Mozambique is located on the Indian Ocean, and faces the island of Madagascar. It is bordered by Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland. In Mozambique the hunting areas comprise a large portion of the entire country. One of the hunting regions found near Beira (pronounced bay-ra), the second largest city, located in central Mozambique. The other hunting areas are found to the north and west, toward Tanzania and Zimbabwe, near the borders of these neighboring countries.
The hunting areas near Beira were those most hard hit by the civil war and today bear the scars of the turmoil. Poaching was particularly rampant in this region during the war and the animal populations suffered enormously. In these areas, animal densities are very uneven, especially in comparison with most other African countries. The habitat consists of green savannah, forest glades and dense forests in which hunting is very difficult.
The best hunting in Mozambique is found in the more remote areas, especially in the north near Tanzania and in the west, not far from Zimbabwe. These major hunting countries and the neighboring reserves or parks, such as Nyasa, ensure larger animal populations and diversity for Mozambique. Shrub savannah, dry savannah and dense forests form the habitat of these zones.
The wildlife in Mozambique includes a variety of species, of which antelope are the most numerous both in number and variety. Often regarded as the most beautiful of the antelope, the Sable Antelope (Hippotragus Niger) is found in virtually all hunting areas. There is also Nyala (Tragelaphus Angasi), Cape Eland (Taurotragus Oryx) and Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros). Other species of antelope include Lichtenstein Hartebeest (Alclaphus Lichtensteini), Chobe Bushbuck (Tragelaphus Scriptus Ornatus), Southern Reedbuck (Redunca Arundinum), Common Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus), Common Duiker (Cephalophus Grimmia), Red Duiker (Cephalophus Rufilatus), Oribi (Ourebia Ourebi), Suni (Neotragus Moschatus), Warthog (Phacochoerus Aethiopicus) and Bushpig (Potamochoerus).
Crocodiles are also a hunted in Mozambique. They are abundant and often quite large. The main areas for Crocodile hunting are located on the Zambezi River and Lake Gahora Bassa. These areas are also good for Hippopotamus hunting. Hunting Elephant is legal in Mozambique. Elephants are normally abundant in the north and west of Mozambique, particularly in the areas bordering on Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Lion hunting is done by calling or tracking and not by baiting unlike most countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. Leopards are also abundant in many areas in the North and West. Cape Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer Caffer) are found in all hunting areas, but their numbers vary in different areas. In the regions near Beira, Buffalo have been poached excessively and are difficult to find.
Hunting areas in Mozambique are open territories, not fenced. The average area is approximately 150,000 acres. Hunting in Mozambique begins in a 4×4 vehicle from the camps, then once in the bush, tracking on foot but sometimes done by tracking directly from the camps. In most areas the terrain is flat and the hunting is not very physically demanding. The hunting areas are rented and managed by the hunting outfitters who are usually French, white Zimbabwean, South African or less frequently Portuguese professional hunters.
The hunting areas near Beira are accessible only by road from Beira and the drive is on average 3 to 6 hours depending on the location of the area and road conditions. Hunting in the northern and western areas is accessible by plane and then by car starting from Maputo, the Mozambican capital, or from Beira. In Mozambique the hunting camps are permanent fixtures. The bungalows are comfortable and the food is good with plenty to eat.
Mozambique Hunting Season & When Hunting is Allowed
- Hunting Season May 1st to September 30th
- There is no regulation controlling the number of days of a hunting safaris, if a minimum, it is set it is by the safari company.
- There is no regulation controlling the number of species a client may take during a hunting safaris, if a minimum, it is set it is by the safari company.
- The safari company controls the minimum number of days for a hunting safari based upon certain species being hunted. The safari company imposes their own guidelines as to the minimum number of days required to hunt certain species or combination of species.
- Trophy hunting may take place within the hours of daylight during the hunting season.
- Hunting is allowed at night with artificial light but only for the following species Lion, Leopard, Crocodile and Bushpig.
- Hunting of female, young and/or immature animals is prohibited.
