Wildlife in Mozambique
The coast of Mozambique is renowned for its idyllic, palm-fringed beaches, sloping down to meet the azure waters of the Indian Ocean where colourful fish, sea turtles and whale sharks abound and dhows sail gracefully across the horizon.
Mozambique also boasts its fair share of distinctive African wildlife, with big game species such as elephant, lion and rhino roaming freely across the border between South Africa’s Kruger and Limpopo National Park. Reopened in 1998, the famed Gorongosa National Park is one of the most biodiverse parks in Africa and its diversity and different ecosystems is unmatched anywhere else in Africa.
African Elephant
Symbolising the strength and resilient spirit of Mozambique, African elephants are the official national animal of this country. Despite the population suffering from habitat loss and poaching for their ivory tusks, the African elephants have continued to survive and receive protection in national parks and preserves in Mozambique. The largest populations can be found in Gorongosa National Park and Niassa National Reserve.
Marine Life
Mozambique’s 2,700km coastline hosts an array of exotic marine life and the coral reefs are home to 1,200 species of fish and 400 species of coral. You can find whale sharks, manta rays and several dolphin species such as the bottlenose, spinner and humpback dolphins. In the winter months, humpback whales can be found mating off the waters of Mozambique, after their migration from the Antarctic waters. There are also 5 species of marine turtles that nest along the beaches, from green turtles to hawksbill turtles.
Dugong
Elusive and rarely sighted, Mozambique’s protected coastal waters is home to approx 300 of the largest East Africa Dugong population. Also known as “sea cows”, dugongs are directly related to elephants and communicate with each other using a range of sounds such as whistling in different tones. Shy, timid and endangered, dugongs do not approach humans and often travel with one another or occasionally in groups. They are protected in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park and the Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hippo
Around 3000 hippos reside in Mozambique, with more than 50% of them found in Lake Cabora Bassa or the Zambezi, the Limpopo and Save River. Hippos play an important part in the country's ecosystem as their excrement is a vital source of nutrients for aquatic life. It is important to keep safe distance from hippos and are aggressive and territorial animals and can be dangerous to humans who venture.
