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    • Bazaruto Archipelago

    Bazaruto Archipelago travel guide

    View Mozambique travel guide

    Overview

    Consisting of six islands off the coast of Vilanculos, in Mozambique's Inhambane Province, the Bazaruto Archipelago is the most popular tourist area in the country and widely considered to be the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'.

    It's a luxury destination sought after by divers, fishermen, nature lovers, and sun seekers. The main islands of Bazaruto and Benguerra, as well as the smaller Santa Carolina, Magaruque, Bangue and Pansy Shell Island are all protected within a national park, one of the largest of its kind in the Indian Ocean.

    The warm seas are home to whales, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, and the endangered dugong. Unspoiled coral reefs attract this rich marine life, providing underwater enthusiasts with top-class scuba diving and snorkelling adventures.

    On land, miles of deserted beaches stretch beneath the shade of palm trees, offering weary city executives a dream getaway. The most stressful thing is deciding between activities like birdwatching, fishing, and simply soaking up rays of sunshine.

    The largest island is the popular Bazaruto, which gives the archipelago its name. To the west is the smallest island, Santa Carolina, nearly two miles (3km) long and less than half a mile (500m) wide, surrounded by protected coral reefs and deep water suited to big game fishing.

    A narrow channel separates Bazaruto from its southern neighbour Benguela, second largest in the chain, followed by Magaruque, which is primarily a diving resort. One can also explore the tiny uninhabited island of Bangue when travelling from Bangue.

    Bazaruto Island

    The largest island in the archipelago, Bazaruto Island is about 23 miles (37km) long and four miles (7km) wide, surrounded by magnificent stretches of white sand. Enormous sand dunes comprise the eastern strip, while the interior contains large freshwater lakes inhabited by crocodiles and frequented by a wide variety of water birds, including flamingos.

    On the northern tip of the island is a lighthouse built by the Portuguese over 100 years ago, which signals to the large number of ships travelling the historic Mozambique Channel and affords spectacular views from its tower.

    World famous for its large game fishing, Bazaruto is a popular diving destination with a rich variety of marine life surrounding the island. The Bazaruto Marine National Park offers coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and diverse underwater life.

    Reef sharks, dolphins, manta rays, and turtles are regular visitors to these waters, and the turtles lay their eggs on the beaches of the island. Humpback whales can be found between August and October, and whale sharks between April and July.

    Tourist facilities, upmarket lodges, and exclusive resorts dot the island and most gear themselves towards luxury tourism. Bazaruto is accessible by boat or plane from Vilanculos.

    Bazaruto Island Bazaruto Island Julien Lagarde
    Benguerra Island

    Benguerra is the second largest island of the Bazaruto Archipelago, less than half a mile (1km) south of Bazaruto. Like its neighbour, Benguerra boasts stunning beaches, large sand dunes, and freshwater lakes.

    Its forest and wetland areas attract a huge variety of birds and animals, while its surrounding reefs offer some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities on the African continent. Two-mile Reef is to the east of Benguerra.

    Its protected lagoon, known aptly as the Aquarium, is an underwater paradise with beautiful corals and a wealth of tropical fish, popular with both divers and snorkellers. People will find the famous Pansy shells along the sandbanks to the north of the island.

    Most visitors go to Benguerra for the big game fishing as its deep waters teem with the likes of marlin and barracuda. The area is world-renowned as a sport fishing destination and is accessible by boat or plane from Vilanculos. Happily, there's plenty of accommodation on the island.

    Tourist facilities are good, with a number of upmarket lodges and exclusive resorts geared towards luxury tourism. Benguerra is a popular honeymoon destination and remains an unspoiled natural paradise, fast becoming one of the best luxury beach destinations in Africa.

    Bazaruto Archipelago Bazaruto Archipelago Richard Moross
    Vilanculos

    Vilanculos is a popular tourist destination and the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a group of islands incorporated into Mozambique's stunning underwater national park. Visitors on day trips from the town are encouraged to go scuba diving and snorkelling in the clear waters.

    There's also the chance to go horse riding along the unspoiled beaches of the Vilanculos coast. Sailing around the archipelago in a traditional dhow is a great way to enjoy the azure ocean waves, sandy beaches, palm trees, and coral reefs of the islands.

    Vilanculos is also a great fishing area, ranked as the best black marlin destination in the eastern Indian Ocean. The region is best explored on foot, offering a number of good restaurants, a few bars and shops, and a central market in the village of Vilankulo.

    Although it has been experiencing a tourism boom and has decent amenities and great accommodation options, it has retained its local flavour. There is even a new international airport on the outskirts of town, with flights to both Johannesburg and Maputo.

    Enjoy horseriding on the beach in Vilanculos Enjoy horseriding on the beach in Vilanculos graemenewcomb

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    English Pronounciation

    The Bazaruto Archipelago is the most popular tourist destination in Mozambique and offers a plethora of fun ocean activities as well as stunning surroundings to enjoy while doing absolutely nothing. The islands are famous scuba diving and fishing destinations, and visitors without diving expertise can enjoy glorious snorkelling along the pristine coral reefs. Various watersports are possible, including sailing, water skiing, kayaking and wind surfing, and conditions are wonderful for swimming. The water is pleasantly warm all year. Land based activities include horse riding along the beach, bird watching, hiking along dramatic sand dunes, 4x4 safaris to explore the island landscapes, and, of course, sun bathing.

    Travellers tend to arrive in Vilanculos (there is an international airport just outside the town) and are ferried across to the islands in traditional dhows. The town of Vilankulo, or Vilanculos, is worth exploring, with a bustling central market and some good bars, restaurants and shops, giving tourists a taste of local culture. Many choose to stay in or near the town on the mainland and enjoy daytrips to the various islands, but there are luxury resorts to luxuriate at within the archipelago.

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    No direct flights from Heathrow to this Destination