TryGOLD- Free

From Under Dark Skies
Robb Report Singapore|September 2023
Following a devastating civil war, Mozambique's majestic Gorongosa National Park is reborn with the help of a deep-pocketed benefactor.
- Mary Holland
From Under Dark Skies

The first time Greg Carr visited Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, in March 2004, he left a message in the visitor’s ledger, unaware the brief missive would prove prophetic—or that he would play a crucial part in its fulfilment. In the slim, faded black book from the early 2000s, among comments spaced months apart—a sign of the dismal tourism numbers—he wrote: “This is a spectacular park and it could become one of the best in Africa with some assistance. Greg Carr.”

Almost two decades later, his encouraging words in the guest book have begun to ring true. Only an eternal optimist could have written such a positive assessment of a place that had been all but abandoned, where the most visible signs of animal life were swarms of mosquitoes. Gorongosa, sprawling across more than 3,885 sq km at the southern point of the Great Rift Valley, in the central part of the country, was once an illustrious swathe of land with a richly biodiverse terrain bursting with wildlife. It drew the likes of John Wayne, astronauts and other high-profile guests and was considered among the greatest reserves in Africa. Portuguese promotional videos from the 1960s and 1970s advertise guests cruising through the bush in groovy Volkswagen microbuses and sitting beside a glimmering swimming pool at Chitengo Camp. That was all before the 16-year-long civil war, a devastating and complicated conflict that erupted after independence was won from the Portuguese in 1976. One million people were killed, and the park became a battlefield that decimated the wildlife population. Some animals were slaughtered for bush meat, others for their valuable horns or tusks.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Robb Report Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2023 edition of Robb Report Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ROBB REPORT SINGAPOREView All
Gordon Ramsay Makes it Rain
Robb Report Singapore

Gordon Ramsay Makes it Rain

The famed British chef and TV host hasn’t held on to three Michelin stars at his flagship restaurant for 23 years simply by screaming. Alex French unearths the secret to his worldwide domination.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2025
The Weight Of Tradition
Robb Report Singapore

The Weight Of Tradition

Maximilian Riedel reflects on balancing the weight of a 260-year family legacy with modern innovation, steering a historic brand into the future while honouring its rich heritage.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025
Balancing Thrills
Robb Report Singapore

Balancing Thrills

Lotus’s first electric Hyper-GT, the Emeya S, delivers thrilling performance, luxury and practicality in a striking package.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025
Burn Calories, Not Carbon
Robb Report Singapore

Burn Calories, Not Carbon

Luxury fitness equipment purveyor, Cycling Bears, proves that sustainability is more than a buzzword-it’s a lifestyle that we need to espouse for the sake of posterity and ourselves.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025
Cool As Ice
Robb Report Singapore

Cool As Ice

Mercedes-Benz’s brainy, down-to-earth CEO Ola Källenius is an expert at racing a nearly 4-ton truck across a frozen lake. Can he steer the marque’s electric vehicle-focused future as adeptly?

time-read
10 mins  |
February 2025
VINCENZO CASTALDO
Robb Report Singapore

VINCENZO CASTALDO

The creative director of Pomellato delves into the artistic and personal philosophies shaping his life and work.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025
Electric Shock
Robb Report Singapore

Electric Shock

Porsche finally adds hybridisation to the 911 with the all-new GTS, and enthusiasts are, predictably, up in arms. But how does it actually drive?

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2025
Swing Into Luxury
Robb Report Singapore

Swing Into Luxury

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN you combine one of Singapore’s most prestigious golf courses with a luxurious five-star resort? You get a hole-in-one golfing escape like no other.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2025
Don't Bid Adieu Yet
Robb Report Singapore

Don't Bid Adieu Yet

The Vicem 65 Classic, offered in both fibreglass and cold-moulded wood, is a sophisticated vessel imbued with anachronistic panache.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2025
STRAIGHT OUT OF ORBIS
Robb Report Singapore

STRAIGHT OUT OF ORBIS

Roger Dubuis has never been one to play it safe, and the Orbis in Machina shows why

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more