Mozambique's The Bazaruto Area
The Bazaruto Area
The Portuguese were first drawn to Bazaruto in the 1770s with rumors of beautiful pearls whose riches they were to exploit freely, but in the early 1900s a hurricane covered the oyster beds in thick layers of sand. Today there may not be pearls but you will find strings of beautiful islands, long white beaches dotted with pansy shells, excellent diving reefs and superb fishing for kingfish and marlin.
The Bazaruto Archipelago comprises a string of six islands off the Mozambican coast between Vilankulo in the south and Inhassoro in the north. White-sailed dhows make romantic travellers between the mainland and the islands of the archipelago, whose palm-fringed beaches and lush interiors, replete with wildlife and at least 150 species of birds, thoroughly exemplify the ideal of an Indian Ocean island paradise.
The Bazaruto Archipelago’s greatest attractions are found not on its islands but in its seas. From the dive centres on Bazaruto and Benguerra islands you can explore one of the world's finest diving destinations in a crystal-clear ocean warmed by the Mozambique Stream. Myriads of tropical fish aside, divers frequently see humpback whales, marine turtles, spinner, humpback and bottlenose dolphins, and large game fish like marlins and barracudas.
