Bazaruto Island, Marine national park in Inhambane Province, Mozambique
Bazaruto Island is the largest island of the Bazaruto Archipelago, located off the coast of Inhambane Province in Mozambique. It is made up of wide sandy beaches, dune formations, coastal forests, and lagoons that together form a varied shoreline.
From around the 3rd century, the island was part of Indian Ocean trade routes that linked it to settlements along the Swahili coast. After a long period when it was largely left without permanent residents, fishing communities began settling there again in the late 19th century.
Fishermen on Bazaruto still use traditional boats and nets passed down over generations, and watching them work gives a clear sense of how life on the island is organized around the sea. Their daily routines follow the tides closely, and early mornings on the shore are the best time to see this in action.
Getting to the island requires a charter flight from Vilankulos or a boat transfer, as there is no regular public ferry service. A handful of resorts provide accommodation and organize water activities, so planning ahead is helpful.
The waters around the island are among the very few places left in the Indian Ocean where dugongs can still be spotted, and early theories suggest that sailors who saw them may have inspired mermaid legends. Five species of sea turtles also nest on the island's beaches, making this stretch of coast one of the more active nesting sites in the region.
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