Lugenda Wilderness Lodge

The Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, in the Niassa province of

Northern Mozambique, is an untouched and undiscovered 42 000 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). The Serra Mecula is positioned across from the camp. It was on Mecula Mountain that Paul Von Lettow Vorbeck and his men held up towards the end of their incredible First World War East African Campaign against 1.5 million allied troops, finally arriving in Zambia still undefeated at the end of the war. There are sacred sites on the mountain, and Batwa (Pigmy) paintings, possibly dating back 4 000 years, have recently been found in the Reserve.

 

The accommodation

Lugenda Wilderness Camp provides visitors with the true quality of wilderness that is rare to

find on safari today. Located in the greater Niassa National Reserve in the remotest corner of northern Mozambique, Lugenda Wilderness Camp is set in one of the continent's 'last wild places'. This is the description given to the Niassa Reserve by Mike Fay, World Conservation Society conservationist during his year-long MegaFlyover across Africa

Intimate and understated yet offering every luxury you could wish for, Lugenda is the definitive wilderness camp experience. The eight 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. The elegant timber and thatched guest area is at the heart of camp and is a shady refuge from the African sun - a tranquil place to dine, help yourself from the bar or read through books on the region's fascinating history. Just metres from the banks of the river, the swimming pool tempts with its cool sparkling waters whilst sun loungers and umbrellas invite you to laze for hours.

 

Things to do

Game drives

The area is well-suited to game drives, and the vehicles seat 8 guests each. The game drives are directed by qualified guides. The area is a birders' paradise and includes the rare Angola pitta (Pitta angolensis), Pel’s fishing owl (Scotopelia peli), and an abundant raptor population. Rovuma River is an Important Bird Area and over 370 bird species have been identified already.

Big game such as elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and zebra can be seen on drives. Other game such as impala, wildebeest, hippo, lion, leopard, warthogs and spotted hyena can also be seen. The area is still in development and new roads are currently being built. Due to the size of the area, game drives are normally lengthy in time. Please discuss this with your guide to ensure you are well prepared.