Maputo National Park (formerly Maputo Elephant Reserve) is a protected area in southern Mozambique, covering 1,040 km². Initially established in 1932 to protect local elephant populations, it became a multi-species conservation area in 1969. It forms part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, connecting protected regions across Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini.
The reserve features diverse ecosystems including savannah woodlands, coastal lakes, and freshwater lagoons, and is home to over 4,200 reintroduced animals such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, nyalas, and buffaloes. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, hosting over 350 bird species, including rare ones like the Spotted Ground Thrush and Neergaard’s Sunbird.
