Gorongosa National Park

Muzimu Lodge

A six-suite African safari lodge deep in Gorongosa National Park

Aerial view of a safari lodge nestled in a lush forest covered in golden morning mist by a winding river.

An intimate tented retreat overlooking the Mussicadzi River

Muzimu Lodge is set along a curve of the Mussicadzi River in the southern reaches of Gorongosa National Park. Featuring just six tented suites, there is little around but the river, bush and wildlife. It feels quietly remote, almost as though you have this part of the park to yourself.

Muzimu means ‘Guardian Spirit’ in local tradition. And that sense of respect for the land runs through the lodge. Its structures are raised on wooden decks and positioned within the vegetation to sit as lightly as possible on the riverine setting. The suites are designed in classic East African style, and the open lounge and dining areas make the most of the wide river views.

One of our favourite spots at sunset is by the swimming pool and shaded decks, before fireside sundowners as the light fades. Meals are made with local ingredients. Your day can begin with Gorongosa coffee and fresh-baked treats and end with a private gourmet bush dinner under the stars.

There is also a clear conservation focus behind your stay. For instance, since 2018, Gorongosa’s pangolin rescue programme has rescued more than 100 pangolins. Wider recovery work has also supported species such as lion, wild dog and leopard.

Experiences are varied. You can head out on guided drives for a remote safari through floodplains and landscapes of rainforest, fever trees and palms. Or head out on walking safaris, which offer a more attentive way to experience the bush. Seasonal boating and canoeing are also available when water levels allow, usually from April to early May.

Highlights

Wake to river views in one of just six tented suites on the Mussicadzi River

Head out with expert guides in search of lions, elephants, wild dogs and over 500 bird species

Unwind by the swimming pool and shaded decks as the sun sets over the river

End the day with fireside drinks and beautifully prepared lantern-lit bush dinners beneath the stars

Learn about the conservation efforts that have helped restore parts of Gorongosa’s wildlife

People sit by a campfire on a deck next to a table filled with fruit, cheese, and pastries at Muzimu Lodge.

Close-up of a man pouring coffee from a silver pot into a cup beside a roaring campfire at a safari lodge.

Sun loungers with towels and drinks sit on a wooden deck next to a bright blue swimming pool in a forest.

A king-sized bed with a white mosquito net canopy and decorative pillows inside a wooden-walled safari tent.

Red and yellow patterned robes hang on a wooden partition between two glass showers in a luxury tented suite.

A wooden table and two chairs sit on the deck of a luxury safari tent in the morning sunlight.

High-angle aerial shot of safari tents, a swimming pool, and wooden paths through a green landscape.

A luxury safari dining room with set wooden tables under a large canvas tent overlooking an outdoor deck.

View from a bed with orange patterned pillows looking out through open tent doors toward a sunny forest deck.

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Places to combine Muzimu Lodge with

Bazaruto Archipelago

Kisawa Sanctuary

This all-inclusive sanctuary is set within 300 hectares on the southern tip of Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago – Mozambique’s first marine national park. Here, a dedicated personal service team stands ready to cater to your every whim at any time of the day or night. A cap on the guest count means Kisawa feels perennially quiet. Just 11 bungalow residences are spread across the island, some of which sit on the calmer side of the cove, others perched amidst the dunes by the ocean. Each residence comes complete with an exclusive stretch of soft-sand beach, an infinity pool and an eclectic mini moke.

Quirimbas

Vamizi Island

Set on a private coral island in the Indian Ocean, it’s difficult to think of somewhere more romantic than Vamizi. A private island, accessible by only helicopter or flight aircraft, this beautiful location is utterly exclusive.

There are 13 large villas, each spaciously set apart with their own stretch of beach. Rooms are beautifully decorated with white billowing white muslin and stylish fixtures and fittings. It’s all about simplicity here so there’s no TV and no air-con (nor any need for it with the light sea breeze).

Apart from your villa and the beach, Vamizi has a main lounge area and another restaurant on the south side of the island. For the more energetic, there are many different activities, with world-class snorkelling and diving (where you share the sea with no-one but the marine life itself), fishing and kayaking.

Varanda

Coral Lodge

A beautifully assembled beachfront property, the Coral Lodge also occupies a tremendously unique position on the peninsula of a private nature reserve, 10 minutes from the historical (UNESCO-protected) Mozambique Island.

The Dutch designer Edward van Vliet had quite a hand in the clean, modern style of the lodge and its 10 wonderfully-private villas. Blending the standards of today into ethnic thatch, plantation shutters, traditional furniture and a fresh palette of colours and textiles, the well-equipped villas are sandy sophistication.

The service is impeccable and you are assigned a personal host on your arrival to look after you during your entire stay. For instance helping you choose what activities you’d like to do that day or arranging a special beach dinner if you are honeymooners and after that extra dollop of romance or exclusivity.

And like any resort worth its salt, Coral Lodge has everything to hand : spa treatments, a great restaurant and a myriad of well-honed activities for all types of guest.