- All animals are subject to quota availability.
- Hunting from a vehicle is not permitted, though the vehicle can be used to reach the area from where hunting on foot can begin.
- Shooting an animal from a vehicle is not permitted, a person actually needs to be 200 yards (183 meters) away from a vehicle to shoot an animal with the exception of hunting Crocodile from a boat.
- Bowhunting is permitted.
Mozambique defines two categories of land where hunting is permitted; hunting concessions known also as coutadas and game ranches.
Species to Hunt in Mozambique
Mozambique offers a wide variety of species for trophy hunting, including Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Hippopotamus in addition to many other species.
As a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Mozambique has a CITES quota for Elephants as well as for Leopard. Leopard trophies can be brought back into the United States, however note that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does not recognize the Elephant quota granted by CITES and it will not permit the importation of Elephant trophies from Mozambique into the United States.
Minimum Equipment Requirements for Bowhunting in Mozambique
Mozambique does not have any minimum equipment requirements for bowhunting so common sense will apply or here below find the requirements for South Africa:
Big Game
- Bow Kinetic Energy 80 ft/lbs
- Arrow Weight 700 grain
- (Elephant, Rhino, Hippo, Buffalo)
Medium Game
- Bow Kinetic Energy 70 ft/lbs
- Arrow Weight 550 grain
- (Kudu, Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, etc.)
Small Game
- Bow Kinetic Energy 40 ft/lbs
- Arrow Weight 400 grain
- (Warthog, Nyala, Springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich, Caracal, Black-Backed Jackal, Game Birds, etc.)
Minimum Equipment Requirements for Rifle Hunting in Mozambique
– There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Mozambique.
– Mozambique does not require a minimum energy (Eo – muzzle velocity) for calibers used.
Permits & Importation of Firearms & Ammunition into Mozambique
Temporary importation of firearms and ammunition into Mozambique is NOT free of charge, please check with your outfitter or the as to the current charges, as they are based upon number of rifles, days of hunt and type of hunting safari. The process is usually quick and easy.
Your hunting outfitter will send you a form to fill out and return to them so they can arrange for your firearms and ammunition temporary import/export permits months prior to your arrival as required by the government of Mozambique, specifically the Ministry of Interior. This permit will be based upon the firearm information you provide to your outfitter so it is very important that you carefully consider which firearms you will be bringing with you, as once you have submitted the form you will not be able to change your mind. It is very important that all weapons serial numbers be exactly the same when you arrive as what was issued on your import/export permit. Last minute changes of mind cause more problems regarding gun permits than any other reason. Exact number of ammunition is also important.
Once the temporary importation of firearms and ammunition has been granted, the hunting outfitter will apply for a tax exemption with custom officials based on your port of entry so you do not have to pay import duties upon entry into Mozambique.
There is a limit of four firearms per hunter that may be imported into Mozambique for trophy hunting purposes. However if traveling through South Africa a maximum of two firearms are allowed even if you are just in transit. Some European countries also have greater limitation than Botswana as to the number of firearms which can be brought into their country even while in transit.
A maximum of one hundred (100) rounds of ammunition may be imported per hunting rifle, two hundred (200) shells of ammunition per shotgun and fifty (50) rounds of ammunition per handgun, however you may encounter greater restrictions from the airline(s) you are traveling on or country you are departing from or other countries you may be visiting or transiting through. Importation of ammunition into Botswana is subject to a 10% Government Value Added Tax (VAT) so make sure to bring only what is necessary for your hunting safari.
- Only ammunition for the specific caliber(s) you are bringing may be imported.
- No automatic, semi-automatic firearms are allowed. Semi-automatic shotguns are allowed.
- No weapons which fall under military categories such as .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO), please check with your outfitter if you have a questionable caliber.
- Handguns are allowed for hunting purposes. A special permit which the safari operator must apply for prior to the start of the hunt can be requested with the Ministry of Interior. This special handgun permit comes at a cost.
PH, Petrus Geldenhuys
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