Vilanculos

The small, bustling town of Vilanculos lies on the coast of Mozambique, some 750 kilometres north of Maputo and 500 kilometres south of Beira, in the province of Inhambane.

Easily accessible by road and air Vilanculos is the gateway to the cluster of five magical islands that make up the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago. With a vibrant market, lively cafés, bars and accommodation that ranges from extremely basic to comfortable well priced guest house overlooking the clear azure waters of the Indian Ocean Vilanculos is the perfect base from which to explore the islands and marine reserve.

Across the sweeping Bay of Vilanculos on the São Sebastião Peninsula is Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary. A 25 000 ha reserve covering both land and sea the Sanctuary ranks amongst the top biodiversity "hotspots" in Africa. The reserve encompasses a mosaic of wetlands, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, small islands, tidal mudflats, salt marshes, freshwater lakes, estuaries, tree and scrub forest on the coastal dunes, savannah and miombo woodlands.