The story of a place
A recovering ecosystem whose story is as important as its wildlife.
Gorongosa combines floodplain, woodland and mountain-linked ecological systems. Its recent history of conservation and recovery makes it a place to understand through long-term processes rather than a simple species checklist.
Visitors can contribute through responsible, officially organised tourism. Current access and the geographic scope of any activity should be checked carefully within Mozambique's wider regional context.
The essential experience
Make time for this.
Take an officially organised wildlife experience with interpretation of the ecosystem's recovery.
Explore the highlights
Look a little closer.
Gorongosa’s returning wildlife belongs to a wider story of ecological recovery.
Habitat transitions
Notice how floodplain and woodland differ.
Water patterns
Seasonal change shapes the park.
Conservation context
Ask how research informs present management.
For the curious reader
History, landscape
and context.
Gorongosa National Park is at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of central Mozambique, Southeast Africa. The more than 4,000 km² (1,500 sq mi) park comprises the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby Mount Gorongosa at 1,863 m (6,112 ft) water the plain. The Carr Foundation has teamed with the Government of Mozambique to protect and restore the ecosystem of Gorongosa National Park and to develop an ecotourism industry to benefit local communities. The park is in a 4,000-square-km section of the Great African Rift Valley system. The Rift extends from Ethiopia to central Mozambique.
Background reading: an abridged extract from Gorongosa National Park, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened for this guide. Retrieved 22 September 2026. Source revision ↗.
Turn curiosity into a visit
Plan your visit.
- Physical demands
- Mostly vehicle-based, with other activities requiring separate assessment.
- The practical detail
- Do not assume advice for one part of Mozambique applies to every region.
Before you set off.
Your ticks stay in this browser.Through the seasons
A place in the world
Find your bearings.
Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.
Map: Natural EarthA closer view.
Load the local map to explore the surrounding area. Map tiles require an internet connection.
- 1Gorongosa National ParkOpen directions ↗ · Location reference ↗
A sense of place
In pictures.
Keep looking.
10 photographs, with full-size views and individual credits.
Go a little further
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