Gilé National Park is a wilderness destination in Zambezia Province in northern Mozambique. It was heavily poached during the civil war, but it is slowly being restored to its former glory as a result of better protection and greater engagement with surrounding communities. Large numbers of buffalo, Nyassa wildebeest and Crawshay’s zebra were translocated into Gilé between 2012 and 2018, and wildlife populations are increasing.
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Best Time To Go
- June to October (Road conditions are better and wildlife is easier to spot)
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High Season
- Never (Little-visited park)
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Size
- 2,861km² / 1,105mi²
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Altitude
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38-313m /125-1,027ft
Pros & Cons
- Off-the-beaten-track wilderness destination
- Excellent birding
- Wildlife densities are low
- Only one basic self-catering tented camp and a campsite
- Access is by 4x4 vehicle only
Wildlife
The park has a current checklist of 68 species, including elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, eland, sable, bushbuck and waterbuck. Leopard and spotted hyena are both present but very rare, while lions have not been seen since 2010. The bird checklist counts 226 species.
Scenery
Gilé is dominated by dense miombo woodland cut through by several forest-fringed rivers. The Molocue River forms the park’s eastern border while the Melela River and tributary Lice River flow along the western boundary. A notable feature of Gilé is its dambos, which are areas of open grassland that tend to flood in the rainy season.
Activities
Gilé is mostly visited on an independent self-drive adventure. Aside from game drives, you should be able to go for a walk as well (talk to the rangers first). If you are feeling energetic, you can climb the 265m-/870ft-high Mt Pope. This 45-minute guided hike is quite strenuous, but the views from the top are more than worth it.
Weather & Climate
The weather and climate of Gilé is comparable to that of Mozambique in general. More info:
Best Time To Visit
The park is best visited in the dry winter months from June to October. At this time, wildlife will be easier to see as the vegetation is less thick and animals gather around permanent water sources. The roads might be very difficult to navigate in the wet summer months.
Getting There
Gilé is a self-drive destination for self-sufficient, adventurous travelers. Access to the park is by 4x4 vehicle only. Even in a 4x4, avoid the rainy season (from November to April and into May) as the roads might deteriorate badly at this time. Gilé is in Zambezia Province, about 300km/185mi from the northern city of Nampula. The drive takes about 5 hours* in the Dry season.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Health & Safety
Please read our malaria and vaccinations page for Mozambique and our general ‘Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions’ for more info: