Why we Love Chicari Camp
A classic safari experience with a modern twist where guests sleep in canvas tents and beds with solar lighting, outdoor showers and toilets.
Share stories around ambient evening campfires, then dine under the stars – mouth-watering meals prepared by a talented chef.
Delightful intimate and authentic wildlife safari activities from game drives and bush walks to canoeing, boating and mountain expeditions.
Complete connection to and immersion in nature where silence and appreciation for all living things allows introspection and spiritual growth.
Chicari Camp Gorongosa National Park Safari
Chicari Camp – A True Wilderness Escape in Gorongosa
Once known as Gorongosa Wild Camp, Chicari Camp is a secluded seasonal retreat offering an immersive safari experience in Gorongosa National Park. Nestled around a vast natural waterhole—Chicari Pan—this exclusive camp provides a front-row seat to the park’s diverse wildlife, from herds of elephants to the elusive predators that roam the plains. The pan serves as both a life-giving oasis for animals and a breathtaking focal point for guests, making every moment in camp a unique encounter with nature.
At Chicari, the distractions of modern life fade away, replaced by the rhythm of the wild. Whether watching the sunrise paint the landscape in golden hues, listening to the distant roar of a lion at dusk, or simply unwinding under a blanket of stars, every experience is a reminder of Africa’s raw and untamed beauty.
Accommodation – Safari Under Canvas
Chicari Camp features ten thoughtfully designed canvas tents that blend rustic authenticity with comfort, allowing guests to experience the wilderness without sacrificing convenience.
- Eight spacious safari tents offer private en-suite bathrooms, solar-powered lighting, and inviting beds, ensuring a restful retreat after a day of exploration.
- Two unique tree hide tents are positioned at the base of an elevated hide, sharing a spacious wooden deck. These tents provide a spectacular vantage point over the pan, making them ideal for two couples or a small family traveling together.
All accommodations offer uninterrupted views of the waterhole, ensuring that guests remain connected to the surrounding wildlife throughout their stay. Raised wooden walkways link the tents, creating a seamless flow through the camp while preserving privacy and minimizing environmental impact.
Camp Facilities & Inclusions
What’s Included:
Accommodation, all meals, local beverages, daily safari activities, inter-camp transfers, limited WiFi, laundry service, and VAT.
What’s Not Included:
International and domestic flights from Beira Airport, visas, airport taxes (if applicable), privately guided activities, park and conservancy fees, visits to Mt. Gorongosa Community Camp, premium beverages, gratuities, and any personal expenses.
Amenities:
Chicari Camp is designed for both comfort and sustainability. Each tent is equipped with an en-suite bathroom, tea and coffee station, standing fan, and mosquito nets on all windows. A full laundry service is also available for guests.
The heart of the camp is the open-air lounge and dining area, a shaded space where guests can savor delicious meals while watching wildlife gather at the pan. As evening falls, the central firepit becomes the perfect gathering place to share stories, sip a nightcap, and soak in the sounds of the nocturnal wilderness. Built with a minimal footprint, Chicari Camp operates entirely off-grid and is carefully dismantled at the end of each season to preserve the delicate ecosystem.
Discover Chicari – An Unforgettable Safari Experiences in Gorongosa
Chicari Camp Gorongosa offers a variety of expertly guided activities that allow guests to explore the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife of Gorongosa National Park.
- Game Drives provide an exhilarating opportunity to witness lions, elephants, wild dogs, and other incredible species in their natural habitat. Led by experienced guides, these safaris offer deep insight into the park’s conservation efforts and thriving ecosystem.
- Walking Safaris offer an up-close perspective of the wilderness, revealing intricate details that are often missed from a vehicle. These guided treks allow guests to track wildlife, discover hidden landscapes, and learn about the smaller wonders of Gorongosa.
- Seasonal Boating Excursions take guests through the Urema floodplain, where lush waterscapes and abundant birdlife create a picturesque safari experience unlike any other.
- Birdwatching is particularly rewarding when the pan transforms into a seasonal wetland, attracting flocks of wading birds and vibrant water lilies that add bursts of color to the scenery.
Whether seeking adventure, tranquility, or a deeper connection to nature, Chicari Camp offers an unparalleled safari experience in one of Africa’s most remarkable conservation areas. Guests leave with a renewed sense of wonder and lasting memories of Gorongosa’ s wild beauty.
Getting to Gorongosa Chicari Camp
By air – fly to Mozambique via Johannesburg. Then fly directly from Johannesburg to Beira (3 hours from Gorongosa) or connect through Maputo and continue on to Beira or to Chimoio (2 hours from Gorongosa). Several international cities also offer direct flights to Maputo. From Maputo, take a connecting flight to Chimoio or Beira.
Self-drive from South Africa / Maputo – there are four border crossings between South Africa and Mozambique. The main border crossing is the Lebombo border (known as Ressano Garcia on the Mozambique side), on the N4 (SA) / EN4 (Mozambique) that links Johannesburg and Maputo. Contact us for more information about the route.
Client Reviews
My brother and I took our respective families on a trip of a lifetime to Mozambique. Both of us had young kids and were concerned of the challenges ahead on a multi destination safari. After a week in South Africa, we flew into Beira and thanks to the amazing service from Mozambique Travel – everything after that went perfectly. We were collected at the airport by a competent and knowledgeable English-speaking driver Bahir who looked after us for the next ten days. We explored Beira and after our safari to Gorongosa went on another big adventure to Vilanculos.
But that’s another story… Wild Camp in Gorongosa was simply wild. On arrival there were lions in camp and the kids initially terrified were very excited as the lions strolled off to hunt in the sunset and leave us to enjoy a bush barbeque in the wilds of Africa. It was a first night in the real African bush that none of us will ever forget, overlooking a waterhole with all kinds of animal sightings. Morning and afternoon game drives the next day and we saw so much game. Comfy tents with cotton sheets and private showers with hot water. Food was simply exceptional and the best thing ever – there was no wi-fi in camp. Game walks on our last day with incredible guides up close and personal with some of Africa’s real big five animals. Our kids couldn’t believe it and are still speaking about the buffalo encounter on our return to Germany! We felt safe at all times and especially really looked after. Trust me and go there soon. Before it becomes another Kruger National Park with hundreds of tourists and you don’t feel as special as we did. Test and Richard – world class safari guides and highly recommended. We love Gorongosa National Park.