Drawing on experiences from a National Park inhabited by people in Mozambique, this article explores how the ‘parks with people’ approach has evolved within a complex context characterised by conflicts between wildlife conservation and farming-based livelihoods. It analyses how communities and the park management in Limpopo National Park have dealt with the dual conservation and livelihood needs shaped by climate adversities. The article also looks at the responses advanced by the people involved to ensure household food security. We investigate how the seasonal shifting between droughts and floods affects the intensity of wildlife conflicts and the communities’ coping strategies. We contrast the communities’ dynamic responses with the static, top-down management approach adopted by the park – often driven by donor priorities – and discuss opportunities for formulating means of adaptive co-management. Our results emphasise the value of contextual understanding when crafting strategies that are likely to reconcile conservation and livelihood goals. This requires a ‘Mode 2’ science approach that builds on a close collaboration with the affected communities and covers a time span of several seasons.