Full country name: Republic
of Mozambique
Area: 801 600km²
Population: 15.7 million
Capital city: Maputo
People: African (99%, including Shangaan, Chokwe,
Manyika, Sena and Makua)
Language: Portuguese (official), indigenous languages
Religion: Indigenous beliefs (50%), Christian
(30%), Muslim (20%)
President: Joaquim Alberto Chissano
Annual growth: 3%
Major industries: Food, beverages, textiles,
chemicals, petroleum
Major trading partners: South Africa, Spain,
US, UK, Portugal, France, Japan
Currency: Metical (Mt)
Time: GMT/UTC plus 2 hours
Electricity: 220/240V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Health Requirements
Indigo Bay has a weekly malaria spraying programme. All the rooms
are also equipped with mosquito nets and we provide mosquito repellent
in the rooms. However we recommend that you take precautionary
measures before going into a malaria area. Consult your medical
practitioner.
Travel requirements
All visitors are required to have a valid passport and most will
need visas. Contact your nearest Consulate for more information.
When to visit
June – August is mild and the driest season.
September – March is Black Marlin fishing season with peak
in October – November.
Sailfishing is best in the winter months – June to September.
May – August are the best months for Diving with good visibility.
What to take:
• Camera, binoculars, film
• Sunglasses, sun lotions and sunblock
• Lip balm, wide brimmed hat, insect repellent
• Lightweight, cotton clothes, good walking shoes
• Swimming costumes, jacket for cool evenings
Getting There : Indigo Bay Island Resort :
There are a variety of ways of getting to Bazaruto Island, most
involving flights via Maputo or Vilanculos, with transfers to
the island by air. Guests will be met at Vilanculos Airport and
transferred to Bazaruto Island, by prior arrangement. There are
a variety of ways of getting to Bazaruto Island, most involving
flights via Maputo or Vilanculos, with transfers to the island
by air.
Flights to Bazaruto Island - Mozambique:
Outside of Africa, Portugal has the best air connections with
Mozambique. Both South African Airways and LAM Mozambique airlines
are good for regional flights in and out of Maputo. From within
Africa, travelers can fly between Maputo and Lilongwe, Malawi,
or Johannesburg.
Bazaruto Archipelago:
Bazaruto Island is one of five principal islands in the Bazaruto
Archipelago, which lies just 30 kilometres off the coast of Vilanculos
in Inhambane Province, Mozambique. It is the largest of all the
islands, approximately 37 kilometres long and up to 7 kilometres
wide. Bazaruto Island is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago National
Park, one of the largest conservation areas in the Indian Ocean.
The fauna and flora of the Bazaruto Archipelago :
The whole Bazaruto Archipelago is an ecological gem that has
been granted National Park status. It falls into the Eastern African
Marine Ecoregion, which stretches over a 4 600 kilometre coastline,
from South Africa to Somalia.
• Over 2 000 fish species
• Over 100 hard and 27 soft coral species
• The world's largest fringing reef
• Over four whale and five dolphin species
• This extremely rare Dugong has been described as a “sea
cow”and is a big, gentle grass eater that is most closely
related to the elephant. Dugong are found in shallow waters along
the world's tropical coasts, yet have largely been hunted to the
brink of extinction. Bazaruto has the largest remaining population
in East Africa, raising the profile of the area to a global marine
conservation priority
• Nile crocodiles can still be seen in the shallow lakes
and pools on the islands
• The island group is home to all five marine turtle species
of the western Indian Ocean. They are highly endangered and in
urgent need of conservation. The turtles annually come to the
beaches to breed and their nests are extremely vulnerable to predators.
Other threats include fishing nets, trawlers and hunting.
