The Bazaruto Archipelago holds approximately 250 dugongs — the last viable population on the entire East African coast. This is the story of marine conservation at its most urgent.
Bazaruto Archipelago: Protecting the Last Dugongs of East Africa
In the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Inhambane province, five islands sit in a line like emeralds dropped on blue silk. This is the Bazaruto Archipelago — a marine national park that holds the last viable population of dugongs on the entire East African coast.
The Islands
The Bazaruto Archipelago consists of five islands:
- Bazaruto — The largest, with towering sand dunes reaching 130 metres
- Benguerra — The most developed for tourism, with luxury lodges
- Magaruque — Small, sandy, with excellent snorkelling
- Santa Carolina (Paradise Island) — The smallest, rocky with coral beaches
- Bangue — A tiny sandbar used by fishermen
The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and crystal-clear waters. Together they form the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park — Mozambique's oldest marine protected area, declared in 1971.
The Dugong: Ghost of the Sea
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal — a relative of the manatee, and the only fully marine herbivorous mammal. It grazes on seagrass beds, surfacing every few minutes to breathe.
Bazaruto holds approximately 250 dugongs — the last viable population on the entire East African coast. They were once abundant from Mozambique to Kenya. Hunting, habitat destruction, and gill-net fishing have eliminated them everywhere except here.
Why Bazaruto? The answer is the seagrass. The shallow waters around the islands contain some of the Indian Ocean's most extensive seagrass meadows — the dugong's sole food source. Protect the seagrass, and you protect the dugong.
Threats to Dugongs
- Gill nets — The single greatest killer. Dugongs drown when caught in nets set for fish.
- Seagrass loss — Coastal development, sedimentation from inland erosion, and dredging destroy the meadows.
- Boat strikes — Fast boats in shallow waters injure and kill dugongs.
- Climate change — Warming waters and ocean acidification affect seagrass health.
The park authorities, with partners like the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) and the African Parks Network, are working to eliminate gill-net fishing in the park and enforce speed limits for boats.
Beyond Dugongs: The Marine Park
The dugong is the headline act, but the park protects much more:
- Coral reefs — Over 180 species of coral, with reef fish in abundance
- Turtles — Five species of marine turtle — loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley — nest on the islands' beaches
- Manta rays and whale sharks — Regular visitors to the deeper channels
- Humpback whales — Migrate past the archipelago from June to September
- Birds — Over 240 species, including flamingos, fish eagles, and migratory waders
The Community Connection
Approximately 7,000 people live within or adjacent to the park, most on Bazaruto and Benguerra islands. They are Vahoka, Tonga, and Tsonga fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea.
The park's greatest challenge — and greatest opportunity — is ensuring that conservation does not exclude these communities. Initiatives include:
- Community fishing zones — Areas where traditional line fishing is permitted, with restrictions on destructive methods
- Alternative livelihoods — Seaweed farming, eco-tourism guiding, and craft cooperatives
- School programmes — Teaching the next generation about marine conservation
- Revenue sharing — A percentage of park fees goes to community projects
Visiting Bazaruto
- Getting there: Fly to Vilankulo (VNX) via Maputo or Johannesburg. Speedboat transfers (30–60 minutes) or helicopter transfers (15 minutes) to the islands.
- Where to stay:
- Azura Benguerra — Luxury eco-lodge
- Anantara Bazaruto — Resort-style
- Benguerra Island Lodge — Mid-range
- Vilankulo-based operators — Day trips and dhow safaris for budget travellers
- Activities: Snorkelling, diving (PADI courses available), dhow cruises, island hopping, birdwatching, horse riding on the beach
- Park fees: Approximately USD 15 per person per day — money that funds conservation and community projects
- Best time: May to September (dry, pleasant temperatures). Diving is good year-round.
The Lesson
Bazaruto is proof that a single protected area can hold the future of an entire species. The dugongs here are not a population in recovery — they are the last stand. Lose them, and the Indian Ocean loses its only marine mammal herbivore. The fate of these gentle, ghostly creatures rests on whether the park can balance conservation with the needs of the people who have always shared these waters.