Chicari Camp

Chicari Camp

• These prices are indicative based low season costing. 
• Rates fluctuate throughout the year.

Why we Love Chicari Camp

Chicari Camp offers a classic under-canvas safari enriched with thoughtful comforts and a modern wilderness atmosphere. Guests sleep in spacious canvas tents with solar lighting, comfortable beds, and open-air ensuite bathrooms that keep you connected to the landscape. Evenings bring ambient fireside gatherings and beautifully prepared meals beneath the stars, creating a warm and communal safari feeling.

Days at Chicari are filled with intimate wildlife activities, including game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, boating, and optional climbs into the foothills of Mount Gorongosa. It is a camp designed for quiet immersion in nature, ideal for travelers who appreciate silence, authenticity, and the spiritual stillness of the African bush

Classic Under-Canvas Safari

Waterhole Wildlife Viewing

Set beside Chicari Pan in Gorongosa National Park for constant animal activity

Quiet, Immersive Atmosphere

Small camp footprint with no artificial lighting for a true wilderness feel

Diverse Safari Activities

Game drives, walking safaris, canoeing, and seasonal boating across floodplains

Chicari Camp Gallery

A Seasonal Safari Camp at the Heart of Gorongosa’s Wild Revival

Chicari Camp is one of the most atmospheric and rewarding seasonal safari camps in Gorongosa National Park. Formerly known as Gorongosa Wild Camp, Chicari is set beside the wildlife-rich Chicari Pan, a permanent water source that draws elephants, antelope herds, prolific birdlife, and elusive predators throughout the day and night. This natural pan defines the safari experience, delivering remarkable sightings without the need to travel far from camp.

Life at Chicari follows the rhythm of the wild. Early mornings unfold with soft golden light across open plains, while evenings are marked by distant lion calls echoing through the landscape. With no artificial lighting and limited tent numbers, nights reveal a sky filled with stars and an immersive sense of wilderness that feels rare and deeply restorative. Chicari is especially valued by photographers, birders, and travelers seeking a quieter, more authentic connection to Gorongosa.

Canvas Safari Living in Gorongosa National Park

Chicari Camp offers ten traditional safari tents designed to balance rustic character with comfort and practicality.

Eight classic canvas safari tents feature ensuite bathrooms, solar lighting, mosquito screening, and comfortable beds that provide a peaceful retreat after full days in the field. Two elevated tree hide tents sit beneath a raised viewing platform and share a large deck overlooking the pan. These units are ideal for couples traveling together or small families who want a slightly more adventurous stay with exceptional views.

Raised walkways link all tents to the main dining and lounge areas, reducing environmental impact while preserving privacy. Every tent faces the waterhole, ensuring wildlife viewing continues from dawn through to nightfall without leaving camp.

A Seasonal Safari Camp at the Heart of Gorongosa’s Wild Revival

Chicari Camp is one of the most atmospheric and rewarding seasonal safari camps in Gorongosa National Park. Formerly known as Gorongosa Wild Camp, Chicari is set beside the wildlife-rich Chicari Pan, a permanent water source that draws elephants, antelope herds, prolific birdlife, and elusive predators throughout the day and night. This natural pan defines the safari experience, delivering remarkable sightings without the need to travel far from camp.

Life at Chicari follows the rhythm of the wild. Early mornings unfold with soft golden light across open plains, while evenings are marked by distant lion calls echoing through the landscape. With no artificial lighting and limited tent numbers, nights reveal a sky filled with stars and an immersive sense of wilderness that feels rare and deeply restorative. Chicari is especially valued by photographers, birders, and travelers seeking a quieter, more authentic connection to Gorongosa.

Camp Facilities, Inclusions, and Off-Grid Ethos

Chicari Camp operates entirely off-grid and is dismantled at the end of each season to protect the surrounding ecosystem. This low-impact approach allows the landscape to regenerate naturally while offering guests an authentic safari experience.

Included in a stay at Chicari Camp are accommodation in a canvas tent, all meals and local beverages, daily guided safari activities, inter-camp transfers, laundry service, and limited Wi-Fi in communal areas. Exclusions include international and domestic flights, visas, airport taxes, premium beverages, park and conservancy fees, privately guided activities, and visits to Mount Gorongosa Community Camp.

All tents are equipped with ensuite bathrooms, mosquito nets, tea and coffee stations, standing fans, and daily housekeeping. The open-air lounge and dining area provides shaded relaxation during the day and uninterrupted views over the pan, while a central firepit becomes the gathering point each evening.

Safari Activities and Conservation Experiences at Chicari

Safari activities at Chicari Camp are expertly guided and designed to showcase Gorongosa’s remarkable biodiversity. Game drives explore floodplains and savannas where lions, elephants, wild dogs, buffalo, antelope, and abundant birdlife thrive. Walking safaris offer an intimate perspective, focusing on tracks, insects, plants, and the subtle details of the ecosystem.

Seasonal boating excursions into the Urema floodplain reveal lush wetland landscapes and aquatic birdlife, while dedicated birdwatching around the pan is particularly rewarding during periods of flooding. Cultural and conservation visits introduce guests to Gorongosa’s community programs, scientific research, and long-term sustainability initiatives, adding depth and context to the safari experience.

Whether your focus is photography, conservation learning, or quiet immersion in nature, Chicari Camp delivers an unforgettable safari within one of Africa’s most inspiring restored landscapes.

Getting to Chicari Camp in Gorongosa

Travelers typically reach Mozambique via Johannesburg, connecting onward to Beira or Chimoio. From Beira, Chicari Camp is approximately a two-and-a-half-hour road transfer, while transfers from Chimoio take around two hours. International guests may also route via Maputo before continuing to Beira or Chimoio. Self-drive access is possible to the park entrance, but all game viewing inside Gorongosa must be conducted with official guides.

Plan Your Chicari Camp Safari with Mozambique Travel

Plan your stay at Chicari Camp with Mozambique Travel and explore Gorongosa’s wild heart with confidence. Our team of safari and beach specialists has more than 20 years of experience arranging seamless Mozambique journeys, from flights and transfers to tailored safari itineraries and beach extensions. Secure your 2026 Chicari safari and enjoy expert planning, trusted local knowledge, and a truly immersive wilderness experience.