Gorongosa National Park

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Gorongosa is a peak and national park in central Mozambique. The 1862-meter peak rises sharply from low-altitude surroundings. The 5,000 square kilometer National Park is located at the southern end of the Great East African Rift Valley. The Park includes the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on the nearby Mount Gorongosa water the plain. There are hot springs on Morrumbala Mountain in the park.

By virtue of its physical structure and relief and associated changes in vegetation, the area between the coast and Gorongosa Mountain is one of the regions with the highest biodiversity in Mozambique. The ecosystems form a grid pattern, through the north/south Rift coast parallel zones, cross/linked by riverine bands from inland to the coast, and off both slopes of the cuesta (Tinley, 1997) have been identified 74 different vegetation systems, 15 geological formations and some 40 soil types. This has given rise to an extraordinarily rich flora with thousands of different species; a high species diversity of reptiles, frogs and fish, with at least one endemic (a mountain minnow); an avifauna of 500 or more species; 25 wild ungulate species including seven miniature antelope; carnivores, six primates and three galagos (Tinley, 1995)

Large mammal numbers were reduced due to hunting during Mozambique's sixteen-year civil conflict but are now making a comeback. American millionaire Gregory Carr is currently investing about $39m in the park, the use of which will include bringing black and white rhinos and buffalo back into the park.