Gorongosa National Park
Gorongosa National Park is a public-private partnership in Mozambique managing a 3 million-hectare conservation landscape through wildlife restoration, scientific research, community development programs, and sustainable tourism, supported by the Carr Foundation and Government of Mozambique.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersGorongosa, Sofala, Mozambique
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gorongosa National Park does
Gorongosa National Park is a public-private conservation enterprise operating across approximately 3 million hectares of the Greater Gorongosa landscape in Sofala Province, Mozambique. The park is jointly managed through a 20-year partnership signed in 2008 between the Government of Mozambique and the Carr Foundation, extended in June 2018 for an additional 25 years, securing operational rights through 2043. Core activities span wildlife conservation (elephant recovery from fewer than 250 to ~800 individuals, predator restoration, anti-poaching), scientific research at the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory, the only Master's in Conservation Biology program in Mozambique, integrated human development programs serving ~200,000 people in the buffer zone, and sustainable tourism across multiple lodges and camps.
The park's technical infrastructure includes 60 trail cameras, GPS satellite collars on 35 elephants, biennial aerial wildlife counts, acoustic recorders, 78 automatic flood meters, and on-site molecular biology with DNA barcoding capability. The Biodiversity Exploration Program (BioEx) has catalogued over 6,300 species and discovered 100+ species new to science, supported by citizen science participation through WildCam Gorongosa on the Zooniverse platform. Research collaborations include long-term partnerships with Princeton University (Pringle Lab), University of Oxford, HHMI, NSF, and National Geographic.
Gorongosa generates revenue through four streams: sustainable tourism (game drives, accommodations including Muzimu Lodge and Chicari Camp), conservation fees ($20/day for international visitors, capped at $300/year), a coffee social enterprise via Gorongosa Products with 100% of profits reinvested, and grants/donations (primarily from the Carr Foundation, with HHMI, NSF, and National Geographic as institutional funders). The park functions as a unified conservation ecosystem where tourism revenue, scientific research, and community programs interconnect to fund biodiversity protection and sustainable development. It is designated by National Geographic as one of "The Last Wild Places" and was formally recognized as a "Park for Peace" in August 2019.
Gorongosa National Park firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gorongosa National Park
- Legal name
- Gorongosa National Park
- Website
- https://gorongosa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Gorongosa National Park is a public-private partnership in Mozambique managing a 3 million-hectare conservation landscape through wildlife restoration, scientific research, community development programs, and sustainable tourism, supported by the Carr Foundation and Government of Mozambique.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gorongosa National Park industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wildlife Conservation and Ecotourism
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Wildlife Safaris & Game Drives (THAJAIAB), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE)
Keywords
Where Gorongosa National Park is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gorongosa, Sofala
- HQ country
- Mozambique
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gorongosa National Park business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Sustainable Tourism: The park generates revenue through tourism activities including game drives, accommodation (Muzimu Lodge, Chicari Camp, Mount Gorongosa Community Camp, Montebelo, Chitengo Camping), and park fees. Revenue supports park operations and conservation efforts.
- Conservation Fees: Daily conservation fees charged to all visitors: 20 USD per day for international visitors, capped at 300 USD maximum per calendar year (15 days). SADC visitors pay 150 USD maximum.
- Coffee Program: Gorongosa Products sells coffee grown by farmers on Mount Gorongosa. 100% of profits funnel back to conservation and community programs, including girls' education.
- Grants and Donations: The Carr Foundation and other donors provide funding through grants and donations to support the public-private partnership, conservation programs, and human development initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | International Visitor Conservation Fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | SADC Resident Conservation Fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Mozambique National Conservation Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ranger Fees for Researchers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transportation - Beira to Chitengo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Meals at Montebelo Restaurant |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Gorongosa National Park product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gorongosa National Park operates a 3-million-hectare Greater Gorongosa conservation landscape in Sofala Province, Mozambique, providing integrated wildlife conservation, scientific research, community development, and sustainable ecotourism services. Core sellable offerings include ecotourism (lodging, game drives, conservation fees), the Master's in Conservation Biology graduate program, research and monitoring services, and the Gorongosa Coffee social enterprise, all financed through a 25-year public-private partnership with the Carr Foundation and the Government of Mozambique.
Product overview
Gorongosa National Park operates as a multi-faceted conservation organization offering integrated conservation, science, education, community development, and sustainable tourism services. The core offerings include wildlife conservation programs (elephant monitoring, biodiversity exploration, ecological monitoring), research facilities (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory, Master's in Conservation Biology Program), community development (healthcare, education, Girls Clubs, agricultural support), and ecotourism services (accommodations, guided activities). The Park functions as a unified conservation ecosystem where tourism revenue, scientific research, and community programs interconnect to fund biodiversity protection and sustainable development in Mozambique's Sofala Province.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ecotourism Services
- Gorongosa Coffee Program
- Master's in Conservation Biology Program
- E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory Research Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Elephant population recovered from <250 to ~800 individuals
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Gorongosa National Park
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gorongosa National Park technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Gorongosa National Park partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.
- KAYA SEEDSminorPartnership with KAYA SEEDS to distribute 20 tons of improved corn seeds to approximately 4,000 families affected by floods in February 2026.
- Universidade LúriocoreConsortium partner in the Master's in Conservation Biology Program. Helps ensure academic excellence and provides institutional and administrative support for the master's program housed in the national park.
