Bazaruto Archipelago

The best time to visit Bazaruto Archipelago is during the dry season months of May to September. Mozambique is blessed with warm temperature all year round, making it an excellent destination for water sport enthusiasts.

Overview
Parallel with the mainland, on its northern point where the Farol do Bazaruto (lighthouse) still flashes its signal out to sea. Bazaruto Island is the largest island in Mozambique’s only dedicated marine park and is home to two lovely resorts set on postcard-perfect beaches. About 30km long and some 7km at its widest, Bazaruto is the biggest island in the archipelago. There are no shops on Bazaruto, only natural beauty, pure white beaches and a wonderland of fauna and flora to discover. The island itself is home to some 125-different species of birds. Benguerua, south of Bazaruto, is smaller but with similar geography and wildlife. The island has a population of approximately 2 500 persons. There is a single government run health clinic on Bazaruto.

Activities
The following activities are available diving, snorkelling, bird watching, horse riding, dune boarding, deep sea fishing, dugong, turtle, whale & dolphin watching and traditional dhow excursions.

Flights & Getting there
Guests fly to Vilanculos, on a chartered or commercial flight, via Johannesburg direct or via Maputo, Beira or Inhambane. On arrival at Vilanculos, you are met by an lodge representative who will assist with your road transfer (15 minutes) to the jetty where you board a speed boat. This journey takes roughly 45 minutes.

Flying to lodge from Vilanculos is approximately 15 minutes. A maximum luggage weight for the island charter is 20kg preferably in soft bags. For safety reasons and civil aviation policy, island transfers by air or sea cannot take place after 17h00. Guests who are affected by delayed flights will be accommodated on the mainland at the expense of the airline/travel insurance and will be transferred to Anantara Bazaruto the following morning.

Overview

Benguerua, the second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, is less than a kilometre south of Bazaruto Island and is at 2 500 hectares in size. Like its neighbour, it also has high dunes, inland lakes and long wide beaches – perfect for a Mozambique beach holiday. There are no big resorts on the island, instead there are luxurious lodges and Mozambique villas which open onto the soft sand and turquoise sea. Benguerua also has savanna grassland with clumps of scrub thicket, areas of evergreen dune forest. Only three small remnant patches of evergreen dune forests remain on Benguerua. Fortuitously the remnant on Benguerua was saved from further destruction by the lodge developers.

Activities

Non-motorized activities cover sailing, kayaking and windsurfing. Other activities are scuba-diving, snorkelling, fishing and water-skiing.

Flights & Getting there
45 minute scenic helicopter transfer from Pemba Airport to Medjumbe Island treats guests to a spectacular bird’s view of the paradise that awaits them.

OVERVIEW

Magaruque Island is at 600 hectares in size. Magaruque Island is the most densely populated of all islands and as a consequence the vegetation has been disturbed by agriculture and habitation. The island has a dune-cordon running along its eastern edge with a pioneer dune vegetation, scrub thicket and secondary dune forest. Two small patches of evergreen dune forest can be found along the western margin of the island.

Activities

Watersports – Fishing, Diving, Snorkeling, Waterskiing, Hobie Cat, Sea Kayaks, Sunset Cruises, Cultural Island Tours (Ibo Island excursion), Island Dhow Tours, Volleyball and beach games.

Flights & Getting there

Fly into Pemba International Airport and transfer to Matemo via light aircraft (transfer duration +/- 20 min).

OVERVIEW

Santa Carolina Island is at 500 hectares in size and it was previously referred to as the Paradise Island. Santa Carolina Island is a small island which was developed extensively for tourism. Despite the development this island has a large mangrove community and a salt marsh on the southern side of the island and a secondary dune forest dune forest in the north. The striped skink is a very common species on buildings on the mainland, but is absent from all islands except Santa Carolina. The Santa Carolina skinks live on retaining walls and old Casuarina trees,

Activities

Activities include snorkelling, kayaking, nature walks, and sailing. Ample viewing opportunities of samango monkeys, coconut crabs, and various bird species. Diving opportunities are plenty.

Flights & Getting there

Fly into Pemba International Airport and transfer to Matemo via light aircraft (transfer duration +/- 20 min).

What is the population size of all islands?

The population size of all islands is approximately 3500 people

What is a protected area?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a protected area is an “area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biologically diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means, for the benefit of the present and future generations.

What is the greatest threat to the natural heritage of Archipelago?

Apart from the customary pressures brought about by fishing, tourism and associated waste management, there is also the increased threat posed by oil and gas exploitation.

What are the type of reefs found on the Archipelago?

The reefs are primarily concentrated on the Bazaruto island and the reefs can be divided into three types, namely, submerged sandstone reefs, submerged fringing reefs and patch reefs.

Where is the best diving arena and why?

The most spectacular diving is found on the outer Bazaruto reef areas where large fish are encountered and on shallow, fringing reef tops where an abundance of staghorn corals, with a diversity of other corals and colourful reef fish occur.

What is the main economic activity on the islands?

Artisanal fishing with traditional methods is the main economic activity for more than 70% of the local population.