The archipelago lies off the coast of Mozambique in southeastern Africa. This island chain is most easily accessible from Vilanculos. It is a tropical paradise that offers some of Africa's finest beach vacations from small intimate lodges on private islands.
Need Advice?Bazaruto achieved national park status in 1971. The archipelago consists of six pristine islands; Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina, and Shell.
With so many sensational sandy beaches, spectacular coral reefs, and captivating marine wildlife, it is clear why this stretch of land and sea is so popular amongst visitors.
This beach vacation combines the best of Mozambique for a holiday that visits Benguerra and the Quirimbas Archipelago.
A short but memorable vacation on the beaches of southern Mozambique, easily accessible from South Africa.
Small intimate properties on pristine islands offer the perfect beach getaway in Africa.
Set on Bazaruto Island, 30km off the coast of Mozambique, this luxury retreat offers the opportunity to swim with dolphins and view the turtle migration.
Only twenty villas provide a tropical retreat on this unspoiled island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. A perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
The Bazaruto area supports what is probably East Africa's last viable population of the endangered dugong. The Bazaruto Dugong Protection Project has been operating since 2010 to conserve the archipelago's flagship mammal. These unusual aquatic mammals occur throughout the national park.
Bazaruto boasts such a wide range of diving sites, each with its unique allure and level of difficulty, that any diver - novice or expert - will delight in the options available. Immersing yourself in these vibrant waters will prove unforgettable. Most of the lodges in the area have their diving schools or have choice connections with reputable diving operators.
The Bazaruto archipelago is less cumbersome to reach than, for example, the Quirimbas. There are direct daily flights between Johannesburg and Vilanculos (one hour and 45 minutes in duration). From there, a motorized dhow boat - rather than pricey helicopter or light aircraft charters.
Experiences to savor around the Bazaruto archipelago focus on marine life, from deep sea fishing to scuba diving and snorkeling amidst barely touched coral reefs. The ocean surrounding this pristine collection of islands abounds with wildlife.
Vilanculos is in Mozambique's Inhambane Province. It is the most convenient access point for the Bazaruto Archipelago. Dhows frequently travel between the town and the islands. The town is only around 5km long, yet equipped with all the amenities required to make your visit comfortable yet authentic. Vilanculos Airport offers daily routes between major regional destinations like Johannesburg, Maputo, Swaziland, and elsewhere.
Mozambique has a tropical climate, with year-round warm temperatures. The best time to visit the area is during the dry season – which runs from May to November. These are also the cooler winter months. The islands are very hot during December and January, making traveling unpleasant. February to March is hurricane season, so if you do visit during this time, be prepared for occasional downpours of rain.
When you choose to travel to Bazaruto may also depend on what activities in which you are interested. The waters of the Indian Ocean are always warm, and scuba diving conditions tend to be good all year. Migrating humpback whales are in these waters from June to September, and the best time to see whale sharks is from October to early December. The Bazaruto Archipelago offers world-class big-game fishing. The best time to go marlin fishing is from September to January, while sailfish patrol the waters from May to September.
The Bazaruto Islands have a long history of human occupation. Before the Portuguese occupation of the coast, the islands were almost certainly the site of East Africa's most southerly Muslim trading settlements. By the middle of the 16th century, the islands were lorded over by Portuguese traders, and the surrounding sea was known for producing high-quality pearls.
The Portuguese established their first settlement on Santa Carolina island in 1855. Initially an ivory trading post, the island was later used as a penal colony but was abandoned by the beginning of the 20th century. Interesting historical relics include a ruined 19th-century fort on Magaruque and a fully intact but non-operational 100-year-old lighthouse on Bazaruto.
In 1971, the archipelago's five main islands and the surrounding ocean became Bazaruto National Park, which extends eastward from the coastline between Vilanculos and Inhassaro to cover some 1430 km2. The three largest islands were formerly part of a peninsula that is thought to have separated from the mainland within the last 100 000 years.
