Bazaruto beach

Consisting of five paradisiacal islands off the coast of Vilanculos in Mozambique's Inhambane Province, the Bazaruto Archipelago is the most popular tourist area in Mozambique and widely considered to be the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. It is a luxury destination sought after by divers, fishermen, nature lovers and well-to-do sun seekers.

The main islands of Bazaruto and Benguerra, as well as the smaller Santa Catalina, Magaruque and Bangue islands, are 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, while unspoilt coral reefs provide underwater enthusiasts with first-rate diving and snorkelling opportunities amid thousands of fish and mammal species. On land, miles of deserted sandy beaches shaded by palm trees offer frazzled city executives a dream holiday getaway, where the most stressful thing is deciding between activities like bird watching, fishing and shell collecting, or simply enjoying the sunshine.

The largest and most popular island is 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 protective coral reefs and deep water ideally suited to big game fishing. A narrow channel separates Bazaruto from its southerly neighbour Benguela, the second largest in the chain, followed by Magaruque, which is the closest island to Vilanculos on the mainland and primarily a diving resort. From Magaruque the tiny uninhabited island of Bangue can be explored.

Attractions

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 frequented by a wide variety of water birds such as flamingos and is inhabited by crocodiles. On the northern tip of the island is a lighthouse built by the Portuguese over 100 years ago, which signals the large number of ships travelling the historical Mozambique Channel, and affords spectacular views. World famous for its large game fishing, Bazaruto is also well known as a popular diving destination, with a rich variety of marine life surrounding the island. Tourist facilities, upmarket lodges and exclusive resorts are geared towards luxury tourism.

Transport: Accessible by boat or plane from Vilanculos

Benguerra Island

Benguerra is the second largest island, less than half a mile (1km) south of Bazaruto and like its neighbour has 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 in the archipelago. Two-Mile Reef to the east of Benguerra, and its protected pool known as the Aquarium, is an underwater paradise with beautiful corals and a wealth of tropical fish, popular with both divers and snorkellers. On the surrounding sandbanks to the north of the island is where the famous Pansy shells can be found. Most visitors come to Benguerra for the big game fishing though, as its deep waters teem with the likes of marlin and barracuda, and the area is world renowned as a fishing destination. Tourist facilities, upmarket lodges and exclusive resorts are geared towards luxury tourism.

Transport: Accessible by boat or plane from Vilanculos

Travel Guide powered by Word Travels, copyright © 2008 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Educational Directories Unlimited can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.