LUGENDA WILDERNESS CAMP - NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE

FACILITIES & SERVICES

• A lounge
• Dining area
• Swimming pool

FOCUS

Very personalised service; remote, exclusive wilderness destination

CAMP CLOSURE

Due to the rainy season in the area, Lugenda Wilderness Camp is operational annually from 01 June to 15 December.

ACTIVITIES

The area is well-suited to game drives, and the vehicles seat 8 guests each. The game drives are directed by qualified guides. The area is a birders' paradise and includes the rare Angola pitta (Pitta angolensis), Pel’s fishing owl (Scotopelia peli), and an abundant raptor population. Rovuma River is an Important Bird Area and over 370 bird species have been identified already.

Big game such as elephant, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and zebra can be seen on drives. Other game such as impala, wildebeest, hippo, lion, leopard, warthogs and spotted hyena can also be seen. The area is still in development and new roads are currently being built. Due to the size of the area, game drives are normally lengthy in time. Please discuss this with your guide to ensure you are well prepared.

 

GAME

The results of an aerial census carried out in October 2002, estimated an elephant population of 12 000 with evidence of an increasing trend in numbers. The Reserve also has over 9000 of the sable antelope and several thousands each of Cape buffalo, Lichtensteins hartebeest, eland, and zebra. There are smaller populations of kudu, bushbuck, impala, wildebeest, waterbuck, reedbuck, and hippo. Duiker and warthogs abound. Lion, leopard and spotted hyena are common. The endangered Cape hunting dog (African wild dog) occurs with an estimated population exceeding 200 animals, which makes the Niassa Reserve one of the last best refugees for this species. Of particular interest are three endemic subspecies, which exist in Niassa but are rare elsewhere, namely: Niassa wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni), Boehms zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi), and Johnstons impala (Aepyceros melampus johnstoni).

ACCESS

• Lugenda Wilderness Camp has its own airstrip and fly-in access from Pemba International Airport
• Scheduled flights to Pemba from OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport with AIRLINK and LAM (Mozambique Airlines)
• Scheduled transfers to Lugenda Wilderness Camp from Pemba Airport are operated via light aircraft transfer (duration: +/- 90 minutes)
• For any flights arriving in Pemba after 14h00, guests need to overnight in Pemba, and will be transferred to Lugenda the following morning

MALARIA

Kindly note that Lugenda Wilderness Camp is situated in a malaria area. A regular spraying programme is in place at Lugenda and all the tents are equipped with mosquito-proof nets. We do, however, still recommend guests take precautionary measures before going into a malaria area.

CHILD POLICY

Lugenda Wilderness Camp is not suitable for children under 12 years of age.

MANAGEMENT

Lugenda Wilderness Camp is managed by Steven Turner-Smith and Kim Rossi.

Kim was responsible for community development for the Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. This experience has given her the tools needed to understand and co-habit with different indigenous communities. Kim has already started working with the communities in the surrounding areas and establishing working relationships between parties. Kim is also very involved in Nature conservation and was at the forefront of long liners being banned from the Bazaruto Archipelago.

After completing his formal studies in Game ranging and Lodge management, Steven worked in Botswana as a trainee in the Okavango Delta at two different camps. He then went on to work as a ranger and assistant manager in a camp in Namibia. His travels then took him to South Africa, where he worked as a head ranger in the Timbavati region. Steven has a keen interest in nature conservation, diving and birding. His knowledge of the area extends from insects to game to birding and will keep you well-informed during game drives.