Pansy Island
Not so much an island as a tidal sandbar situated a short distance south of Bazaruto Island, this famous landmark can easily be visited as an extension of a trip to Two Mile Reef. It is named for the so-called pansy shells (also known as sea biscuits or sand dollars) that are abundant in its inter-tidal shallows. This pretty shell-like object, with a distinctive five-petaled floral pattern on its flattened face, is not a shell but the endoskeleton of a burrowing sea urchin of the order Clypeasteroia. The living creature is usually black or purple and covered in bristles, but the endoskeleton is bleached white by the sun and saline water after it dies.
Bazaruto Island
A striking feature of the archipelago's largest island is its immense dunes rising from its southern shore. You can visit these in conjunction with Two Mile Reef and Pansy Island. Reputedly the highest point on the islands, rising around 100m above the surrounding water, the steep dunes can be climbed, albeit in something of two steps forward, one-step back mode, and with some serious sandblasting in windy weather. Once at the top, the views in all directions are exhilarating, with the open ocean and other islands stretching away to the south and a landscape of lakes and dunes running north. If you are staying at one of the lodges on Bazaruto, you should visit some of the lakes and other dune fields, some of which are spectacular, and meet local communities.
Benguerra Island
Like its more prominent northerly neighbor, Benguerra supports an attractive and varied landscape of marshes, lakes, and tall climbable dunes, well worth exploring on a guided drive if you are staying at one of the lodges. Wildlife includes plentiful monkeys, small antelope such as red duiker and suni, some impressive crocodiles in the lakes, and a superb mix of birds, with brown-headed parrots, African hoopoe, green pigeon, crowned hornbill, and various bee-eaters conspicuous. At the same time, flamingos and other waterbirds frequent the lakes. You can visit local communities.
There are numerous dive sites dotted around the islands. Still, the undisputed champion is Two Mile Reef, a barrier reef on the outer side of the archipelago between the islands of Bazaruto and Benguerra. Tides permitting, the best snorkeling spot is The Aquarium, a calm coral garden that lies on the inner reef and supports a dazzling selection of hard and soft corals, as well as reef fish of all shapes and colors, from tiny coral fish to mighty potato bass and brindle bass. It is also an excellent spot to see reef sharks and marine turtles, though neither is guaranteed, while lucky divers might see manta rays and whale sharks.
There are many dive sites on the seaward side of the same reef, with evocative names such as The Arches, Shark Point, Surgeon Rock, The Cathedral, and The Gap. Any dive center can advise on the site most suitable to your interests and current conditions. Still, suppose you are setting up a trip from Vilanculos. In that case, it is worth paying extra to visit Two Mile Reef instead of taking the cheaper excursion to Magaruque, which has no good reefs and thus offers vastly inferior diving and snorkeling.
These beautiful islands offer a great range of activities in which to participate and enjoy. For starters, it hosts an extraordinarily diverse birdlife - an excellent atmosphere and opportunity for those eager bird watchers or admirers of the beauty that Africa offers in all shapes and forms. If you're not a hardcore birder, you can exchange looks with the many seabirds visible over the horizon from the comfort of the beach, maybe with a drink or two in hand or while taking your journey through some of the thriving ocean habitats found here.
Kayaking, water-skiing, wakeboarding, and knee boarding gear are available for use and a perfect way to explore the same waters Portuguese settlers once did in a modern and exciting way any member of the family or couple can enjoy. The wide choice of water sports allows you to choose one suited to your mood that day, whether it be calm or energetic, and they never disappoint. You can enjoy all of this from the safety and luxury of these glorious and exclusive islands, far away from the chaos of everyday life, along with fishing expeditions and spa services.
More secluded and tailored experiences should also be in the itinerary of any guests to these gorgeous islands. Some of the most mythical environments remain open to guests, untouched by the grasp of humanity. Here one might enjoy a peaceful picnic while admiring and taking in the wonders of the tropical climate, with family members, with lovers, or simply with the serene personality of nature itself. Whether you come for an adventure or a getaway, endless activities exist.
