Mozambique is one of Africa’s largest countries, brimming with diverse landscapes, exhilarating African experiences, and unforgettable hunting adventures. Found in Mozambique, and one of the many reasons for exceptional Mozambique safari hunts, is the world-famous Zambezi Delta. Discover more about this unique area and what makes it an excellent hunting ground for many animal species.

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Key Takeaways

• While Africa is home to many diverse game hunting destinations for hunters to enjoy and experience, Mozambique remains one of the more popular destinations targeted by hunting enthusiasts.
• This exciting destination offers hunters the choice of exceptional hunting grounds, coupled with a large variety of diverse species along with authentic hunting experiences throughout the country’s designated hunting grounds and concessions.
• Add to this the country’s regulated and sustainable hunting practices and range of tourist attractions for pre- and post-hunting activities, and it is quite clear as to why this region remains a sought-after destination.
• Mozambique is renowned as a big game hunting destination, including both large antelopes as well as dangerous game, with 6 of the infamous Dangerous 7 being hunted here.
• This country’s dry season is the most popular time for hunting, with the official hunting season running from April to November.
• One of the most popular regions to enjoy game hunting in Mozambique, is the Zambezi Delta.
• The area is renowned for its excellent hunting safaris, targeting dangerous game such as hippos and crocodiles, as well as big game antelopes including sable, nyala, and eland.

Mozambique: A Land of Abundant Hunting Opportunities

A former Portuguese colony, Mozambique is one of Africa’s largest countries and is renowned for offering hunters a taste of true old African hospitality and hunting safaris. Mozambique safaris are backed by exceptional world-class hunting outfitters, with professional teams standing by to make your trip hunting in Mozambique unforgettable.

This large country (about the combined size of Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado) boasts a big coastline on the Indian Ocean for its eastern border and is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi to the west, with South Africa being its southern border. Mozambique is 309,475 square miles, making it a great option for any Mozambique safari, perfect for any big game African adventure, and a destination where six of the Dangerous 7, except for the rhino, can be hunted.

Mozambique is a very scenic African country with a tropical climate and is rich in natural resources. The country’s turbulent political history of civil war has prevented its people from taking full advantage of these natural advantages. Mozambique boasts six national parks, eight reserves, and eleven coutadas offering hunters a wide choice of landscapes, terrains, and species to target during their Mozambique safaris.

The Zambezi Delta: Facts At a Glance

• The Zambezi Delta is located on Africa’s east coast, in Mozambique.
• It is situated at the mouth of the Zambezi River, where the river merges into the Indian Ocean.
• The Zambezi Delta is around 1.2 million hectares in size and forms a triangular region that includes a variety of landscapes, such as swamp forests, savannahs, mangrove areas as well as floodplains.
• The variety of landscapes ensures that there are many species living there, and the area is home to numerous types of water birds, including white-backed pelicans, herons, and flamingos, while large mammals such as lions, elephants, hippos, eland, and Cape buffalo also inhabit the area.
• Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta supports several economic activities including fishing, hunting, tourism, and agriculture.

What makes the Zambezi Delta such a Popular Game Hunting Destination?

• Abundant Wildlife: The Zambezi Delta is alive with large populations of wildlife, including iconic species for trophy hunters, such as leopards, hippos, Cape buffalo, and numerous antelope species.
• Unique and Varied Game Hunting Experiences: The area offers hunters a range of diverse hunting experiences, from a traditional walk-and-stalk option to highly charged dangerous game hunting adventures featuring the cold-blooded Nile crocodile and territorial hippo.
• Diverse Habitats: The region offers a range of habitats from swamp forests and savannas to flood plains, allowing for a diversity of species and hunting experiences.
• Sustainable Hunting Practices: Hunting in Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta is regulated through responsible management practices with well-managed hunting concessions that ensure sustainable hunting and quotas that help preserve wildlife populations for generations to come.

How Do Hunters Reach the Remote Areas of the Zambezi Delta on a Mozambique Safari?

Reaching the remote landscapes of the Zambezi Delta can be quite challenging for hunting parties but can be reached through various methods including air travel via chartered flights to remote airstrips in the Zambezi area.

Another option would be to travel via road from the main towns and areas, but this mode of transport can be quite tiresome on uneven and rough road conditions and will take several hours, depending on the starting point. While this option may be the longer method, it does have its advantages of allowing hunters to see and experience the local conditions and immerse themselves in the local environment, with the opportunity to spot wildlife along the way.

Once within the Zambezi Delta, guided 4×4 vehicles, along with trackers and guides, allow hunters the perfect option for transportation within the hunting area, while walking safaris may also come into play to reach extremely remote areas or areas that are difficult to access via a vehicle.

What Species are Popular to Hunt in the Zambezi region?

Hunters are spoilt for choice with some of the more prevalent and iconic species available to hunt on a Mozambique safari in the Zambezi Delta.

