Extreme survival in Mozambique

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:04:43 +0000

For Bassunga and his crew, the journey into the forest is a daily gamble. Every morning, they climb into an aging truck and head deep into the Mozambican wilderness. Barefoot, unprotected, and armed with little more than axes, they can bring down twenty trees in just minutes — all for a pitiful wage.

Logging is strictly illegal in Mozambique, yet the trade thrives. Powerful traffickers move the timber across borders, shipping it to China where demand for exotic wood continues to soar.

Meanwhile, for ordinary travelers, Mozambique’s roads are a nightmare. Johnny, a struggling minibus driver, waits anxiously for passengers. After a night of torrential rain, the muddy tracks have turned treacherous. But staying home is not an option — without a full truck, there is no income.

Between flooded ruts, collapsing roads, and obstacles set by locals, the 100-kilometer journey becomes a brutal odyssey. In Mozambique, survival is a daily fight — whether in the forest or on the road.

#Mozambique #IllegalLogging #Deforestation #TimberTrafficking #ChinaWoodTrade #EnvironmentalCrime #AfricaDocumentary #ForestExploitation #ClimateCrisis #WildAfrica #HumanSurvival #ExtremeRoads