Mozambique - Compared to other Southern African countries, Mozambique has considerably lower numbers of wildlife. This is due to Mozambique’s civil upheaval, during which large-scale organized poaching systematically removed almost all big game from the bush. Mozambicans were unfortunately reduced to hunter-gatherer status and in some areas even locusts and ants were harvested almost to extinction. Birdlife has recovered to some extent but only the most remote areas offer the chance to view African wildlife, including the Big Five – but it must be on foot and with experienced guides. 

Maputo Elephant Reserve is home to about 400 elephants, which migrate between South Africa and Mozambique. The birdlife is varied and abundant, but infrastructure is minimal and roads are poor. Camping is an option at either Ponta Milibangalala or Ponta Dobela, but the water in the wells there needs to be purified before drinking. 

Reserva do Niassa is a remote area that has provided refuge to around 12,000 elephants and the last of Mozambique's buffalo, sable and roan herds. Independent visitors are not encouraged, as this area is currently being redeveloped; however, it is possible to go into the area with a game guard ranger. The nearby Jurege River proved excellent game viewing (though it is dry from June to December). 

Although the Bazaruto Archipelago consists of five islands (in size order: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangue), only Bazaruto and surrounding reefs are officially within a National Park. These waters are home to over 80% of all marine fish families of the Indo-Pacific. Resident Minke and Southern right whales abound in this area, alongside common, spinner and bottlenose dolphins and the highly-threatened dugong. 

Main Safari Attractions in Mozambique

Praia do Tofo is one of Mozambique's most beautiful areas with an expansive beach. It is developed enough that visitors can get there easily and enjoys the surf, mangroves and palm groves all around. The trees are filled with parrots and monkeys. The bright clean sand is spectacular, and it is an area still isolated enough that there will be plenty of privacy for anyone who visits. 

In Morrungulo, visitors will find one of the most stunning beaches to be seen. Along this stretch of coastline, palm and casuarinas trees abound. Located 7km north of the town of Massinga, this isolated area features a well-established dive center offering diving instruction, snorkeling, swimming and excellent big game fishing. 40 km north is a perfect peninsula with a pristine mangrove forest on one side and the sea on the other. 

Located near the provincial capital of Gaza, Xai Xai has one of the single most beautiful beaches in the world. There is a great expanse of the cleanest sand along warm tropical waters. A great reef runs parallel to the beach, providing a natural protection against strong waves and forms several small pools at low tide. This is a great place to search for shellfish at low tide, and beach lovers cannot miss it.

Gorongosa National Park

Approximately 90% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity can be found in this eco region, which represents only 2% of the earth's surface. Gorongosa National Park is one of these regions, an area of high species diversity and ecological features found nowhere else. Situated in the middle of the country in the Sofala province between Tete and Beira the park covers 5300 square km, including a 1500 square km sanctuary.

Before the civil war in the 1980s which destroyed 95% of the fauna, the park was famous for its quantity and diversity of wildlife and was seen as equal to the Kruger National Park. Today it is nearly recovered and is one of three parks from a total of six which is ready to receive visitors. While Kruger become a quasi-zoo, Gorongosa convinces with exciting game experiences, making you feel you've relegated to the years of Hemingway. 

The park harbors several small herds of elephant, an increasing lion population, rhinos, leopards, zebras, kudus, cheetahs, warthogs and the rare roan and sample antelope. But its real attraction are the over 500 different bird species including some which only can be found in the Gorongosa area- the green headed oriole, white breasted alethe, blue throated sunbird, blackcap tchagras, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Vanga Flycatcher, chestnut fronted Helmut shrike, singing cisticola, black headed apalis, red winged warbler, moustache warbler, Eastern saw-wing swallow, mascarene martin, Nyasa seedcracker, Mozambique batis, olive headed weaver, green tinker barbet, Bohm's bee-eater and sooty tern. The habitat of these birds distinguishes itself through its variety and beauty. 

The Park comprises dry plains dropping away from Gorongosa Mountain range at the southern end of the Great Rift Valley. Comprised of a great diversity of grasslands, tall miombo woodlands, Afro-Montane forests, valley thickets and seasonally inundated flood plains. The Urema Lake, which is fed by rivers originating from the Gorongosa Mountain, is the main ecological feature of the park. Situated right in the center of the park, it is the main source of water in the peak of the dry season.

The Eastern side of the Park is, the Cheringoma Plateu, an extensive natural forested area considered to be the richest in the country. 

The Maputo Elephant Reserve is potentially one of Mozambique's most important natural treasures. Its coastline, unique plant and animal life, and closeness to the capital make this area a tourism highlight. Situated in the southern part of Mozambique in the province of Maputo where the rolling hills meet the sea the reserves covers an area of 104 000 hectars. The park has also to recover from hard times during the civil war. 

In 1975 it was famous for the vast numbers of wildlife and its 65 white rhino. Today the Park harbors again some leopards, antelope, crocodiles, hippos, side-striped jackals, duiker, zebra, kudu, baboons and bush pigs. It is renowned for its herds of elephants and large flocks of flamingos as well as a variety of other water birds. The elephants are larger than usual African Elephants and succeeded in surviving the years of war by moving down the Futi channel into South Africa. It is one of nature's miracles that they have now returned in large numbers. The wildlife habitat is typical of the Maputaland Coast and the soils are sandy and acidic.

The northern part is mainly covered by Mangrove and reed swamps while dense dune scrub and forests crossed by the lakes dominate the rest. The park possesses amazing plant diversity and contains numerous endemic plant species. The three large saline lakes are also important nesting sites for sea turtles along the west coast. The best time for game views and bird watching are the cooler, drier months from April to September. 

The Marromeu National Park is located at the mouth of the Zambezi River and is currently trying to replace the 30000 buffalo that once lived there. 

The Marromeu Complex consists of the 1500km² Marromeu Special Reserve and is surrounded by 8252 km² hunting concessions that extend from the edge of the buffalo reserve into the adjacent Cheringoma highlands. The area is open grass land with many rivers and streams, and is part of the Zambezi Delta. It holds diverse wildlife including the African Elephant, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Sable Antelope, Eland, Burchell's Zebra, Hippopotamus, Waterbuck, and Reedbuck. Predators include Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog, and Spotted Hyena. The park supports the highest density of water birds in Mozambique, with large nesting colonies of Great White and Pinkbacked Pelicans, Yellow billed and African Open bill Storks, Glossy Ibis, and White breasted Cormorants. It is also sanctuary to 120 breeding pairs of endangered Wattled Cranes and if there are extreme dry seasons the wetland is refuge for up to 30% of their global population. Other bird species of international concern include Grey Crowned Cranes, Saddle bill Storks, Wooly necked Storks, Goliath Herons, African Skimmers, Redwing Pratincoles, and Caspian Terns. Furthermore Humpback and Minke Whales can be seen at the coast, along with Bottle nosed, Rough toothed, and Humpback Dolphins. But the main attraction is the huge Cape Buffalo which was historically the largest population in Africa and that is why the park is also known as Marromeu Buffalo Reserve.