Pioneering Safari in Mozambique

The Niassa National Reserve is one of Africa’s largest protected areas, at 42,000 sq. km. it is more than twice the size of Kruger National Park and via a protected corridor it connects to the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania which is Africa’s largest reserve. Biologists have been amazed to find that following a 15 year civil war (ended in 1992 with free elections in 1994) this area still contained surprisingly large amounts of large mammals with more than 12,000 elephants and 6,000 buffalo, along with thousands of majestic sable antelope and a number of endemic subspecies of other antelopes. A huge surprise is a thriving population of at least 39 packs of the highly endangered African wild dog accounting for more than 400 dogs making this one of their last strongholds.

An ambitious plan has been well designed to make this area economically self-sustaining, which is critical to keeping the area protected for wildlife. Establishing photographic safaris in such a remote area is one of the most difficult goals as such tourists have so many excellent offerings to choose from they are often reluctant to give a new place a chance, especially one that is difficult to get to. Fortunately, access to the area has now become straight forward with a 1 ½ hour charter flight in from Pemba, which receives flights from Johannesburg, South Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya connecting it conveniently to traditional safari areas. Currently five photo concessions have been planned but only one has begun operations, thanks to the courageous decision of Rani Resorts to invest heavily in the areas first camp, Lugenda Wilderness Camp.

Lugenda Wilderness Camp is small, just 8 intimate canvas luxury tents wonderfully set on the banks of the Lugenda River beneath towering fig trees, perfect to deliver a vintage safari experience. Game drives and wild walks are the focus in this incredibly scenic area known for towering granite inselbergs and the camp is well situated as the Lugenda River valley is the strongest area for wildlife as animals are drawn to the permanent water source in the dry season. This is a rare chance to be a safari pioneer in a high quality destination. As one of 16 guests (or less) you have an enormous private wilderness and an opportunity to explore truly raw Africa. Critically, you are also being a conservation pioneer as success at Lugenda will lead to other photo safari concessions being filled and thus securing long-term conservation of this absolutely critical reservoir and corridor between southern and eastern Africa.

While finding new safari frontiers is difficult, locating pristine beach and marine environments is even more of a challenge. Fortunately, Mozambique also contains some of the best marine paradises left on the globe. Also accessible from Pemba, so easily combined with a visit to the Niassa National Reserve as well as linkable to virtually any East African and Southern African safari is the Quirimbas Archipelago. Much further south and very accessible from South Africa is the Bazaruto Archipelago. Both areas are loaded with pristine islands, intimate lodges, spectacular diving and snorkeling, stretches of secluded white sand beaches, outstanding natural activities such as sailing on traditional dhows and kayaking, and some excellent community involved projects. Theses are places where you really can have a picnic and beach all to yourself without seeing another soul for hours, dive with gigantic manta rays, ply the turquoise waters by boat, enjoy incredible seafood – basically find the perfect island experience of your dreams.