- Universidade ZambezecoreConsortium partner in the Master's in Conservation Biology Program. One of three Mozambican institutions providing academic oversight and institutional support.
- Instituto Superior Politécnico de ManicacoreConsortium partner in the Master's in Conservation Biology Program. Contributes to academic excellence and administrative support for the program.
- Universidade de LisboacoreInternational partnership with University of Lisbon providing academic expertise and consortium oversight for the Master's program. Faculty members from the university teach intensive courses.
- Government of MozambiquecoreThe government signed the original 20-year PPP agreement in 2008 and extended it for another 25 years on June 7, 2018. The partnership covers joint management of the park and human development in surrounding communities.
- Princeton University (Pringle Lab)coreProfessor Robert M. Pringle and his lab from Princeton University's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology conduct long-term research in Gorongosa addressing ecosystem restoration, trophic cascades, and climate change effects. Over 30 Princeton undergraduates, PhD students, and post-docs have contributed.
- University of OxfordcoreOxford-Gorongosa Paleo-Primate Field School launched in 2018. Dr. Susana Carvalho serves as Oxford affiliate and leads the Paleo-Primate Project with an international team of 30+ scholars from 14 countries.
- ICArEHB (Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour)majorICArEHB coordinates the Primate Models for Hominin Evolution research theme. Dr. Carvalho serves as Researcher Coordinator, and the center now co-runs the Gorongosa Interdisciplinary Field School in Human Evolution.
- Right To PlayminorInternational NGO providing support for Mozambique's National Girls' Forum in March 2026, celebrating Women's Month with approximately 200 participants.
- Air GorongosamajorNew aviation brand launched April 2026 designed to connect Mozambique's people, landscapes, and opportunities while reinforcing confidence in the country as a world-class travel destination.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gorongosa National Park competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Serengeti National Park: Tanzania's flagship safari destination with comparable wildlife-viewing tourism, conservation mandate, and large biodiversity footprint. A primary competitor for international tourist mindshare and donor/research attention.
- Chobe National Park (Botswana): Botswana park with high-density elephant populations and strong safari tourism. Comparable as a national park with significant elephant conservation programs competing for the same high-end safari market.
- Maasai Mara National Reserve: Kenya's premier safari reserve with high-density wildlife tourism. Competes directly with Gorongosa for high-end international safari visitors seeking African big-game experiences.
- African Parks: Nonprofit that manages and restores national parks across Africa under long-term PPP agreements with governments. Most directly comparable to Gorongosa's PPP restoration model, applying a similar playbook (e.g., Akagera in Rwanda, Majete in Malawi).
- Virunga National Park: Congo-based UNESCO World Heritage park combining wildlife conservation, scientific research, community development, and tourism. Comparable as a large African biodiversity park in a politically fragile jurisdiction facing similar funding and security pressures.
- Akagera National Park: Rwandan national park restored under an African Parks PPP with similar wildlife reintroduction and community-tourism model. Provides a near-perfect operational peer for Gorongosa's conservation-plus-ecotourism approach.
Broad incumbents
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation nonprofit with active programs across Mozambique and Africa. Comparable as a large-scale conservation organization pursuing biodiversity protection, community development, and species recovery across multiple geographies.
- South African National Parks (SANParks): State-run body managing 19+ national parks in South Africa, including Kruger. Comparable as a large-scale African protected-area operator with tourism and conservation mandates, though larger and more established than Gorongosa.
Others
- Wilderness Safaris: Largest ecotourism operator in Africa running high-end safari camps in Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, and beyond. Comparable as a premium African safari brand and conservation-linked tourism operator competing for the same international visitor segment.
- Peace Parks Foundation: Nonprofit that establishes transfrontier conservation areas across southern Africa. Comparable as a PPP-driven conservation organization scaling landscape-level impact, though focused on cross-border corridors rather than single-park operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gorongosa National Park social profiles
Digital presenceGorongosa National Park financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gorongosa National Park leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Gorongosa National Park funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gorongosa National Park M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gorongosa National Park
What does Gorongosa National Park do?
Gorongosa National Park operates a 3-million-hectare Greater Gorongosa conservation landscape in Sofala Province, Mozambique, providing integrated wildlife conservation, scientific research, community development, and sustainable ecotourism services. Core sellable offerings include ecotourism (lodging, game drives, conservation fees), the Master's in Conservation Biology graduate program, research and monitoring services, and the Gorongosa Coffee social enterprise, all financed through a 25-year public-private partnership with the Carr Foundation and the Government of Mozambique.
Is Gorongosa National Park a public or private company?
Gorongosa National Park is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gorongosa National Park founded?
Gorongosa National Park was founded in 2008. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Gorongosa National Park based?
Gorongosa National Park is headquartered in Gorongosa, Sofala, Mozambique, in the Africa region.
How does Gorongosa National Park make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sustainable Tourism is the primary driver. The others are conservation Fees, coffee Program and grants and Donations.
Who are Gorongosa National Park's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Serengeti National Park, Chobe National Park (Botswana), Maasai Mara National Reserve, African Parks, Virunga National Park and Akagera National Park. Broad incumbents are World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and South African National Parks (SANParks). Others are Wilderness Safaris and Peace Parks Foundation.
Does Gorongosa National Park have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gorongosa National Park.
What industry is Gorongosa National Park in?
Gorongosa National Park's product category is Wildlife Conservation and Ecotourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAGAF, Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized), with a secondary code of THAJAIAA, National Park & Protected Area Tours. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 7900.