Maputo Special Reserve: Coastal Elephants & Indian Ocean Wildlife
Drive south to Africa's first coastal elephant reserve where pachyderms roam between Indian Ocean dunes, hippo lakes, and coastal forests
- 1
Reserve entrance gate
Enter the reserve 70km south of Maputo where 350 elephants were reintroduced after civil war decimated the population - now thriving
- 2
Elephant Dune Crossing
The reserve's signature sight — herds of elephants crossing coastal dunes between the forest and the Indian Ocean beach
- 3
Lake Piti Hippo Pool
A freshwater lake connected to the sea hosts one of Mozambique's largest hippos, visible from the lake's edge in the late afternoon
- 4
Coastal Forest Walking Trail
Walk through the dense miombo forest on the coast with a guide, track elephant footprints and listen for samano monkeys in the canopy above
- 5
The beach at Machangulo Point
A pristine deserted Indian Ocean beach at the reserve's southern tip, accessible only by boat or 4x4 — white sand and turquoise water
- 6
Night Drive in the Reserve
After dark, the reserve reveals side-striped jackals, civets, bushbabies and sometimes leopards - very different wildlife to day safaris