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.