Mozambique is a country located on the eastern coast of Southern Africa. It is bordered by Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and the Indian Ocean section known as the Mozambique Channel, which extends for approximately 2,770 km. The country is divided into 11 (eleven) provinces (Map 1), and its capital city is Maputo Mozambique was colonized by the Portuguese and gained its independence in 1975. Its national flag was adopted in 1983 (Figure 1). The population is estimated at 34.4 million inhabitants, two-thirds of whom live in rural areas.
Mozambique has a variety of hot, subtropical and tropical climates. Climatic conditions vary according to altitude. The climate in Mozambique varies from subtropical in the South to tropical in the Centre and North, due to its extension. It has two seasons: the hot and rainy season from October to April and the dry and cold season from May to September. Rainfall differs depending on the region, being higher in the north (1000 - 1800 mm/year) than in the south (400 - 1000 mm/year).
Over the last 40 years, there has been a decrease in rainfall and a significant increase in the occurrence of droughts.
The frequent occurrence of floods and extreme droughts observed in recent years is a consequence of the high variability of rainfall, associated with tropical cyclones and the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon. Some studies indicate that by the year 2075, Global Climate Change will cause a reduction in rainfall of 5–10% and an increase in evaporation of 9–13% in the country. Climatic conditions vary according to altitude.
The first inhabitants of Mozambique were the Bushmen, known as hunters and gatherers. Due to its geographical location, which occupies almost the entire coastal strip of the Indian Ocean, it has always been one of the countries of choice for Asians, Arabs and Europeans to trade in gold, ivory, slaves, oilseeds and seafood, among others.
16th - 18th century
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese, attracted by the gold of the Monomotapa Empire, traded ivory in Mozambique between the Zambezi and Limpopo. Between the 17th and 18th centuries, a large number of elephants were slaughtered to extract trophies for trade, especially in Asia and Europe.
19th - 20th century
The first European explorers appeared, who hunted to feed their teams, or to collect material for scientific work and species for American and European museums, or, for sporting reasons, and of these, David Livingstone, Wilhelm Peters, Edouard Foa, Werner von Alvensleben.
Between 1940 and 1960, the current Marromeu complex (Marromeu Buffalo Reserve and adjacent Coutadas numbers 10, 11, 12 and 14) operated as a true meat factory. Annually, around 13 professional hunters received licenses to operate, with an annual and individual quota of 200 buffalo, 35 elephants and several hippos. Around 1,000 tons of meat were also produced, which was subsequently subjected to the drying process and used to supply the workforce at the Sena Sugar Estates sugar factory in Marromeu and Luabo, as well as the large coconut and tea plantations. of Zambézia and the sawmills in Chiringoma
Examples of some wild species that were heavily hunted during this period:
In the early 1960s, commercial hunting was banned, probably as a result of fears about the negative impacts of this activity, as well as awareness of the importance and need for conservation and rational use of wildlife. It was during this decade that most of the country's existing conservation areas (parks, reserves and hunting grounds) were created.
With the existence of the coutadas, commercial hunters were reoriented towards sport or tourist hunting and the concession of the coutadas was given to the private sector.
Most of the official coutadas created, namely coutadas 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 were under the management of Safrique (Sociedade de Safaris de Moçambique) and Safarilandia. At the time, Safrique was considered to be one of the most competent, qualified and equipped companies in the world.
This was a result of the excellent hunting areas under its management, the high quality of the trophies and the professionalism of its team. Safrique was truly one of the companies of choice for the most renowned hunters from all over the world, who came in search of high-quality safaris and trophies, some of which are included in Rowland Ward's Records of Big Game.
Only after the end of the war, in 1992, did the country begin to try to recover from the various problems it faced and, since then, the Mozambican Government, with the support of cooperation partners, the private sector and NGOs, has invested in rehabilitation infrastructure, habitats, repopulation and recovery of wildlife species and populations.
The hunting season begins on April 1st and ends on November 30th, as under the Sports Hunting Regulation, according to Article 12, paragraph 3 of Decree No. 82/2017 of December 19th, the general closed season is considered to be the period from December 1st to March 31st.
Hunting in Mozambique creates incentives for the conservation of massive ecosystems and habitats. It also provides a source of income, employment and community development in remote and impoverished areas where there are no other economic activities. Responsible hunting facilitates wildlife management and reduces ILLEGAL and NOXIOUS practices such as wildlife poaching, illegal logging and mining, and habitat destruction.
There are four types of wildlife exploitation in Mozambique:
Hunting takes place in more than 70 hunting zones, divided into four different categories:
The network of hunting areas covers more than 14 per cent of the national territory.
Valid import authorisations for firearms and ammunition are required before any hunter arrives in Mozambique. To avoid any inconvenience, it is advisable to start the import process 90 days before the safari. Each hunter is authorised to bring a total of three firearms with a maximum of 100 rounds of ammunition per weapon.
Automatic, semi-automatic or military firearms are not permitted.
If a hunter doesn't want to bring his rifle on safari, he can contact the safari operator to help him.
In principle, the hunting of animals of all wild species that inhabit or pass through national territory is permitted, with the exception of those protected by law, calves, juveniles, pregnant females or those accompanied by young.
Animals are grouped into small game: birds other than ostrich, goats, pigs, reptiles, rodents and carnivores other than crocodile, lion, leopard, hyena, mabeco and cheetah) and large game animals not covered by small game), and the type of hunting licence determines which animals can actually be hunted.
The main game species are listed below:
Big five species: Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), Elephant (Loxodonta africana), Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), Lion (Panthera leo), Leopard (Panthera pardus).
