Lion, Leopard & Buffalo Safari in Niassa
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Remote Niassa safari camp with luxury tents, en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water, daily laundry, housekeeping, solar/generator power, and high-speed satellite internet. The camp is comfortable but still close to the hunting area, which is important on a 21-day dangerous game safari.
Remote free-range hunting concession in Niassa Province, Mozambique, close to the Tanzania border and part of the wider Niassa wilderness. The area is vast, unfenced, and known for lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, sable, and additional plains game. Hunting is conducted by tracking, baiting, trail cameras, and temporary blinds for cats, with buffalo hunted on foot by following fresh tracks.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Pemba Airport, Mozambique |
| Nearest Airport Distance: | Charter flight from Pemba to the concession landin |
| Nearest Town Name: | Pemba |
| Nearest Town Distance: | Approximately 11+ hours by road, depending on cond |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
| Air Charter Available: | Yes |
"Full Bag Safari" in Mozambique !!
Cape buffalo adds the hard walking and close-range pressure, making this a serious dangerous game safari rather than a soft campfire story. The included buffalo hunts give hunters the chance to follow fresh tracks on foot and experience Niassa buffalo the proper way. For hunters considering hunting in Mozambique, Niassa offers free-range country, low hunting pressure, and the kind of distance from town that makes a satellite phone feel like common sense.
Niassa boasts some of the finest Free-Range hunting in Afric, bordering Tanzania in the North.
**** Observers welcome on this dangerous game hunt US$ 375 per day per person
**** Rifle Rental Available at US$ 30 per day
**** Additional Plains Game available for hunting on this Lion, Leopard & Buffalo Hunt
**** Professional videographer available on request at US$ 350/day
Mozambique lies on Africa’s east coast, bordered by the Indian Ocean, with hunting areas spread across vast, wild regions of the country. Niassa is the most sparsely populated province in Mozambique, with the Ruvuma River forming the northern border with Tanzania. The two regions share the same broader ecosystem, which is part of what makes Niassa such strong hunting country.
Niassa is the largest conservation area in Mozambique, covering more than 26,000 square miles of remote wilderness. Free-range lion hunting in Mozambique does not get much wilder than Niassa with baiting and local tracking knowledge all playing a role. The same river lines, cover, and low hunting pressure also make leopard hunting in Mozambique a natural fit for this safari.
For buffalo, the hunt changes pace completely. Buffalo hunting in Mozambique is about following fresh tracks on foot, reading the wind, and getting close enough in thick cover to make the shot count. That is where Niassa stops being a pretty place on a map and starts testing boots, nerves, and sense of humour..
The best time to hunt in Mozambique is during the hunting season which runs from April to end of November. Temperatures from April through to September vary from 0°C to 15°C in the morning and the evenings and up to 20°C to 30°C during the day.
From September through to November the temperatures can reach the high 40’s at midday. The best months for hunting in Niassa are from August through to the end of November. The reality is when safari hunting in Niassa, there is not a “best time” to go, it’s a privilege any month of the year.
Niassa is one of those rare places where free-range lion hunting in Mozambique still feels properly wild. The hunt takes place in vast, unfenced country where lions move naturally through remote wilderness, and success depends on good baiting, fresh sign, experienced trackers, and patience.
This is a proper dangerous game hunt, not a quick outing with a soft chair and a guaranteed ending. Niassa makes hunters work for it, which is exactly why it remains such a respected lion hunting destination.
Niassa offers strong habitat for a leopard hunting safari, with river lines, thick cover, and remote terrain giving mature toms plenty of room to move. The hunt is usually based around baiting, trail cameras, and careful blind placement once the right cat has been identified.
Buffalo hunting in Niassa is not a gentle stroll behind the lodge. It is boots-on-the-ground hunting, following fresh tracks through heat, dust, thick cover, and riverine bush until the herd is found — or until the buffalo decide they have had enough of being followed.
The area is vast, wild, and unfenced, giving hunters a true buffalo hunting experience. Niassa’s buffalo are tough, alert, and perfectly at home in country that can make every step feel earned. That is the whole point..
