Just offshore from southern Mozambique, between Inhassoro and Vilanculos, lies the Bazaruto Archipelago a five-island chain comprising Bazaruto Island( the largest), Magaruque Island( easy snorkelling), Santa Carolina Island( rugged and remote), Banqué( tiny, pictureperfect) and Benguerra Island( a birding hotspot).
Vilanculos is the main gateway, with regular flights from Johannesburg taking about two hours. You can also connect straight from the Kruger National Park in little over an hour, making it easy to do bush in the morning and beach by sunset. From Vilanculos, transfers to the islands are either by light aircraft or speedboat, depending on the lodge you’ re staying at. dhow cruises, there are also seafood beach dinners and castaway-style picnics on offer.
Because these reefs are among the least disturbed in this part of the Indian Ocean, dive sites feel uncrowded and wildlife sightings are the main event: whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, humpback whales, and even the rare, usually elusive dugong. On land, five species of turtle nest on the beaches, while offshore waters deliver big-ticket fishing for sailfish and marlin – a dream for any serious angler.
In the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, snorkelling and diving are world-class; with dolphins, whales and thousands of fish species found here. Life here is built around the water: deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat trips and lazy dhow cruises, where visibility can reach to about 30 metres and reefs stretch for miles. Snorkellers should not miss The Aquarium, a sheltered natural pool packed with colour. And if you’ re looking for a little romance, besides the
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