Destination Details

Gorongosa Safari Tour, Mozambique

May 16, 2025 - May 23, 2025

Double Occupancy Cost:

$8495

Single Supplement Cost: $2400

Non-photographer Cost: $2995

Spots Available: 6

Embark on a transformative photographic adventure in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, a jewel reborn from the ashes of conflict. Witness one of Earth’s most successful wildlife restoration stories and capture its wonders with expert guidance.

Designed for photographers of all skill levels, we’re scheduled for a 6-day safari, (May 16th – 22nd, 2025) that offers unparalleled access to Gorongosa’s diverse landscapes and magnificent wildlife.

Prime Time for Photography: Timed perfectly right after the rainy season, the park will be a photographer’s paradise. Lush green landscapes, vibrant with life, will be punctuated by morning mist, creating ethereal backdrops for your wildlife shots.

You can combine your experience with an optional aerial flight to capture geographic features during the magic hours of sunset and sunrise, as well as animals streaking across verdant plains from the air. Flights will be conducted in a Cessna 206 at additional cost.

Unforgettable Encounters:

  • Exclusive Access: Go beyond the ordinary with an exclusive visit to Gorongosa’s renowned pangolin rescue center. You’ll have the unique chance to accompany Gorongosa’s dedicated wildlife veterinary ranger team for a bush walk to capture their unique beauty and witness these critically endangered creatures up close in their natural habitat. This is an experience that few people get to have.
  • Wildlife in Action: Track elephants, hippos, lions, painted wolves, and zebras on exciting game drives led by expert guides. Learn to anticipate animal behavior and master camera settings for perfect wildlife photography.
  • Beyond the Big Game: Explore the park’s diverse ecosystems, from the bird-rich slopes of Mount Gorongosa to intimate encounters with community economic development at a coffee farm and honey production site.

Expert Photography Instruction:

Renowned wildlife photographers Richard L Camp and Melody Sky will be your guides. Learn advanced techniques like wildlife action photography, portraiture, and low-light settings. Get feedback on your work and hone your skills throughout the safari.

More Than Photography:

This safari is more than just capturing stunning images. It’s about understanding restorative conservation efforts and preserving Gorongosa’s fragile ecosystem for future generations. You will gain a holistic appreciation for the interconnectedness of people and wildlife. In Gorongosa, our safari photography adventure becomes a transformative experience—a blend of exploration, education, and the power of photography to increase global awareness of fragile natural habitats.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Mozambique Restoration and Conservation Success Story
  • Six Nights, Seven Days
  • Unique Seasonal Landscapes and Waterways 
  • Lions, Elephants, Crocs, Hippos, Painted Wolves, Pangolins, Antelopes, Kudus, Zebras, Birds
  • Aerial Photography Opportunity
  • Open Game Drive Vehicles, Walking and Boat Safaris
  • Morning and Afternoon Game Drives
  • Luxury and Bush Camp Tented Accommodations
  • All Inclusive Meals and Activities
  • Photo-Journalism Community Storytelling Opportunities
  • Exclusive Pangolin Experience
  • Expert Instruction by Richard L. Camp and Melody Sky
  • Small Group Experience 6 Participants
  • Spouse, Partner or Friend, Non-Participant Option

Conservation

Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique has become a symbol of a successful wildlife restoration story, demonstrating the remarkable resilience of nature when given the chance to recover. Following years of civil conflict that devastated the park’s wildlife populations and ecosystems, extensive restoration initiatives have been implemented to revive Gorongosa’s biodiversity. These efforts have included habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, community engagement, and scientific research to understand and preserve the park’s ecosystems.

One of the critical conservation projects in Gorongosa is the restoration of wildlife populations, including the reintroduction of locally extinct species due to past conflicts and poaching. Through collaborative efforts with local communities and international partners, the park has seen significant animal numbers increase, with notable recoveries in populations of elephants, lions, and other iconic species, including the pangolin. Additionally, community-based conservation programs have been established to empower local communities to become stewards of their natural heritage, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for the park’s long-term sustainability.

As a photographer participating in our Gorongosa, Mozambique photography safari, you have a unique opportunity to inspire action on environmental issues and conservation. By crafting compelling narratives that highlight the park’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and challenges, you can showcase the importance of preserving such ecosystems. Your photographs can illustrate the need for sustainable practices that will ensure the park’s beauty and diversity for future generations. It’s not just a suggestion, it’s a responsibility we all share. Whether through exhibitions, educational workshops, or your social media, you, as a photographer, can ignite passion and drive positive change for the environment and communities in Gorongosa and beyond.

Sample Itinerary

Day One
Arrivals in Gorongosa.
Your journey begins with arrival at Gorongosa. Settle into the beautiful Muzimu lodge, or the more modest Wildlife Camp. Both are surrounded by the park's natural beauty. In the afternoon, join wildlife photographers Richard Camp and Melody Sky for an introductory workshop. Learn essential techniques for capturing wildlife action, mastering low-light photography, and composing captivating wildlife shots.
Day Two
Unvieling the treasures of Gorongosa
Rise before dawn for the morning game drive. As the park awakens, witness a spectacle of nature unfold. Capture of elephants silhouetted against the rising sun, lions emerging from tall grasses, and painted wolves. Our expert local guides will navigate you to prime wildlife viewing spots, placing us where we need to be to get great shots. The afternoons offer a chance to explore more of the park's hidden gems. Opportunities include a canoe safari along the tranquil course of the Pungue River, photographing an abundance of birdlife and hippopotamuses as the sun cuts through the morning mist. We'll take guided bush walks getting us closer to wildlife and learn about animal signs and tracks.
Day Three
Meeting the Endangered Pangolins
Our early morning activity introduces us to one of the most endangered residents of the Gorongosa, the Pangolin, the most trafficked endangered species in the world. We'll have the exclusive opportunity to walk with pangolins in the Park, where their custodians break open termite mounds and ant nests to assist in the pangolins feeding themselves. This is part of a structured rehabilitation program for eventual release in to the wild. In the late afternoon you will have an opportunity to relax and catch up on backing up images and work with our photography guides to post-process your images.
Day Four
Boat Safari on Lake Urema
Today we take a boat safari to Lake Uremu. Lake Uremu is teeming with wildlife, including enormous crocodiles, pods of Hippos and aquatic wildlife. During golden hour the sky is ablaze with color giving us amazing photo opportunities in the fading light.
Day Five
Aerial Photography - Morning and Afternoon Game Drives
Our morning and afternoon game drives allow us to pick up shots of specific wildlife we may have missed. In the late afternoon we will conduct pst processing session and review our images for export. For our participants that have opted for aerial photography, we'll conduct early and late afternoon flights to capture scenery and animals in the best light.
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Day Six
Morning and Afternoon Game Drives
Our morning and afternoon game drives allow us to pick up shots of specific wildlife we may have missed. In the late afternoon we will conduct pst processing session and review our images for export.
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Day Seven
Morning and Afternoon Game Drives
On your final full day, enjoy a relaxed morning game drive, cherishing the last glimpses of Gorongosa's wonders. In the afternoon we visit the science lab to meet with Gorongosa's researchers to learn more about the relationship between science and conservation efforts.
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Day Eight
Morning Game Drive - Image Critique
One last morning game drive. After breakfast, we share and critique your favorite images with the group.Depart with a newfound appreciation for Gorongosa's captivating wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
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