The Bazaruto Archipelego :: overview

About 55 km off the mainland, the Bazaruto Archipelago consists of five islands: Bazaruto, Magaruque, Santa Carolina, Benguera (Benguerra) and Bangue. In 1971, the Portuguese bestowed national park status on the area to protect its fragile fauna. Small herds of red duiker antelope still roam the islands, carving out a precarious existence alongside freshwater crocodiles and samango monkeys. The choppy reefs are fertile breeding grounds for turtles, dolphins and dugongs.

 

To keep environmental damage to a minimum, visitors stay at one of several private lodges, which offer excellent scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and sailing. The islands are covered by large sand dunes (the sand is so soft it squeaks beneath your feet) and freshwater lakes, which are nesting grounds for beautiful black-winged flamingos. Trips to the Islands or typically taken by dhow (Arab-style sailing boat) from the mainland towns of Vilanculos.

 

Sustainable Tourism

 

Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation is helping to finance this $10 million coastal and wildlife eco-tourism project in Mozambique's Bazaruto Archipelago. Backed by the Global Environmental Facility, the International Finance Corporation, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Sanctuary has followed world standards with regard to social and environmental issues. The project will provide economic development from tourism and job creation, and community development, including a health clinic, school, and housing.

Wildlife and Environmental Issues

 

The coasts harbor a mix of mangroves, vast offshore coral reefs, and sea grass beds that provide food resources and habitat for seabird colonies, nesting sea turtles, and numerous fishes. The Bazaruto National Park, is home to over 100 individual dugongs (Dugong dugon), and five species of nesting sea turtles with several species of dolphins (Family, Delphinidae) and the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis).

 

 

BAZARUTO

Bazaruto Island is the largest island of the Bazaruto Archipelago. It is approximately 37km long and 7km at its widest point.  The island is a beautiful, unspoilt, leisure destination and is the perfect place to switch off from stressful city life.  The impressive beauty of the surrounding coral reefs is enriched by the stunning diversity of the tropical fish, which abound in this sub-tropical ecosystem. The archipelago has well earned its name as the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'.