Cape Buffalo

The Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) remains one of the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot when in Africa. Grumpy, and unpredictable with an aggressive nature, especially when wounded, the Cape buffalo demands a patient hunter willing to stalk this majestic beast. Their sheer size of up to 2,200 pounds and their immense strength, along with challenging hunting conditions require a hunter with skill and experience to target this member of Africa’s Big 5 and Dangerous 7.

Hippo

Often referred to as a “water horse,” the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a challenging hunting adversary. Sporting a large frame and weighing up to 8,000 pounds, hippos are known for their strength – and aggressive nature…not to mention the large tusks that are used for both protection and attack. Spending most of their day wallowing in the water and submerged, the target on this dangerous game hunting safari is a challenging one, as they tend to submerge themselves underwater and disappear, only to reappear further downstream in the water. Hippos are also extremely territorial and are known to attack boats and canoes. When leaving the water to graze on land at night, hippos can be the perfect target, but don’t be fooled by their large body size as they can reach speeds of up to 19 miles per hour and will flatten anything in their way.

Nile Crocodile

Hunting this apex predator is a dream come true for many dangerous game hunting enthusiasts. But be warned, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a cold-blooded killer that takes no prisoners, and its exceptional camouflage skills, aggressive behavior, the need for precise shot placement along with challenging hunting conditions make this a hunting adventure second to none, demanding both great skill and overall patience from the hunting party.

Leopard

Shy, elusive, and known for their camouflage abilities, the leopard (Panthera pardus) is indeed tricky to hunt! The leopard’s spotted coat provides great camouflage, allowing it to remain hidden in dense vegetation or shady areas and they can be difficult to locate even when they are close by. Leopard trophies in the Zambezi Delta are exceptionally sought-after, with population numbers being low in the area and leopard quotas strictly controlled and adhered to. These intelligent African cats provide a great challenge to hunters looking for a memorable dangerous game hunting experience.

Sable

The Zambezi Delta is known for its abundant sable (Hippotragus niger) population, and as a result, the area is one of the most popular African destinations in which to target this majestic African plains game antelope. These large antelopes are known for their large curved horns and striking appearance, making them a firm favorite as a hunting trophy.

Sable hunting in Mozambique can be challenging, as this antelope’s keen senses and chosen habitat, along with the demand for accurate shot placement and extraordinary stalking techniques required to harvest the antelope, call for the utmost dedication from skilled hunters.

Nyala

The Nyala is a large African plains game species that remains a sought-after species for many hunters wanting to add a memorable trophy to their collection. The nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) is a striking spiral-horned antelope native to the Zambezi region and other parts of southern Africa.

Hunting this beautiful antelope can be challenging due to their shy and elusive natures, their preference of dense habitats as well as their keen senses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you hunt the Big 5 in Mozambique?

While the Big 5 are available for Mozambique safaris to view on game drives, not all members of the Big 5 are available when hunting in Mozambique. The rhino is only available to hunt in South Africa and Namibia.

What makes Mozambique such a popular game hunting destination?

The country is known for its diverse landscapes allowing hunters a variety of experiences while enjoying exceptional and authentic wilderness experiences. These hunters have the thrill of the hunt itself while experiencing a true connection with nature as they target various game species. Mozambique is also renowned for its ethical and sustainable hunting practices, making it a sought-after destination.

What are popular game species often targeted on Mozambique safaris?

Mozambique safaris give hunters the best of both worlds, offering African plains game species and dangerous game hunting options. Popular African plains game species to target on a Mozambique safari include the mighty sable, waterbuck, nyala, Chobe bushbuck, and zebra. Popular dangerous game hunting species include the hippo, crocodile, lion, leopard, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

Where is the best hunting in Mozambique?

Hunters are spoilt for choice on a Mozambique safari, with many areas available, but one of the most famous and sought-after hunting regions in the country is the Zambezi Delta. The area is renowned for its lush terrain and rich biodiversity, with large populations of sought-after trophy species including hippos, leopards, sable, and Cape buffalo.

Is Mozambique a value-for-money hunting safari destination?

African hunting safaris are never dirt cheap, but some destinations allow for more bang for your buck and have hunters experience the Africa of old while combining these pointers with professional teams on the ground to ensure an unforgettable hunting adventure. Mozambique is one of those destinations, where the thrill of the hunt is combined with delectable cuisine, stunning landscapes, memorable experiences, and various tourist attractions to keep both hunters and non-hunters entertained.

Closing Thoughts

While hunting is possible worldwide, Africa remains a popular bucket list destination for hunters. The lure of Africa is real, with many countries offering incredible hunting experiences to enjoy and hunting enthusiasts returning regularly for “just one more” African hunting adventure. Mozambique, and the Zambezi Delta, offer thrilling hunting safaris where big game hunting meets dangerous game species in an unforgettable African hunt!

For further information relating to Mozambique safaris and the current hunts on offer, see the latest Mozambique hunt listings.

Author: B. Hershensohnn