Best hotels in Niassa Reserve

*Please be aware this lodge is no longer in operation* The remote wilderness of northern Mozambique is one of Africa’s last remaining wild places that is largely unexplored. Niassa Reserve spans a staggering 40,000 square kilometres, with an untouched landscape dotted with towering granite hills, wide permanent waterways and dense forests: a sanctuary for an incredible array of wildlife. Lugenda Wilderness Camp is located in an isolated region overlooking the Lugenda River, with just eight stylish tents offering an exclusive safari experience. The standard of guiding is excellent, and the emphasis here is on appreciating the pure seclusion and raw untamed beauty of this magnificent reserve.

This is the first communitybased tourism camp inside the vast Niassa Special Reserve. The camp was designed, built and is managed through an innovative community conservation agreement between the Niassa Carnivore Project / Mariri Investimentos and the Mbamba village Eight times each year during the dry season (June to November) this unique island camp on the Lugenda river is opened for guests to experience the heart of the Niassa Special Reserve, in northern Mozambique. This eco-camp is set on a forest island at a magnificent hippo pool. Mpopo offers guests an exclusive and bespoke experience led by selected private guides passionate about Niassa’s wilderness and its people. The camp has four private decks and can host a maximum of 8 people Inspired by the centuries old “Sanja” tradition of sleeping out on raised decks, this locally designed and hand-crafted camp is expertly refurbished with bamboo, palm and thatch by village artisans each year. The soft furnishings are made by the “Kushirika” craft group. The camp has an extremely low human footprint, running on solar with no cement anywhere! The menu is derived from local ingredients with a Mozambican flavour with the majority of the ingredients sourced locally. The goal is for 75% of the income generated to stay within 100km of the camp to generate a local economy.