Archipelago Bazaruto consists of five idyllic islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruke, Santa Isabel and Santa Carolina (formerly Paradise Island) . This is without exaggeration one of the most beautiful places on the whole African continent . Two of the five islands, the smallest, are uninhabited, and the rest have villages nestling among orange trees and cashew nuts . Today the territory of the archipelago is declared a national park, including coral reefs around the islands (this is the only marine th Reserve of Mozambique) . Park - one of the largest in the Indian Ocean, and this is a real, almost untouched paradise on earth . Kilometer a kilometer along the coast stretches deserted sandy beaches each other is more incredible . On the lee side of the islands the water is calm and turquoise, from the opposite waves more, and the shore here is even more wild and isolated .

It is possible to travel between islands only by boat. However, you can not go anywhere, but simply absorb the beauty and peace. Snow-white sand dunes are everywhere on the archipelago, and on salt lakes and tidal plains there are a variety of birds. In the coral reefs live thousands of fish and marine mammals. In particular, the largest dugong population on the entire eastern coast of Africa lives here.

How to get to the Bazaruto archipelago

The easiest way to get here is through Johannesburg. At least one flight per day connects Johannesburg with Vilankulos (the duration of the flight is about 2 hours), and from there to some hotels you can get to the plane, to some - on the boat. You can also reach the islands through Inhassoro, from Maputo or Inhambane.

Vilanculos and Inhassoro

The gate to the archipelago is the coastal town of Vilanculos on the mainland, the Mozambican water sports capital. This is also a fairly popular beach resort, where you can find five-star hotels, and economical options. A good bus connection links Vilanculos with Maputo and Beira, and small minivanes run between it and neighboring Inhambane.

Vilanculos is a small village town, compact and quite lively . It is divided into two sections, old and new, that marked by an asphalt road of about a kilometer in length . On the street on October 19, a shop-gallery of local artisans and artists was opened, where it's worth to go: just to look and buy a couple of souvenirs . And the southern beach of Vilankulos is an excellent place for rest and bathing . Ruins for city ​​features are little known, but quite worth the visit . They are close to the main road leading to Inchopa . Tour operators are organizing excursions here, although you should not inspect the ruins and yourself .

Inhassoro lies about 60 km north of Vilanculos, opposite the island of Bazaruto. This is the second starting point for sending to the islands. The beach here is also very picturesque, although there is a lot of sea grass on it.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of the Bazaruto archipelago

The largest archipelago of the same name was discovered by Europeans in the 16th century, but even before that, the Arabs have already visited . Portugueses They used the island (and the entire archipelago) as a prison colony, the prisoners of which built a lighthouse at Bazaruto . It stands here to this day, although no direct assignment is being carried out . On the island of Magaruka there is a large colony of flamingos . Paradise Island, Santa Carol was especially popular in the 60's and 70's of the 20th century's ., and although today there are no hotels here, it is often sailed from the neighboring islands for a short excursion with a lunch . The archipelago also includes the island-babe Banghe , a sort of ghost island: it is something like a small snow-white sandbox that during the tide is completely submerged . This is a good place for fishing .

The landscape of the Bazaruto National Park includes large sand dunes, forest, savannah, marshes and lakes. They are inhabited by about 3500 local residents, who are mostly fishing, collecting sand oysters and growing cereals. Naturally, the people here are very poor.

Coral reefs and the cleanest waters of the archipelago are a real expanse for divers. The people here are few, and marine life is diverse and interesting. In the dive you will find a depth of 12 to 30 m with visibility up to 40 m. During the dive you can meet dolphins, humpback whales, white sharks, mantises, turtles and spotted stingrays. The diving center on the island of Bazaruto arranges trips to the reefs of Bazaruto and San Sebastian, as well as to snorkeling sites

dhow safaris - another good type of holiday here . You can make an excursion to every island on a traditional boat . If you want to go from Vilanculos, you can go on a sea voyage even with an overnight stay and full board (on board the chef prepares salads and seafood) . Sport fishing is also more than promising: the surrounding area is the best place for catching black marlin to the east part of the Indian Ocean . The season starts early in October and lasts until the end of January . Marlins swim close to the shore, and they can often be seen feeding among the shoals of different species of tuna .

Hotels on the islands are not cheap, although the state is trying to monitor the situation, thanks to which the ecological lodges are more welcome in place of large hotel complexes. If you do not stay in one of the island hotels, and just come here for a short time, the food will have to be carried from Vilankulos.