Total Cost of Lion, Leopard & Buffalo US$ 117 700
*** Additional Fees Include:
On this 21-day full bag safari, hunters can add a variety of plains game hunts, paying only the trophy fees for additional animals taken.
Popular add-ons in Niassa include Niassa wildebeest (US$ 5,500), Lichtenstein hartebeest (US$ 3,250), Johnson’s impala (US$ 1,400), Roosevelt sable (US$ 5,500), and warthog (US$ 800). Sable hunts are always a strong option in this part of Mozambique, especially for hunters wanting one of Africa’s classic antelope trophies alongside the dangerous game.
For tiny ten collectors, Niassa also offers Sharpe’s grysbok (US$ 2,500), red duiker (US$ 2,500), and blue duiker (US$ 2,750).
Hardus and his team run an experienced operation in Mozambique, with the knowledge needed for a serious lion, leopard, and buffalo safari in Niassa. This is not an easy hunting area, so the PH, trackers, camp staff, and planning all matter.
The operation is built around ethical hunting, good logistics, comfortable camps, and a team that knows the area and the animals. For hunters wanting a full-bag dangerous game safari in Mozambique, this is a strong opportunity to hunt lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, and selected plains game in one of Africa’s proper wild places.
Lion and leopard hunting in Niassa usually involves pre-baiting in areas where cats have been seen or where fresh sign is found. Trail cameras are placed near the baits to help identify the size, age, and suitability of any animal feeding there. Once the right lion or leopard is confirmed, a temporary blind is built and the waiting begins.
Cape buffalo hunting is done the old way: on foot, following fresh tracks with experienced trackers until the right bull is found. Buffalo hunting in Niassa can mean long walks, thick cover, shifting wind, and close-range decisions. The “widowmaker” did not get that nickname because he is fond of visitors.
The minimum legal calibre for dangerous game hunting in Mozambique is .375, although many hunters prefer a larger calibre for better stopping power. Good-quality optics are important, and rifles should be checked and test-fired after long-distance travel.
For lion hunting, leopard hunting, and buffalo hunting, the first shot needs to count. Hunters should be comfortable with their rifle and ready for a follow-up shot if needed, especially when hunting Cape buffalo in thick Niassa cover.
Hunters usually fly into OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, before connecting to Pemba, Mozambique. Airlink is a reliable option for this route and can assist with firearm transport if arranged in advance.
Depending on flight times, an overnight stay in Johannesburg may be needed. African Sky Boutique Hotel near OR Tambo is a practical option and can assist with transfers and firearm permits.
From Pemba, hunters can either take a long road transfer to camp, which can take 11 hours or more, or arrange a charter flight with Hardus to the landing strip near the concession. The charter is the easier option for most hunters, especially when heading into remote Niassa. The return charter is approximately US$ 5,000, subject to change, and may be reduced if shared with other guests.
The charter should be booked at least two months in advance and paid either in cash on the day of the flight or by wire transfer beforehand.
The hunting camps are set in remote Niassa wilderness, keeping hunters close to the action while still offering comfort after long days in the field. Accommodation is in luxury safari tents with en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water, and 24-hour power supplied by solar systems or generators.
The camps also offer high-speed satellite internet and the essentials needed for a comfortable stay. Some camps may have regular cell signal and data, but in remote Niassa, a satellite phone is still recommended.
A valid firearm import permit is required before arrival in Mozambique, and Hardus and his team will assist with the arrangements. Hunters will need to provide a colour copy of their passport, a passport-style photo in JPEG format, firearm details, travel itinerary, and contact information. US hunters will also need a copy of Customs Form 4457.
If travelling through South Africa and overnighting in Johannesburg, a SAPS 520 form may be required. Each hunter may import a maximum of three firearms into Mozambique, with a maximum of 100 rounds per firearm.
Book your lion, leopard, buffalo, and plains game safari in Niassa, Mozambique, and hunt one of Africa’s proper wild places.
If any additional information is required pertaining to this Leopard Hunt in Mozambique, please message our team at Game Hunting Safaris, or Hardus directly.
Please note that terms, conditions and price are subject to change without notice and rates at the time of the hunt will apply
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