Description
The Lugenda Wildlife Reserve in the Niassa Province of northern Mozambique is one of Africa’s last wild places. Covering over 40,000 square kms (that is about twice the size of Kruger National Park in South Africa) it is one of the largest conservation areas on the continent.
Until Mozambique’s civil war ended in the early 1990s the Niassa Wildlife Reserve remained completely untouched, and since then its protected status has seen increasing wildlife numbers including lion, spotted hyena, leopard, buffalo, and the healthy elephant population is distinguished for its big tuskers.
Lugenda Wilderness Camp is a safari enthusiast’s dream. Simple and elegant, the thatched main building overlooks a sweeping bend of the Lugenda River and beyond this the horizon is dominated by the dramtic countryside.
The tents, which are well equipped and beautifully designed, are situated underneath large wild fig trees which attract elephant during the early morning and late afternoon.
With its dramatic granite inselbergs and huge tracts of miombo woodland, its elephants, wild dogs and sable antelope, this vast and seldom-visited stronghold of big game is among the most exciting and least explored areas in Africa.
Accommodation
Lugenda Wilderness Camp offers intimate and understated tented accommodation. The 8 luxury tents are discreetly situated on the banks of the Lugenda River beneath towering fig trees, each with its own patio deck with wide-angle views. The tents have a solid substructure and blend beautifully into the natural surrounds whilst offering every modern comfort - from king-size beds to en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower, double basins, ceiling fans, personal safes and hairdryers.
Childcare
There are no specific child care facilities and due to the remoteness of the camp it is not recommended for children under 12 years.
Facilities
Just meters from the river bank is a scenic swimming pool for guests to enjoy between safaris.
Activities
Guests are woken with piping-hot coffee or tea and muffins in the early mornings for sunrise game drives or walks. There is a second option to explore the bush later in the day. A swimming pool is a welcome relief from the heat between safaris.
When to travel
Due to the rainy season in the area, Lugenda Wilderness Camp will be operational annually from 01 June to 30 November (dependant on the annual rains). Sunshine, blue skies and temperatures averaging between 24°C and 27°C along the coast are the norm, except during the rainy summer season from about December/January through to April when everything gets soggy and sticky, and temperatures exceed 30°C in some areas.
The best time to visit is from May/June to November, during the cooler dry season.
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Average time to visit
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Location and directions
Niassa Resrve, Mozambique
The Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, in the Niassa province of Northern Mozambique, is an untouched and undiscovered 42000 square kilometre expanse of wilderness. Lugenda Wilderness Camp is situated within this magnificent reserve, on the eastern bank of the Lugenda River, amongst the Ngalongue
Mountains (towering inselbergs or island mountains). There are sacred sites on the mountain, and Batwa (Pigmy) paintings, possibly dating back 4 000 years, have recently been found in the Reserve.
How to get there
Fly to Pemba via Johannesburg, Nairobi or Dar es Salaam. Scheduled transfers to Lugenda Wilderness Camp from Pemba Airport are operated via light aircraft transfer (duration: +/- 90 minutes). For any flights arriving in Pemba after 14h00, guests need to overnight in Pemba, and will be transferred to Lugenda the following morning.
