Mozambique | Doug Macdonald

Experience the classic Mozambique safari

Mozambique is a very big country that runs along the Eastern Seaboard of Southern and Eastern Africa. It is for the most part a low lying and flat country with beautiful coastlines and islands. In recent years the country has really moved forward economically and trying to restore its beautiful national parks to their former glory. The most well publicised of these is Gorongosa National Park in the centre of the country. This has rippled through the rest of its Reserves and National Parks plus several private concessions all working to rebuild the natural cycles and with it the corresponding growth in Tourism is happening as well. Mozambique has some of the Worlds best dive sites and marine life so combining a Savannah type safari with some wild coastal areas and reefs is very much a Classic Mozambique Safari.

Get a taste of it all

Combining a safari with your classic savannah wildlife and then heading to the Indian Ocean coastline to either relax in barefoot luxury or enjoy snorkelling, fishing and diving is a great safari combination. In some of the parks like the Maputo Special Reserve you can combine all of this in one place. Gorongosa National Park has probably the most established infrastructure for your Savannah type safari at this time, with self-catering chalets and more focused safari tented camps all with easy access.

What you need
to know

Things that are worth knowing about when traveling to Mozambique

June to October

Best time to go

Portuguese, English

Language

Metical (MNZ)

Currency

Mozambique was under Portuguese colonial control dating right back to the early 16th Century, so it is one of the oldest colonized countries in Africa. Today it is an independent country with its capital Maputo down in the South of the country, it is a large contemporary African city. Around the country there are 6 National Parks and 6 Reserves, I am not sure the exact difference, but they are all important and protect some key landscapes along the coast, its many wetland areas and savannah areas. Some of these reserves and parks have no tourist facilities at all and have communities of people living within their boundaries.

Getting There

Maputo International Airport is the main airport for tourists arriving then to a lesser degree Beira and Vilanculos. Maputo is well connected regionally and has a few global airlines flying in there as well from outside of Africa, so it is not the hardest destination to plan for. Its own airline LAM also does some domestic flights and regional flights.

Getting Around

Mozambique is a big country, and the parks are well spaced apart so the most sensible way to see different areas and parks is moving by air either using scheduled or charter flights. There are a few exceptions where it is possible to transfer by road but this is not the usual plan.

Man on a bicycle traveling down a dirt track

Ibo Island

In the far north of Mozambique, within the Quirimbas Archipelago is Ibo Island, your classic tropical island with warm seas, beautiful reefs and barefoot luxury, well worth the effort to get here.

Ilha da Mocambique

This is the original capital of Mozambique, named after the Sultan who was resident here during the days of Vasco da Gama and what gives Mozambique its name today. This small island has the oldest intact colonial building on the continent of Africa. So it has great history, beautiful reefs and coastal lodges.

Mt. Gorongosa

Mt Gorongosa on the edge of the Gorongosa National Park is well worth enjoying the climb up this peak. It is not that difficult to reach but the environment on the mountain is quite different from its immediate surrounds so you can enjoy some beautiful montane forest with rocky waterfalls and streams. Really quite beautiful and has some endemic birds which are well sort after by keen birders.

Weather

Mozambique has a tropical climate with hot temperatures year-round. The dry season runs from May to October (also the winter season), with the wet season from November to April. The best time to go on safari in Mozambique is during the dry season, when temperatures are not as high and there is less rain. During this time, wildlife is also easier to spot in the dry bush. Mozambique's climate is perfect for an adventure-filled safari. With the October to December summer months being the hottest.

Luxury hotel in Mozanbique overlooking the sea at sunset

January to March

These are the main summer rainy season months for this part of Africa, which means also the time when Cyclones often come down the Mozambique Channel. These can be quite devastating and cause major damage which can effect access in and out especially along the coastal areas.

June to August

The dry winter season is well set in by this time of year, the vegetation is thinning out and wildlife becoming more focused on particular feeding and watering areas. This is the height of winter as well and the mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cold but Mozambique is in general warmer and more humid as it is a very low lying country with a warm sea current along the coast. However the further inland and South you go the colder it will be.

November to December

These months are really hot during the day and it’s when we expect to see our first rains and the incredible change that happens almost immediately. This transformation brings with it the drama of tropical rain and lightning storms, amazing cloudscapes, clear dustless skies and many of the animal species begin their birthing. This can be one of the most beautiful times to be in the bush and often you can get some good special accommodation rates. Its an excellent time as well if you enjoy your birds along the coastline and in some of the forested areas.

April to May

You can still experience some rain at this time but usually quite limited, if at all. These months mark the start of the bush drying out and the beginning of the long dry spell that will go through to November. The bush is usually quite thick at this time so sightings can be difficult but the animals are still there and you can have huge wild areas all to yourself which is excellent in itself and you can get some great accommodation specials. Parks like Gorongosa will have very limited road network though depending on the quantity of rain that fell.

