Niassa

Niassa Reserve

The Niassa Reserve

Located in the far north of Mozambique, the Niassa Reserve is home to large populations of game animals, in particular huge herds of elephants and plenty of big cats. Surrounding the park is a buffer zone of hunting concessions, run by private operators. The reserve is around 42,000 square kilometres – twice the size of the Kruger National Park, and is Mozambique’s largest protected area.’s northern border is the Rovuma river, the border with Tanzania, and the southern / eastern border is the Lugenda River. It is a long drive from Pemba, and a difficult road in the dry season – in the rainy season, access is impossible by road. Rani’s Lugenda Wilderness Camp is the best place to stay in the reserve – only open in the dry months though between May to November

Lugenda Wilderness Camp

The Lugenda Wilderness Camp is a stunning tented camp nestled under massive wild fig trees on the banks of the Lugenda River.

Appreciate the stunning bush and array of wildlife in Mozambique, in this luxury photographic safari camp situated within the boundaries of the legendary Niassa Reserve. This new camp has opened up a fabulous opportunity to see the animals in an environment that was previously not so accessible to tourists. Lugenda opened its doors to the adventurous with a luxury tented camp, fine cuisine, excellent service, and of course the opportunity to photograph some of the estimated 12,000 elephant and other species endemic to the area, such as Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest, Joh’s Impala, Niassa Wildebeest, Bohms Zebra, and the African Palm Civet. The total remoteness of Lugenda makes you feel you are in another world, away from the stresses of daily life.

The camp consists of eight en-suite luxury tents, and an opportunity to see some of the most beautiful bush and wild game in Mozambique. Spend the heat of the day beside the pool or in the privacy of your air-conditioned tent, and enjoy a true African sunset over the enormous inselbergs.

The Lugenda experience is all not about spotting the Big Five but also exploring and experiencing one of Africa's last pristine wilderness areas, seeing landscapes found nowhere else, and enjoying the isolation.

Lugenda has its own airstrip for easy access, and is the perfect add-on for clients looking for a bush and island / beach holiday. Lugenda is closed from the end of November to the 1st of June (rainy season). Please note they do not accept children under 12 years of age.

Lugenda rates

Rates

Rates from $380 per person per night sharing. Rates include accommodation, all meals, teas/coffees, scheduled safari activities, refreshments on game drives, emergency medical evacuation insurance, conservancy/park fees, laundry, soft drinks, bottled water, table wines, local spirits and beers. Return flights are not included at $460 per person and takes 1 hour.

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Nkwichi Lodge’s Manda Wilderness Project

Nkwichi Lodge, cornerstone of Manda Wilderness is set on the eastern shore of Lake Niassa/Malawi, Africa’s third largest lake where the crystal clear water teams with spectacular coloured fresh water fish and along the shoreline pristine woodland is interspersed with sheltered bays, remote sandy beaches and rocky pools. The lodge has been carefully designed to blend into the local scenery. With only 7 chalets and maximum of 14 guests, Nkwichi provides genuine privacy for guests. Each chalet has its unique view, looking out on to dazzling white sands and individual, blue-water bays. All of them have thatched roofs with open plan bedrooms, hot water showers crafted into the overhanging trees and baths built into boulders and rocks. Hammocks on the veranda are ideal for watching the sunset over the lake. Fine food, attentive service and activities ranging from adventure trips to total ‘chill’ combine with a relaxed, friendly approach from local staff trained to the highest level. Nkwichi Lodge offers the rare chance to let time stand still.

But Manda Wilderness is much more – currently the largest employer in the Niassa province. Visitors see that the local Nyanja people gain from community-led projects such as school-building and road construction – projects the people themselves have chosen and which they are proud to show to guests. Village communities have set aside a huge nature conservation area, where wild animals (from elephants to delicate antelope), rare plants and flocks of birds roam free of fences, farming and hunting. The lake itself, with over 1,000 species of fish in every colour imaginable, is the latest target for Manda Wilderness conservation.

Explore the Wilderness on foot, in snorkel gear or by dug-out canoe. You will see the difference Manda is making – and by staying at Nkwichi Lodge, you will be part of it.

Transfers
The choices range from a spectacular flight across Lake Niassa, a stately passage on a historic lake steamer, or a drive across the rugged landscape of southern Malawi and northern Mozambique.

From Mozambique:
Road transfers can be arranged from the provincial capital of Lichinga to Cobue ($250 per vehicle). This takes around 4–5 hours, and this is followed by a short boat transfer ($25 per person) over to the lodge.
(Note: if you have your own plane or can charter one, there is a 1,000-metre airstrip at Cobue).

Nkwichi activities