The Niassa Reserve borders with Tanzania about 160km northeast of Lichinga. The reserve is 42,000 km2 making it the largest in Southern Africa. It is twice the size of Kruger national park. The Niassa Reserve supports the largest wildlife in Mozambique especially elephants and buffaloes. Africa’s last big tuskers are found in this game reserve.
It doesn’t have seashore but it does have a huge lake from where its name comes. The Lake is only accessible by 4X4 vehicle and is still unspoilt. The Province has a rare and natural beauty and the Niassa Reserve in the north is famous for its large herds of Elephants. There is also Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra and various species of Antelope. You can get to the reserve by a charter plane since there are very few roads.
It is dominated by the Rovuma and Lugenda rivers – crocodile and hippo filled waterways that meander their way through the reserve. A striking feature is the granite inselbergs that rises from the surrounding bush.
Getting to the Niassa Reserve
From Malawi you get a charter plane. The flight to the Niassa Reserve is 60 minutes. Guests are met at the airstrip on Likoma Island then take a boat to Manda Nkwichi Lodge.
A ferry leaves from Chipoka (60 minutes drive from Lilongwe) in the south on Friday evenings reaching Cobue on Saturday morning where guests will be met and transferred by boat (30 minutes) to Nkwichi Lodge. Also leaves Nkhata Bay in the north on Monday evening reaching Cobue on Tuesday morning.
Danforth Yachting run charter trips on Lake Niassa. Board the catamaran at Monkey Bay on the southern shores of Lake Niassa and sail for 3 days up the east coast.
From Mozambique
There are regular schedule flights from Maputo to Lichinga. From Lichinga access is by road (see below)
By Road
A 4X4 is required. From Lichinga, take the road that leaves town past the airport, towards Metangula. The first 75 km are on excellent tarmac travelling across the Lichinga plateau. The remaining 45 km are on good murram roads. Total time from Lichinga to Metangula is approx 2 hours. On arrival in Metangula, continue through town until you come to a T-junction with a green painted bar called 'Bar Triangulo' on the left hand side. This is a good place to stop for a drink.
At the T-junction turn right and head north along the lakeshore. Continue on this road, heading towards the town of Cobue driving through pristine forest. After 75 kms (1 hr 45 minutes) there is a green and yellow sign pointing left down a bush track to Mbueca village and Nkwichi Lodge. Follow this bush track for 8kms, turning right when you reach the lakeshore.
You will see other vehicles parked, where it is safe to leave you vehicle and where the boat and the staff for Nkwichi will be waiting for you. From here it is a 15-minute boat transfer to the Lodge. (Bookings for the boat transfer MUST be made in advan
Activities at the Niassa Reserve
The reserve has plenty wildlife including lions, spotted hyena, leopard, buffalo, and a healthy elephant population. Run-down dirt roads pass through the landscape of savannas, seemingly depopulated and a wilderness untouched by human hands.
There are two perennial rivers on it borders, it covers almost one third of Niassa Province, and a part of the Cabo Delgado Province. To the north, it borders to Tanzania.
The Niassa Reserve will become a tourist destination soon. The new camps in Niassa Reserve have been completed. Safaris in this camp are run between June and November every year. The variation in the eco system makes it every reason to protect the reserve.
Activities at the Niassa Reserve
In the luxury tented camps you can have self drives, wilderness walking and canoeing along the river. The camps are self catering. Through out the reserve there is a great variation the savannah and woodland.
The landscape is from flat to a hilly landscape.
Lugenda Bush Camp is secluded with eight luxurious tents set in a huge reserve in remote northern Mozambique. The tents underneath large fig trees have a concrete floor with styled deep tub and shower. The fig trees attract Elephants in the early morning and late afternoon.
