Northern Mozambique offers some of the most untouched wilderness on the continent. The region offers a unique combination of pristine coastline, clear fresh waters (and endemic species) of Lake Niassa, and an untamed interior and its diversity of wildlife. Specific conservation efforts include:

Niassa Reserve


First established in 1964, the Niassa Reserve is one of the largest protected miombo forest ecosystems in the world. The core area of the reserve encompasses 15,000 square kilometres, while its buffer zones add another 17,000 square kilometres. The total area is about twice as large as South Africa's Kruger Park and contains Mozambique's largest concentration of wildlife, including three endemic species (Niassa wildebeest, Boehm's zebra, and Johnston's impala.)

The reserve is managed by an innovative public-private partnership in which the Government of Mozambique retains ownership of the land and wildlife resources, which a private company, the "Sociedade de Gestão e Desenvolvimento da Reserva do Niassa," manages the reserve.

Quirimbas National Park.


Created in 2002, this stunning park protects 7,500 square kilometres of the region's rich coral reef, mangroves, coastal forest, and woodland as well as wildlife such as turtle, dugongs and elephants. It is not only the largest marine protected area in Africa (encompassing 1,500 square kilometres, which include eleven coral islands and 100 kilometres of coastline) but also an excellent example of community involvement in conservation. While the Government of Cabo Delgado Province and local non-governmental organizations (such as KARIBU and GECORENA) played a key role in initiating the park, they could not have done so without the leadership of the region's 40 communities who wished to protect the natural resources upon which the livelihoods of their 55,000 members depend.

The Quirimbas National Park lies within the Quirimbas Archipelago, which includes 32 coral islands extending from the capital of Cabo Delgado Province, Pemba, to the Rovuma River, which separates Mozambique from Tanzania.

Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs).


The concept of a transfrontier conservation area first came about when Mozambique's then President, Joaquim Chissano, met with the President of WWF in South Africa in 1990 to discuss a permanent link between protected areas in Mozambique and its neighbours: South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Since then, Mozambique has been a leader in establishing such areas, which are critical to protecting large eco-systems which straddle national borders as well as enabling the traditional migration of wildlife. In Northern Mozambique, planning is underway to develop a TFCA with Tanzania to link Niassa Reserve with the Selous Game Reserve.

Established in 1997, The Peace Parks Foundation currently facilitates the establishment of TFCAs in southern Africa.

Other Conservation Initiatives in Northern Mozambique.


A private initiative - the Maluane Project - has been working since 1988 to protect three islands, a coastal strip and a 33,000 hectare wildlife safari area in the far north of Mozambique through a series of conservation projects and low-impact tourism.

For more information on specific conservation initiatives in Northern Mozambique, contact the WWF Mozambique or IUCN in Mozambique.