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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General

What do I pack for a safari in Zimbabwe? Please remember that there may be luggage weight or size restrictions on your Zimbabwe 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. What Stone Ruins are in Zimbabwe? The name Zimbabwe translates as “House of stone”. Between the 11th to 15th Century these stone edifices were constructed around the country and were important centres of trade and government. The main ones being Great Zimbabwe, Khami Ruins and Dhlodhlo Ruins, there are many other smaller ones scattered around. Can I walk by myself in the National Parks? No, you cannot, this is only available in designated areas within Mana Pools National Park after paying for a special permit and signing a disclaimer. We do not recommend doing this, you will have a much better experience being accompanied by a trained professional safari guide familiar with the area. Licensed professional guides working for a registered operator are allowed to take you for walks anywhere within the National Parks. What currency is used in Zimbabwe? The currency in Zimbabwe is the Zimbabwean Dollar. In tourist areas most transactions are quoted and done in US Dollars with South African Rand also possible. What time zone is Zimbabwe in? Zimbabwe shares the same time zone as the rest of Southern Africa, which is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time – (GMT) + 2 hours, in the Central Africa Time Zone (CAT) Can I use my credit cards in Zimbabwe? Yes, but only really in the main cities or tourist areas like Victoria Falls with Visa and Mastercard the most widely accepted. To buy curios or paying for camp extras like National Parks Fees it is better to have actual cash. What power sockets are used in Zimbabwe? In the cities and safari camps Zimbabwe uses 220V power points in the camps mostly using Type G 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.
Visas

Do I need a visa to travel to Zimbabwe? Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at the port of entry or apply for an e-visa before arrival. However, some nationalities may have to apply in advance through an embassy.Please check with your Travel Designer to find out if you require a visa to enter Zimbabwe.
Medical

What Vaccinations do I need for travelling to Zimbabwe? At this time there are no vaccination requirements for tourists visiting Zimbabwe – However if you are travelling to Zimbabwe from areas infected with yellow fever, you must have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. 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 Zimbabwe, 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 Zimbabwe? Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe.

Discover Mozambique on safari

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

Niassa and Gorongosa Explorer

An exploration safari with Doug Macdonald to the remote Niassa Reserve and the exceptional Gorongosa National Park. This is a set date safari with a small group of no more than 6 guests. Involves canoeing, walking, fly camping and more traditional tented safari camps.

13 nights

2 camps

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Bush & Beach Safari

Mozambique has maybe parks and destinations not well visited by main stream tourism. Starting at Maputo in a special reserve where you may see Elephants walking along the beaches. Go out to sea looking for the Humpback Whales that migrate through here or snorkeling on the beautiful reefs and enjoy the turtles that come onshore to nest at this time of year as well.

9 nights

3 camps

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About

Journal

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.

Discover Mozambique on safari

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

Niassa and Gorongosa Explorer

An exploration safari with Doug Macdonald to the remote Niassa Reserve and the exceptional Gorongosa National Park. This is a set date safari with a small group of no more than 6 guests. Involves canoeing, walking, fly camping and more traditional tented safari camps.

13

nights

2

camps

Bush & Beach Safari

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