Benguerra Island

This tropical island with great beaches and towering dunes is the jewel of the Bazaruto Archipelago.

In the colonial era, Paradise Island was considered the jewel of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Since the resort there fell into ruin during the civil war, Benguerra has taken over that mantle. It’s a beautiful island with three luxury lodges (Azura, Benguerra and Marlin), a small population of locals, tall sand dunes, endless white beaches and warm, inviting water. If you’re looking for a romantic escape, this isle is just for you.

Benguerra lies 14 kilometres off the mainland and is the second largest island (55 square kilometres) in the Bazaruto Archipelago. A channel less than a kilometre wide separates it from Bazaruto Island. The tide fluctuates up to 10 metres, exposing sandbars up to a kilometre in length. There’s good angling, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Benguerra has a rich cultural life with dhows regularly sailing past the northern point of the island dragging nets. Just east of the island, Two Mile Reef offers some of the finest diving in Mozambique with beautiful corals and an array of tropical fish ranging from tiny clownfish to black-tipped reef sharks.

Inland, Benguerra Island comprises small patches of forest, savannah, freshwater lakes and wetland eco-systems that sustain a diverse population of fauna and flora. Crocodiles can be found in the three lakes, bearing testimony to a time when the island was attached to the mainland. The island, which is home to approximately 140 bird species, was declared a National Park in 1971.

The three luxury lodges on the island are at the pricey end of the spectrum, but they really do offer a paradise getaway. Honeymooners love it here. There’s everything from horse riding, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, dhow cruses and sailing on offer.