Just south of Mozambique’s capital lies Maputo National Park – an emerging getaway where coastal lakes, savannahs, and ocean dunes support elephants, hippos, and a surprising range of wildlife. It’s a scenic safari escape within easy reach of the city.
Bordering South Africa and the Indian Ocean, Maputo National Park (formerly known as the Maputo Special Reserve) offers a mosaic of lagoons, grasslands, and forested dunes—making it one of Mozambique’s most diverse protected areas. It’s a landscape where elephants roam through coastal fig forests, flamingos skim freshwater lakes, and turtles nest along quiet beaches.
Thanks to cross-border conservation efforts with South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Maputo National Park is part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area. This ambitious initiative reconnects ecosystems and revives wildlife corridors.
The park offers self-drive safaris, guided birding excursions, and access to remote beach camps with minimal visitor traffic. It’s a great introduction to Mozambique’s wild side for those short on time but big on nature.
Discover park-based stays, cross-border tours, and coastal safaris in Maputo National Park.
There are no scheduled flights to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) or Ghanzi. However, private charters can be arranged via your travel agent, and it will probably be necessary to visit lodges in the region. The town of Ghanzi is recognised as the gateway to the Kalahari and is relatively easy to reach by road, although self-drive visitors are advised not to travel at night. A well-equipped and fully provisioned 4×4 vehicle is needed as there are little to no services available. Road conditions can be terrible after rain.
Distance and Estimated Time to reach Ghanzi:
Most self-drive visitors enter the park via the Matswere Gate to the northeast of the reserve and should note that it is not necessary to transit Ghanzi if approaching from the east (Gaborone/Maun). If coming from the west (Ghanzi side), Tsau Gate is most often used.
December to March is regarded as the best time to visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, as the pans in Deception Valley attract large herds of game with their young, along with predators. That said, this is when the rains fall, so roads can be difficult to negotiate. Roads are better in April-May, but wildlife is more dispersed, yet easy enough to find.
The high season at the lodges runs from July to October when rates are highest – although it is never crowded. Due to the desert climate, the best weather is experienced from May-August, and it is hottest in January.
