The wildlife and infrastructure of the park were decimated during the Mozambican Civil War, which lasted from 1977 until 1992 and dramatically reduced the number of animals within Gorongosa; the zebra population was reduced from an estimated 3,500 individuals to just nine.
Since it was reopened in 1998 the park has undergone an ambitious restoration project, which has been widely hailed as a remarkable conservation success story. Herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra have been reintroduced, and the largest population of waterbuck in any of Africa’s protected areas can now be found grazing in the parks floodplains.
Gorongosa National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the world, and is home to a number of endemic bird species.
GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK QUICK FACTS
1
Diversity: the constant expansion and contraction of the parks floodplains creates a variety of ecosystems, supporting a rich diversity of wildlife.
2
Conservation: between 1977 and 1992 the number of animals in the park decreased by 95%, but numbers have since been steadily recovering.
3
Wildlife spotting: the park is home to large herds of waterbuck, as well as elephant, hippo, crocodile and many antelope species.
4
Endemic species: the Mount Gorongosa pygmy chameleon (Rhampholeon gorongosae) is found only in the forests of Mount Gorongosa.
