Bazaruto Island Escape: Dunes, Dhows & Turquoise Sea

Today you cross the turquoise water to your island lodge amid the dunes of Bazaruto. By boat or graceful dhow you set out from Vilanculos into the protected marine national park, gliding across impossibly clear, translucent water toward the golden dune islands offshore, perhaps snorkelling or spotting dolphins along the way. You arrive at your lodge on the island, a beautiful retreat of soaring dunes, empty beaches and warm, clear sea, and settle in over a welcome drink and fresh seafood lunch. The afternoon is yours to relax on the beach, swim, snorkel from the shore, or simply soak up the peace and beauty of your island home. The escape begins in earnest. As the day ends, you gather for a spectacular sunset. This evening, savour fine seafood beneath the stars. Rest well amid the beauty of Bazaruto.

Today you sail deep into the Bazaruto Archipelago aboard a traditional dhow. With the lateen sail billowing overhead, you glide across turquoise water between the dune islands, the only sound the wind and the sea. You anchor to snorkel over vivid coral gardens alive with clouds of tropical fish, wade across shimmering sandbanks revealed at low tide, and picnic on a deserted beach with a fresh seafood lunch. You keep watch for turtles, dolphins and rays, and take in the sheer beauty of the archipelago from the water. The grace of the dhow and the colour of the sea are unforgettable. As the day ends, you sail back to your lodge, sun-warmed and content. This evening, savour a seafood dinner as the stars emerge. Rest well amid the beauty of Bazaruto.

Today you explore the beautiful interior and shores of Bazaruto Island on foot. On a guided nature walk you climb the island's towering golden dunes, among the tallest in the region, for breathtaking panoramas across the whole archipelago, its patterned sandbanks, shimmering reefs and the endless blue of the Indian Ocean. You visit hidden freshwater lakes inland, home to crocodiles and abundant birdlife, and walk flamingo-dotted flats and long empty beaches, learning about the island's unique ecology from your guide. The afternoon is free to relax, swim or snorkel from the shore. The space, beauty and quiet are restorative. As the day ends, you climb a dune for a spectacular sunset over the sea. This evening, savour fresh seafood beneath a canopy of stars. Rest well amid the beauty of Bazaruto Island.

Today you head out across the archipelago in search of its rare and magnificent marine life. By boat you cruise the turquoise waters of the marine national park, which protect one of the last significant populations of the gentle dugong, the elusive sea cow that grazes the seagrass meadows, in the western Indian Ocean. You keep watch for dugongs, playful dolphins, turtles and rays, snorkel over further vivid reefs, and, in season, may glimpse migrating humpback whales. The abundant birdlife and shifting turquoise flats add to the beauty. Every sighting is a thrill in these rich, protected waters. As the day ends, you return to your lodge to relax on the beach. This evening, savour a final seafood feast as the sun sets over the archipelago. Rest well amid the beauty of Bazaruto.

Today you enjoy a final, blissful day on Bazaruto Island at your own pace. You might snorkel or dive the surrounding reefs, sail a dhow at sunrise, climb the dunes once more, try the archipelago's famous fishing, take a guided walk, or indulge in a spa treatment. Equally, you may choose simply to relax, swimming in the warm turquoise sea, walking the long empty beach, and soaking up the peace and beauty of your island home one last time. This flexible day lets you savour Bazaruto and reflect on the beautiful escape you have made. As the day ends, you gather on the dunes or beach for a final spectacular sunset over the archipelago. This evening, savour a farewell seafood dinner beneath the stars, reflecting on the dhows, dunes and turquoise sea. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning on beautiful Bazaruto Island, perhaps a last swim or a stroll along the empty beach, you transfer by boat back across the turquoise water to Vilanculos, then to the airport for your flight to Maputo or Johannesburg and your onward departure. You leave having experienced the very best of the Bazaruto Archipelago, the golden dune islands, the graceful dhows, the vivid coral reefs, the rare dugongs and dolphins, and the long empty beaches lapped by warm turquoise sea, all warmed by legendary Mozambican hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the billowing dhow sail, the shimmering sandbanks, the towering dunes and the endless blue of the Indian Ocean. Bazaruto offers beauty, serenity and romance in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this loveliest of island escapes.