Introduction
The Bazaruto Archipelago is a narrow chain of five idyllic islands off the Mozambique coast, plus surrounding islets and coral reefs. It's accessed via the coastal town of Vilanculos at its southern end and the fishing village of Inhassaro, to the north. Accommodation is in luxury island lodges, from where sand and sea can be explored.
Sand bars, tidal flats and saline lakes support plentiful water birds and waders, and 150 bird species in total. However, it's for its underwater environments that Bazaruto is best known. Dugongs, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales and large game fish such as marlin and barracuda have earned Bazaruto a reputation as one of the world's best diving and snorkelling locations. Dhow cruises are another way to see these marine marvels.