Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Around
Air
There are about 11 airstrips that can accommodate charter flights, including one at Mec-
ula. The reserve sits roughly midway between Lake Niassa to the west and the Indian
Ocean to the east, both about an hour's flight away via small plane.
CFA Charters
(
82-575 2125;
www.cfa.co.za
)
flies three times weekly between Lugenda Camp and Pemba
(US$538/889 one-way/return). Book directly, or through Kaskazini in Pemba.
Car
By road it's possible to reach Mbatamila in the dry season via Montepuez, Balama and
Marrupa. The Balama-Marrupa section is in poor condition, although currently being re-
habilitated. Allow a full day from Pemba, with bush camping the only accommodation en
route. Approaching the reserve from Lichinga, there is good tarmac as far as Marrupa,
where there is petrol. At Marrupa, there is camping and basic accommodation with bucket
baths at
Quinta Manlia
(campsite per person Mtc100, r Mtc600)
, about 3km out along
the Pemba route. From Marrupa, the remaining 100km stretch up to the Lugenda River
and on into the reserve is dirt but in reasonable shape. The unpaved road from Cuamba to
Marrupa is another doable option, especially during the dry season. Petrol is generally
also available on the roadside in Mecula, although this should not be relied upon, and on
the whole, driving itineraries in the reserve will be limited by how much extra fuel you
can carry.
Once across the Lugenda, you'll need to sign in at the reserve before continuing on to-
wards Mecula and Mbatamila park headquarters - about 45km from the gate, and set in
the shadow of the 1441m-high Mt Mecula - where you can arrange a guide.
Montepuez
272
Montepuez, a busy district capital, previously rivalled Pemba as the largest town in Cabo
Delgado. Today it's known for its marble quarries and as the start of the wild 'road' west
across Niassa province towards Lichinga. It would also be the overland gateway to the Ni-
assa Reserve, were it not for a challenging 100-or-so kilometre stretch of road to the west
from Balama to Marrupa that is currently just a bush track, although it's in the process of
being rehabilitated. Allow one full day for this section.
