Page 74 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 74
iGap Travel Guide | Africa
74
HOW TO VISIT GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK
without breaking the bank
Dubbed ‘Africa’s Lost Eden’, Gorongosa National Park is perhaps Mozambique’s most beautiful safari destination.
Set against stunning mountain vistas, the park sits at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley and contains
several rivers that experience seasonal flooding and waterlogging of the valley. It is the animals, however, that
make it so special, with Gorongosa declared by scientists as one of the most biodiverse places on earth for its
unique biogeographical features.
Despite suffering huge devastation during the brutal Mozambican Civil War from 1977 to 1992, the park has
bounced back enviably, and animals that were near extinction are growing healthily in number again. After
years of being touted for its vast number of buffalos, hippos and zebras, the park has undergone an amazing
renaissance thanks to the committal of $10 million by the Carr Foundation between 2004 and 2007. As such,
the park is truly a success story, transformed from a hunting reserve to a national park, it is truly a privileged
destination for nature lovers. Crocodiles lie in wait on the riverbanks, and over 500 species of bird fly overhead
the great diversity of flora and fauna below.
With so much to see, Gorongosa National Park is the perfect one-stop shop for nature lovers, so here are our
tips for making the most of your time and money in the park.
WHERE TO STAY
If you’re planning to go to Gorongosa National Park on a budget, you’d better be up for camping because other
options are limited to expensive lodges that will be way beyond the budget of the average backpacker. The park
has a couple of large campsites that are run by Explore Gorongosa, offering an authentic African experience.
1
The sites come complete with a cooking area, laundry facilities, showers, and a gazebo to sit in while you savour
the sunset. Just to reassure you, you won’t be eaten alive in your sleep because the campsites are fenced off and
patrolled by park rangers.
1
www.exploregorongosa.com
74
HOW TO VISIT GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK
without breaking the bank
Dubbed ‘Africa’s Lost Eden’, Gorongosa National Park is perhaps Mozambique’s most beautiful safari destination.
Set against stunning mountain vistas, the park sits at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley and contains
several rivers that experience seasonal flooding and waterlogging of the valley. It is the animals, however, that
make it so special, with Gorongosa declared by scientists as one of the most biodiverse places on earth for its
unique biogeographical features.
Despite suffering huge devastation during the brutal Mozambican Civil War from 1977 to 1992, the park has
bounced back enviably, and animals that were near extinction are growing healthily in number again. After
years of being touted for its vast number of buffalos, hippos and zebras, the park has undergone an amazing
renaissance thanks to the committal of $10 million by the Carr Foundation between 2004 and 2007. As such,
the park is truly a success story, transformed from a hunting reserve to a national park, it is truly a privileged
destination for nature lovers. Crocodiles lie in wait on the riverbanks, and over 500 species of bird fly overhead
the great diversity of flora and fauna below.
With so much to see, Gorongosa National Park is the perfect one-stop shop for nature lovers, so here are our
tips for making the most of your time and money in the park.
WHERE TO STAY
If you’re planning to go to Gorongosa National Park on a budget, you’d better be up for camping because other
options are limited to expensive lodges that will be way beyond the budget of the average backpacker. The park
has a couple of large campsites that are run by Explore Gorongosa, offering an authentic African experience.
1
The sites come complete with a cooking area, laundry facilities, showers, and a gazebo to sit in while you savour
the sunset. Just to reassure you, you won’t be eaten alive in your sleep because the campsites are fenced off and
patrolled by park rangers.
1
www.exploregorongosa.com
