Mozambique, located on the east coast of southern Africa, is a beautiful country and boasts palm-fringed beaches, an endless array of coral reefs and unique flora and fauna.

With over 2,500km of pristine beaches, as well as beautiful tropical islands, Mozambique is the ideal destination for relaxing on semi-deserted beaches.

The archipelagos of Bazaruto and Quirimbas are some of the most romantic and secluded destinations in the world with spectacular lodges.

Mozambique is internationally famous for its amazing marine life, with the coast surrounded by coral reefs and a great diversity of species, the country is a perfect destination for those who want to snorkel or dive and admire a variety of sharks, whales and dolphins.

Itinerary

Vilanculos

Vilanculos is a lovely and charming coastal town, where life flows to the rhythm of the rising of the sun and the changing of the tide, the people are welcoming and happy to proudly show their culture, in Vilanculos you can breathe the typical African atmosphere.

The town of Vilanculos offers some stunning beaches and crystal clear waters which attract water sports, snorkelers and kite surfers in particular, from all over the world.

Mozambique’s beautiful palm-lined beaches are wonderfully free of crowds and offer great snorkeling, diving, and sport fishing.

Traditional sailing dhows are still a common means of transport used by locals but are also used for romantic sunset cruises, an experience not to be missed.

A canoe tour on the Govuro River, a waterway that has no access to the sea and is home to spectacular birdlife, is another of the excursions that Vilanculos offers.

Vilanculos is also the perfect place to sample the cuisine of the region, savory dishes influenced by Portuguese cuisine such as the peri-peri sauce that goes perfectly with fresh fish from Mozambique.

In Vilanculos there are interesting markets where you can get lost and grasp the essence of the daily life of the locals.

Bazaruto archipelago

The Bazaruto archipelago is a group of five islands located off the coast of Vilanculos: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, the desert island of Santa Carolina and Bangué.

Known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, the archipelago is the tropical paradise par excellence thanks to its white beaches lined with palm trees and warm, blue seas.

The archipelago of Bazaruto is also one of the most important marine sanctuaries along the coast of East Africa and represents a series of critical habitats for many rare and endemic species, most of the archipelago is in fact located within the marine area protected area of ​​the Bazaruto National Park, established in 1971.

The archipelago is home to incredible marine life, including 500 species of marine and coastal molluscs, 2,000 species of fish and nine species of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins and the endangered dugong.

Migratory species also exploit the park’s productive marine environment and include whale sharks, great white sharks, manta rays and whales and humpback whales.

The Bazaruto archipelago is the largest marine reserve in the Indian Ocean for good reasons:

• The reserve has over 2,000 species of fish
• Over 100 hard and 27 soft coral species can be found
• Over four species of whales and five of dolphins are found here
• Bazaruto has the largest remaining dugong population in
• East Africa, raising the profile of the area to a global marine conservation priority
• Crocodiles can still be observed in the islands’ shallow inland lakes

The coral reefs surrounding the chain of islands offer unparalleled opportunities for snorkeling and diving, with dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and over 2,000 species of fish populating the crystal clear waters, while flocks of flamingos and pelicans populate the shores and inland salt lakes.

Two Mile Reef is one of the best diving sites in the world while The Aquarium, a huge protected natural pool, is a paradise for snorkelers.

Useful Info

The climate in Mozambique, influenced by the monsoons of the Indian Ocean and the warm currents of the Mozambique Channel, is generally tropical and humid.

The best time to travel to Vilanculos and Bazaruto is the period from May to October, as this is the dry season.