Gorongosa and Wild Beaches of Mozambique

1-Join Tour Johannesburg; drive to Kruger National Park
This morning begins with a drive down the escarpment into the Kruger National Park. This two million hectare wilderness is amongst the world’s first proclaimed Game Reserves and is justifiably South Africa’s showpiece, with over 14 mammal species that roam in the freedom that this National Park offers. It has a very good infrastructure, although 96% of the land is still as pristine and untouched as it was before the first settlers arrived. The Kruger Park is a world leader in animal and plant research. It offers scenery as diverse as riverine forest, granite outcrops, endless savannah and impenetrable Mopani woodland. We take open-vehicle Game-drives in our modified Toyota Landcruisers on our way to the camp in which we overnight.
Overnight: Simple Tented Camp
Single Room option available

2-Game drives in Kruger National Park
Today we have early morning and afternoon drives around Berg-en-Dal, which lies in the southern part of the Kruger National Park. The area is situated in the Sandveld region, an area often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park as there are numerous plant species here that are unique to the area. Game species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant and sable; the area is also a bird paradise. This evening we return to our camp, which is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the accommodation set out under Natal mahogany and marula trees.
Overnight: Simple Tented Camp
Single Room option available

3-Kruger National Park to Maputo
After our adventures in Kruger, we leave South Africa via Komatipoor and cross the border into Mozambique continuing to Maputo. Informally known as Delagoa Bay and then as Lourenco Marques, or LM, Maputo was a very popular tourist destination until the early 1970s. Under Portuguese influence, it became one of Africa’s most beautiful and fashionable cities with a cosmopolitan Continental atmosphere, pavement cafes, and a thriving tourist industry. This changed with the civil war in the 1970s and 1980s and when peace finally came, the once beautiful Mozambican city was in terrible disrepair. Maputo has been re-built and today the city is slowly recreating some of its former glory. It is bustling port city, with a population of about two million people and beautiful avenues of trees of various colourful types. On arrival this afternoon we will include a quick visit to the railway station of the which was planned and designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

4-Maputo city tour including a visit to the bustling local market
Today we have a sightseeing tour of the city, concentrating on the grand colonial architecture. We visit perhaps Maputo’s most evocative landmark, the Fort of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of Conception). This Portuguese fort (or Fortaleza) was built in the mid-18th century on top of earlier fortifications. Its striking architecture, battlements and cannons have a dominant position over the main harbour area. Continuing with our tour we visit Cathedral of Nossa Senhora Da Conceicao was built in 1944 the tall white spire of Maputo’s Cathedral dominates Independence Square. It is dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Conception’ and was a very contemporary piece of architecture for its time. It is a working church and the seat of the Catholic Church for Mozambique.
Before lunch we stop at ‘Mercado Municipal’ which is a proper working market where locals buy every day essentials from and so is a great place to go people watching. If nothing else, you will be astounded by the sheer number of variations on a peri peri – very hot chilli sauce – theme that are available.
After a visit to the Museu de História Natural -MHN- (The Natural History Museum) which was founded in 1911 we will complete our afternoon with a visit to the Polana Hotel, for an optional sundowner. Built in 1922 along sweepingly splendid lines, the magnificent Polana Serena Hotel has long been considered one of Africa’s finest hotel and belongs to an elite class of world-famous hotels, which includes such timeless legends as; Raffles Hotel, Singapore; The Dorchester, London and The Ritz in Paris. It’s a great way to end the day in this exciting city.
Overnight: Standard Hotel
Single Room option available

5-Drive from Maputo to Jangamo Beach
Travelling north we head to the tidal bay of Inhambane which is home to flocks of flamingo’s, tropical fish and the very rare dugon. The last 20km of the journey are along a sand road through coconut and cashew nut plantations. Our lodge is situated on Jangamo beach, which was recently included in the “New York Times” list of the world’s top beaches, and so is a great place to relax for a couple of days.
Overnight: Standard Lodge
6Relax on Jangamo Beach
Today is left free for you to enjoy this wonderful location. The warm Indian Ocean offers bathing all year round and for the more active there is the opportunity to just take a walk along the vast beach. Optional excursions are available, including a dhow trip.
Overnight: Standard Lodge

