Highlights
Marine National Park
Benguerra Island is part of a marine national park, showcasing rich coral reefs, inshore seagrass beds, protected sealife and other rare creatures. Measuring about 55 kilometres in length, the island broke away from the mainland thousands of years ago and its topography is fascinating, with savannah, forest, freshwater lakes and wetland eco systems supporting all manner of plants and animals. Dolphins come regularly to the beaches, while June to September brings migrating Humpback Whales to the region, a wonderful sight to see as they flip gracefully out of the water.
Diving
Scuba-diving conditions tend to be good year-round, with superb water clarity, and top dive sites include Two-Mile Reef, Five-Mile Reef, Manta Ray Reef, Potholes, Brindle Bass Ridge and Fossil Reef – the latter sheltered by Benguerra and a hugely unique spot where spooky, fossilised trees sprout from the sea floor. The underwater world here is truly incredible, awash with stunning coral gardens, drop-offs, walls and deep canyons. Look out for giant Manta Rays, Moray Eels, Whale Sharks, dolphins, myriad fish and turtles, as well as Africa’s biggest population of dugongs, grazing on seagrass meadows.
Fishing
The Bazaruto Archipelago is famous for fishing, with abundant baitfish and, in turn, abundant game fish. Fishing options vary from light tackle fishing in the bay and fly fishing in the ocean, to deep-sea fishing for big game. From our featured resort, guests can explore these protein-rich seas in state-of-the-art boats, with the chance to hook Black Marlin, Giant Kingfish and tuna.
Beaches
Benguerra is a tropical island fringed by long, powder-soft beaches the colour of talc – sublime scoops that are beautifully unspoilt and edged with lofty palms, rolling dunes and warm, clear seas. Alongside diving, they’re a star attraction of this far-flung corner of Africa, offering a picturesque setting for romantic strolls, horseback canters and refreshing swims.
Culture
This magical location off Africa’s eastern shores blends local traditions with Indian, Portuguese and Arab influences. The food, for instance, frequently showcases seafood and is sometimes given a Portuguese or Indian twist, exciting the palate of foodies. Visit the slow-paced, coastal town of Vilanculos and its charming markets, laden with exotic foods and curios or join an escorted outing to a little fishing village to meet the local chief and watch islanders sail out to sea in wooden boats, returning with a gleaming catch for a fantastic, fresh-from-the-water supper – the way of life here is still wonderfully simple.