Rediscovering Mozambique: The Newest Wildlife Destination in Africa

In southeast Africa, on the shores of the Indian Ocean, a jewel emerges from the ruins of war. Mozambique, once torn by civil strife, is rebuilding itself and has never looked more appealing to tourists. With a growing economy and natural wonders from mountains to sea to wildlife-rich parks, this former Portuguese colony offers diversions for visitors of all interests and nationalities.

Mozambique is situated on Africa's largest coastal plain. The mighty Zambezi River flows down from the Inyanga mountains in the west to the beaches of the Indian Ocean. In between, fascinating cities, colonial-era towns, and national parks and wildlife reserves provide glimpses into the life and history of Mozambique and its people.

Mozambique's first inhabitants were San hunters and gatherers. Between the first and fourth centuries AD, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated into the area. In the late 1400s, Portuguese explorers reached Mozambique and established trading posts and forts along the coast. The country became independent in 1975, but was overrun by civil war and economic collapse for more than a decade. Since the 1990s, Mozambique has known peace and has fostered a multi-party political system, market-based economy, and free elections.

With the return of peace has come the opportunity to safeguard the country's rich diversity of wildlife through national parks and community nature reserves. The savannah and dry woodland habitats near the border of South Africa's Kruger National Park are home to elephant, impala, duiker, springbok, kudu, and ostrich. Nearby Banhine National Park is an important source of water in an overall arid area that harbors endangered wattled cranes and a wide variety of migratory birds as well as the rare and endangered killifish, a highly localized fish species of high ornamental value.

Various areas provide opportunities for enjoying Mozambique's wildlife. The Maputo Elephant Reserve is home to around 400 elephants as well as varied and abundant bird species. The Barzaruto Archipelago is a nesting ground for black-winged flamingos and home to red duiker antelope, freshwater crocodiles, and samango monkeys. Snorkellers and divers alike enjoy the variety of colorful tropical fish found in the Archipelago's coral reefs.

At the 7,000 square km Banhine National Park, visitors can see ostrich, kudu, impala, reedbuck, duiker, steenbok, porcupine, warthog, and oribi. The park's inland wetlands and system of streams are home to at least 18 species belonging to 10 different families, and in fact, accounts for 37 percent of the 49 species of fish in the region. Banhine's wetlands also serve as critical habitat for water fowl and highly endangered migratory birds, such as the Wattled crane. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), with support from the World Bank, is facilitating the restoration of this park as part of a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Mozambique Ministry of Tourism and AWF. Priority projects planned for the park are updating wildlife management plans, engaging local communities in the management of the park, providing general infrastructure, and establishing a scientific research center. Sharing a border with South Africa's Kruger National Park, Banhine stands to benefit immensely from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Even as the nation of Mozambique itself heals from the wounds of war, so must the indigenous wildlife. Civil war decimated populations of large herbivores such as buffalo, sable, zebra, and wildebeest, but the parks are making a slow comeback.

AWF also has helped three adjacent communities: Cubo, Mbindhzo and Chivovo acquire the land rights for a 53,000-hectare community nature reserve, the first such project in Mozambique. With AWF facilitation, a Common Property Association was formed and registered to manage the land and represent community interests in future community-public-private partnerships. AWF is now providing more support to the communities to help build their capacity and develop the reserve into a viable concern for long-term conservation and enterprise management.

With efforts such as these, Mozambique can once again be considered a wildlife tourism destination.