7-Afternoon tour of Inhamabane
After a relaxing morning there is an opportunity to spend the afternoon in Inhambane. Inhambane is recognised as the second oldest European settlement in southern Africa (Mozambique Island, to the north, is the oldest). It grew gradually as an ivory and slave trading centre particularly in the eighteenth century under mostly Indian control. It was destroyed in 1834 by Soshangane, a fugitive of King Shaka and founder of modern Mozambique, but grew rapidly in the second half of the century as a town of Portuguese East Africa, from which period its old cathedral and old mosque date. The 170 year old Cathedral of our Lady of Conception is located in the old quarter of the city. The central market is located along the main boulevard and is very interesting. The town of Inhambane has one of the largest working fleets of dhows on the East African coastline.
Overnight: Standard Lodge

8-Drive north to Vilancoulos
It’s an early start today as we first drive to Inhambane. We then take a dhow trip across the harbour to the town of Maxixe before re-joining our vehicles and continuing to Vilancoulos. The town with a lively atmosphere, overlooks the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Bazaruto National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mozambique. Visitors fly to the islands and spend time in the expensive resorts on the islands which seem isolated from the rest of the country. Dolphins are seen year round and whales are seasonal visitors to the archepelago. The park is also home to the last viable population of dugong on the east African coast. There is an abundance of bird species, including the crab plover and olive bee-eater that tunnels its nest into the sand dunes. Large flocks of migrant waders visit the fertile mud flats from September to April, and the nomadic Greater Flamingo arrive around mid-October. Our time is spent on the mainland, staying in beach-side accommodation.
Overnight: Standard Lodge
Single Room option available

9-Drive inland to Gorongosa National Park
It’s another early start as we head to Gorongosa National Park over 3,770 square kilometres of savannah, woodlands, and rainforest in central Mozambique. This park, recently featured in the excellent BBC ‘Africa’ series with Sir David Attenborough, personifies the recent trials and tribulations of Mozambique. In 1920 Gorongosa was established as a 1000km sq hunting reserve by the Portuguese government. As time passed the park increased in size and in 1960 the focus changed to protection of animals. In the 1960′s it became one of the parks to visit in Africa, as Hollywood stars such as John Wayne and Gregory Peck were amongst the visitors. After independence in 1975 a survey of the park indicated that there was a lion population of over 500 and over 6000 elephants . Unfortunately the civil war decimated the park, over 90% of animals were killed as the fighting raged and then by the professional hunters who took advantage of the post war turmoil. In 1994 there were only 100 elephants estimated to remain in Gorongosa. In 2004 the African Development Bank (ADB) began a 5-year effort to rebuild Gorongosa’s infrastructure and restore its wildlife with help from the European Union and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature; this project continues today and has seen the park being sustainably re-stocked and habituated with wildlife. This afternoon there is he opportunity for our first game drive in the park.
Our camp is nestled under the trees in a quiet area of the park; you can sit on your enclosed porch and observe baboons play and warthogs. It is a fantastic location to explore this magnificent area.
Overnight: Standard Cabins
Single Room option available

10-In Gorongosa National Park; optional walk to the summit of Mount Gorongosa
This morning there is the opportunity (optional) to take a walk to the summit of Mount Gorongosa, a 1800-metre high massif. On a guided walk through the forest up Mount Gorongosa you will see rare plants, wonderful birdlife and waterfalls. The rewards from the summit is a breath-taking view of the park. For those not wishing to take a walk further game drives in the park are available.
Overnight: Standard Cabins
Single Room option available

11-Game drives in the park
We spend our final day in the park on morning and afternoon game drives. It is amazing to consider just how much the park has developed since it was decimated in the later part of the 20th century. Described in the Sunday Times as ‘Gorongosa National Park is Mozambique’s greatest wonder – Africa in miniature, with an ecosystem that looks like the divine prototype.’ it is a very special place to visit.
Overnight: Standard Cabins
Single Room option available

12-Drive to Beira where the tour ends
We leave the park this morning and drive to Beira airport where your tour ends.

Tour includes:

11 Breakfast
2 Lunch
3 Dinner
Transport:
4WD
Accommodation:
2 nights Simple Tented Camp
2 nights Standard Hotel
4 nights Standard Lodge
3 nights Standard Cabins
Tour Staff:
Driver(s), Explore Tour Leader
Group Size:
Generally 10 – 16

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