end of the East African Great Rift Valley. The park includes the valley floor and parts of the surrounding plateaus, which are watered by rivers originating from nearby 1862-meter Mount Gorongosa. It was the subject of a 2010 National Geographic film, Africa's Lost Eden, and is one of Mozambique's main safari destinations.
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The tourism arm of Gorongosa National Park, responsible for managing guest operations. The organisation oversees tourism-related activities within the park, including accommodation, guided safaris, and community-based experiences. Its operations encompass Muzimu Lodge, Chicari Camp, and seasonal Expedition Fly Camps.
Montebelo Hotels organizes a boat safari to Lake Urema to see birds, hippos and crocodiles. Each safari can take six guests (adults and teens only). Montebelo states that boats cannot be booked in advance due to the lake's seasonality.
The peak, at a height of 1800 m, is significantly higher than the rest of the park, into which it was incorporated in 2010. Due to its elevation, it has a cooler climate than the rest of the park, contributing to its different ecosystem and biodiversity. Gorongosa Safaris does coordinated trips to Mount Gorongosa and the surrounding area, which is known for its coffee cultivation.
Take a 30-45 minute walk with a guide to the community of Vinho just outside the park boundary. It is a 2-km walk to the Pungue River, with some birding along the way. At the Pungue River there will be a short trip in a small boat. You may greet many of the park employees as they commute from Vinho on their way to work. You will also visit the school and hospital in the community. The trip takes 2-3 hours in total.
Chikalango Restaurant
A bar and restaurant serving authentic Mozambican breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Breakfast is included in the price of the cabanas. Features many locally grown organic vegetables to support the local communities near Chitengo.
Chitengo
Integrated into the park, Montebelo Gorongosa Lodge & Safari (which includes Chitengo Lodge) offers villa, bungalow, garden room, and premium suite accommodation as part of the Montebelo Hotels & Resorts group. Guests can enjoy a full-service lodge experience with modern amenities close to the main park facilities.
The park’s flagship lodge, located along the Mussicadzi River. It features six East African-style tents, each with en-suite bathrooms and private decks. The lodge includes shared lounge and dining areas as well as a pool, providing a comfortable base for exploring Gorongosa’s ecosystems.
Wild Camp
A seasonal camp set near a permanent water pan. It has ten safari tents, including two tree-hide tents, each with en-suite bathrooms and private decks overlooking the surrounding wildlife. Designed with a low-impact approach, it offers rustic comfort in a rich wilderness area. There are mosquito nets to keep the tents protected from insects.
For more adventurous travelers, the park also offers a campsite set in a natural grove near Chitengo. The site includes bathrooms and showers with hot water, a grill area, firepit, washing area, and a covered gazebo. Parking is available onsite. Tents can be rented for between $25 and $35, but they must be reserved in advance with Gorongosa National Park.
By car
The park’s main gate opens at 6AM and closes at 6PM. This shifts to a half-hour/hour earlier or later depending on the time of year.
You may not self drive within Gorongosa National Park. Trained guides can take you on 3-hour early morning and sunset game-viewing drives to view wildlife on the approximately 100 km of game roads from Chitengo.
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