Mozambique safari in Gorongosa National Park

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Rather than rely on costly internal flights, this tour relies on road transfers within Mozambique. These are not always comfortable, especially given the poor roads of Mozambique's interior, but are a more affordable and environmentally responsible method of travel.

The accommodation used during this tour, Gorongosa Wild Camp, is designed to have minimal impact on the environment, using solar power, providing fresh, locally-sourced food (with vegan and vegetarian options available) and constructed in such a way that the camp can be broken down each season with no lasting impact of the camp's presence on the environment.

Shared local transport is not used, although clients are welcome to join cycling excursions from the park. Electric cars are not used, although we do recommend that clients look into options when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint of their international flights.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Gorongosa Wild Camp is a fly-camp, which is removed during the wet season. As such, the camp is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment, using only solar energy, with extremely limited water usage and nil air and noise pollution. This trip cost includes the payment of conservation fees that are put towards anti-poaching and community engagement activities, which are vitally important to the success of Gorongosa. Furthermore, the trip supports ongoing conservation work including re-introductions of native species, and rehabilitation of endangered species including ground pangolin.

Gorongosa is managed by the Carr Foundation, a US-based NGO, in partnership with the Mozambican government. This excellent NGO has done excellent work with local communities to ensure economic benefits of ecotourism reach local people (e.g. coffee projects around Mt Gorongosa), as well as protecting wildlife. This trip is guided by a local representative from Gorongosa National Park, as well as an experienced tour leader with expertise in wildlife across Africa.

All clients joining this tour are asked to respect nature, and we have a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that damages the environment or has a negative impact on wildlife. We will never pursue an animal that has chosen to move away from us, and we do not remain at sightings where an animal is vulnerable. We do not spotlight young, injured or distressed animals, and we do not permit flash photography. There are no invasive species in Gorongosa.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All accommodations on this tour are owned, managed and operated by Mozambican people. Local guides, drivers and cooks are employed throughout. We encourage clients to visit local communities around Gorongosa to learn about local initiatives such as girls' after-school clubs. We also highly recommend visiting local coffee projects supported by Gorongosa, and a visit to the plantations themselves high on Mt Gorongosa.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

95% of staff employed in Gorongosa are Mozambican, with small numbers of guides and support staff from Portugal and Zimbabwe. The majority of guiding and support staff are from villages around the park. Gorongosa has done a huge amount of work to empower and employ women in local communities, and many guides are women from the local area. The minimum wage is paid to all staff. We are deeply committed to inclusion and diversity in our own workplace.

This tour is LGBTQ+ friendly - however, as you are visiting an emerging tourist destination in a conservative country, we ask LGBTQ+ clients to be aware that some atittudes around Gorongosa and Beira can be archaic. It is the responsibility of your tour leader to ensure you feel safe throughout your tour. Due to the remote nature of the wilderness areas visited, we regret this tour is not suitable for those with limited mobility, or hearing or cognitive issues.