I am portuguese but I went to a private school in South Africa in the 1950's so I used to follow celebrities' stories all the time and purchased american magazines of that time. One of the most famous called 'Photoplay'.
I lived in Lourenco Marques and in 1958 I read in the local portuguese newspaper 'Noticias' that Joan Crawford, a very famous american movie star, was going to Gorongosa for a Safari and would be staying at the Polana Hotel.
So I was there the day she arrived because Polana Hotel was a like a home to me (it was in that swimimg pool that I learned how to swim). All the employees knew who I was and I had no problem getting to Joan Crawford and her husband Alfred Steele who at the time was Pepsi-Cola's Chairman. She signed an autrograph and was surprised to see a 16 year old girl speaking fluent english when this was a portuguese colony. I told her I had been in a boarding school in South Africa and she must have realized I was a priviledged kid. We met at the bar and she offered me a Coke. I was so happy...
All this story for what? Just to stress the fact that Gorongosa in the 50's was extremely popular and people from all over the world went there for safaris. Another famous movie star who went there was Gregory Peck.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that the entrepreneurs who are now leading this great Park will make it popular for the world once again.
All the best,
Ana Maria Ferreira