September to October

These months are when the temperatures start to climb and the wildlife concentrates at the last available feeding and watering sites. September is probably the best of these months from a temperature perspective as October can be really hot during the day going towards the 40 degrees Celsius mark and the humidity will be quite high as well along the coast. At this time many species of tree start to flower and migratory birds start arriving so a good time for the birders.

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Frequently asked questions

What do I pack for a safari in Mozambique?

Please remember that there may be luggage weight or size restrictions on your Mozambique safari. Before you travel, we shall advise you on what would be suitable for your specific safari as sometimes you may need a wide range of clothing to cater for the different conditions of your safari. If bush walks are a part of your safari, we advise to not wear white or black coloured clothes.

Does Mozambique have much wildlife?

Gorongosa National Park has a definite solid and varied population of wildlife that would compete with any reserve in Africa. The other reserves and parks all have resident populations that are recovering but offer great birding opportunities and sheer adventure and remoteness with little tourist infrastructure.

Is the insurgency in the North of Mozambique a problem to consider?

It is always something to keep in your mind and find out as much current information as possible, especially if you are wanting to visit the northern areas of Mozambique like Quirimbas and Niassa Reserves. However, for the Central and Southern areas of Mozambique I would not consider it as a threat that should put you off travelling to this beautiful country.

Can I get Padi Certified for diving while I am there?

Yes, several resorts and areas offer this, however if you are wanting to dive, I would suggest getting your certificate prior to travelling so you can take full advantage of your time on holiday to explore these incredible reefs.

What currency is used in Mozambique?

The currency of Mozambique is the Mozambique Metical - In tourist camps most transactions are quoted and paid for in Meticals but American Dollars along with South African Rand is also possible to use, but in shops and buying anything from vendors expect to use the local currency.

What time zone is Mozambique in?

Mozambique uses the Central Africa Time Zone. This is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time – (GMT) + 2 hours.

Can I use my credit cards in Mozambique?

Yes, but only really in the main tourist hotels and facilities in the more remote areas cash will be needed. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted. To buy curios or paying for camp extras like National Parks Fees it is better to have actual US Dollar cash or Meticals. They are very particular about the notes being as new as possible so do not bring old notes they will not be accepted.

What power sockets are used in Mozambique?

In the cities and safari camps, Mozambique uses 220V power points in the camps mostly using Type M and C plugs. If you have an item that runs on 110V, please bring a converter. It is also advisable to bring additional universal travel adaptors and extra batteries.

What Vaccinations do I need for travelling to Mozambique?

Currently you are required to have a valid COVID and Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for tourists visiting Mozambique. We will advise the latest regulations before travelling. If you are unsure about what is best for you, please consult your medical practitioner for professional advice on what other vaccinations may be suitable for you.

Medical Evacuations

Air medical evacuations are available in Mozambique, but it is important that you have medical insurance with this type of remote evacuation cover and declare the details to your travel designer prior to travel.

Do I need to take malaria medication when visiting Mozambique?

Mozambique is in a malarial zone so please consult with your medical practitioner a few weeks before your departure on what the best prophylactic for you would be. Some courses of medication may need to be started in advance of your visit to Mozambique.

Discover Mozambique on safari

We specialise in custom designing your adventure from start to finish. However, sometimes you could use a little inspiration.

Gorongosa National Park with Maputo National Park

Mozambique has National Parks and Reserves not well visited by main stream tourism. This safari starts in The Maputo National Park a special reserve where you may see Elephants walking along the beaches and some excellent marine life along the deserted beaches. Then you travel to the wonderful Gorongosa National Park for some incredible diversity and density of wildlife and habitats, a great safari for the family.

9 nights

3 camps

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Experience the classic Mozambique safari

Get a taste of it all

What you need to know

Things that are worth knowing about when traveling to Mozambique

Ibo Island

In the far north of Mozambique, within the Quirimbas Archipelago is Ibo Island, your classic tropical island with warm seas, beautiful reefs and barefoot luxury, well worth the effort to get here.

Ilha da Mocambique

Mt. Gorongosa

Ready to come on Safari?

Ready to start planning your ultimate African safari with the help and experience of our team? Let’s get in touch to begin customising your perfect adventure.

Frequently asked questions

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Medical

Discover Mozambique on safari

We specialise in custom designing your adventure from start to finish. However, sometimes you could use a little inspiration.

Gorongosa National Park with Maputo National Park

9

nights

3

camps

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What you need
to know

Ready to start planning your ultimate African safari with the help and experience of our team?

Let’s get in touch to begin customising your perfect adventure.

Build your safari around
what you want to see