<Birds: Bustard (Otis tarda), Quail (Coturnix coturnix), Francolin (Francolinus francolinus), Black grouse (Numida meleagris), Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), Pigeon (Culumba livia), Partridge (Rhynchotus rufescens), Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur).
Other species: Blue Goat (Cephalophus monticola), Grey Goat (Sylvicapra grimmia), Chengane Goat (Neotragus moschatus), Red Goat (Cephalophus natalensis), Chango (Redunca arundinum), Chipenhe (Raphicerus campestris), Grisled Chipenhe (Raphicerus sharpei), Cocon (Connochaetes taurinus), Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), Greater Cudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), Elande (Taurotragus oryx livingstonei), Phacocero or African Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), Cape Spotted Gazelle (Tragelaphus ornatus), Gondonga or Bush Cow (Alcelaphus buselaphus lichtensteinii), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), Imbabala (Tragelaphus scriptus), Impala (Aepyceros melampus), Inhacoso or Piva (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), Inhala (Tragelaphus angasi), Yellow Monkey (Papio cynocephalus), Dog Monkey (Papio cynocephalus sp. ), Majengo or jumping hare (Pedetes capensis), Mangul (Cephalophus natalensis), Oribi (Ourebia ourebi), Palapala (Hippotragus niger), Wild Pig (Potamochoerus larvatus), Hedgehog (Hystrix africaeaustralis), Zebra (Equus burchelli).
<NOTE:It is extremely important to note that it is recommended to have access to the hunting quota so that you are aware of the species authorised for the hunting season and where they can be hunted.
Mozambique is a country incredibly rich in biodiversity, from the coastal plains to the interior, the landscape suddenly changes from a narrow strip of palm-fringed beaches along the coast to a vast swathe of savannah.
The landscapes are dominated by savannas, with a wide variety of drought-resistant plants; in the wetter areas, tropical forests are home to a great diversity of species, most of which are endemic. The coastal areas are home to vital mangroves, which play an extremely important role in protecting the coastline and provide habitat for various marine and bird species.
Mozambique is a unique and incredible destination for nature lovers because it offers fascinating opportunities to experience and appreciate the beauty and diversity of the flora and fauna.
The flora is made up of a fascinating mix of ecosystems, including savannas, rainforests, mangroves and coastal regions. The coastal vegetation is adapted to survive in conditions of salinity and water stress, and species such as coconut and mango trees are common and form a beautiful natural landscape.
The fauna is equally fascinating, with a range of species inhabiting the different ecosystems. The famous "big five" - buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros - can be spotted in the country's various conservation areas. The country is a birdwatcher's paradise, harbouring a great diversity of species that can be found in the forests, savannahs and wetlands.
The conservation of Mozambique's flora and fauna is extremely important for preserving the country's rich biodiversity and for the livelihoods of the local communities that depend on these natural resources.
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Mozambique is a malaria-endemic country, so it is advisable to consult a doctor before and after the safari. Game safaris are potentially dangerous, and it is the client's responsibility to arrange their own medical, evacuation or personal insurance.
Some international and regional flights fly directly to Mozambique. Maputo, the country's capital, is in the south and has daily connections to all the provincial capitals. Your chosen safari and tour operator will be able to advise you on the best and most convenient way to get to your game safari destination.
To travel to Mozambique, a passport with a minimum validity of six months is required. Some nationalities do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days for tourism or business; this stay can, in many cases, be extended for an additional 30 days. For countries that require a visa, it can be obtained at the Embassy or Consulate of Mozambique in the hunter’s respective country or at the border upon entry. To avoid any inconvenience, it is advisable to apply for the visa 60 days before the safari.
We recommend that you visit the country’s E-visa portal before your trip to obtain more information about the different types of visas, available on the website. https://evisa.gov.mz/
Mozambique is famous for its Classic African Safaris and for producing exceptional trophies of almost every species and is considered one of southern Africa's top tourist destinations, known for its pristine and vast natural areas; abundant and diverse wildlife; tropical beaches; cosmopolitan cities; diverse and rich culture and its friendly people.
Tropical Beaches
Mozambique has a coastline 2770 kilometres long, which has extensive beaches in a pristine and unexplored state. For a truly unforgettable bush and beach experience, before or after your hunting safari, dive into the warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean and discover the dazzling and fascinating marine life on offer.
Sport fishing
Fishing is the activity of searching for and/or catching aquatic species, including the gathering of corals and shells for collection or ornamentation. In other words, any operation related to or in preparation for the capture of aquatic species, including the installation or collection of devices to attract them.
Of the different types of fishing practised in Mozambique, we are interested in describing sport fishing, which is that carried out by amateur fishermen with the appropriate licence, in sporting competition, in accordance with international rules and regulations formulated by the organisers of competitions and championships, with a view to obtaining sporting marks and trophies (target species defined in the terms of the competition regulations), including training and learning. This type of fishing has traditionally been one of the major tourist attractions on the Mozambican coast, especially in the south, where three subtypes are practised: boat fishing, underwater fishing and bank fishing.
Mozambican culture is essentially African, with the Buntu culture predominating. In the urban areas, there is a clear indication of Portuguese influence. This influence dates back to the 16th century. Traditional art is well known, with wood carvings and Makonde masks being famous. The cuisine is rich and is a tasty fusion of African, Oriental and European influences.
The answer is yes. The government and private entities have focused on keeping nationals and foreigners safe since their expenses represent part of the country's internal revenue. Transportation is provided by reliable and reputable companies. However, it is always important to keep an eye on your belongings to avoid loss or theft.
It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and depending on season you can bring cold or summer clothes. The ideal colours for safaris are those that vary from khaki, such as green and brown, as they are close to the colours of nature and avoid disturbing the wild animals. It is advisable to avoid wearing light-colours clothing, such as white, and bright clothes.