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.
Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about.
Flight Information
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways direct from London Heathrow to Johannesburg.
Via Dubai with Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Onward connecting flights with Federal Airlines to Vilanculos and Airlink to Pemba.
Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Johannesburg: 10 hours, 50 minutes.
Onward connecting flights from Johannesburg to Vilanculos: 2 hours, 15 minutes.
From Johannesburg to Pemba: 2 hours, 50 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Visas are required for travel to Mozambique and can be obtained on arrival for approximately USD$95. Because the process to obtain a visa on arrival is slow, we recommend arranging a visa prior to travel with CIBT either on line at www.uk.cibt.com or by telephone 0844 800 4650.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance.
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.