Continuing on with my 2019 bucketlist of traveling to some of the World’s most rare and unique islands, was a trip to Bazaruto archipelago off the coast of Mozambique in Africa.
Initially I added this destination to my island bucketlist because I really wanted to see what I call the “Mashed Potato Sands” that swirl along the bright blue shore in certain areas, but what I found was so much more. There ended up being three bucketlist-worthy items to check off rather than just the one, including spotting an extremely rare Dugong!
Bazaruto for the most part is looked at a vacation or honeymoon destination, which is emphasized by the five start Anantara Resort that offers luxurious villas and high end service. While it was absolutely fabulous staying there, the activities and adventure they offered that made my bucketlist checking possible were my favorite part!
I’m already predicting that the Mashed Potato Sands of Bazaruto are going to rise in popularity especially on Instagram, just like Deadvlei in Namibia did, so be sure to check it out before it becomes too crowded!
Below you’ll find some basic information about the archipelago, the resort and its activities, and how to check off all the bucketlist boxes
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Where is Bazaruto and How to Get There
Bazaruto is located off the East coast of Mozambique. The closest mainland city to it is called Vilankulos, and it’s where you need to go to in order to get to Bazaruto.
To get to Vilankulos, you can fly from Maputo, Mozambique or Johannesburg, South Africa for the cheapest amount. Keep those two destinations in mind when booking your long flights to the area, so you can compare prices.
Once in Vilankulos, Anantara will arrange either a 45 minute boat transfer, or in some cases a helicopter ride over to Bazaruto.
Helicopters are cool and all, but I’m just going to throw it out there that I saw a Dugong during the boat ride.
Where to Stay in Bazaruto
At the moment there is only one place you can stay on Bazaruto and that’s the jungle-chic, luxury Antantara Bazaruto Resort. It’s exclusivity and incorporation of the local culture into its accommodations and meals will enhance your feeling of being on a rare bucketlist adventure while also on an enchanting vacation!
Upon arrival you’ll be greeted by songs and dance from local performers before heading to your beach front villa. The villas are almost camouflaged in the flora and fauna of the property, with their dark wood paneling and thatched palm roofs!
You’ll feel immersed in nature in the outdoor shower, and patio deck that steps straight out to the sandy beach. Be sure to open your windows and doors in the morning for a symphony of bird songs, and various avian sightings!
How to Get to the Mashed Potato Sand of Bazaruto
If you want to go see what I call the Mashed Potato Sand of Bazaruto, you’ll need to arrange a boat trip through Anantara to get there. That’s because it’s located on one of the smaller islands of Bazaruto called Pansy Island that’s separate from the main island that the resort is on.
The boat trip is much more than just a ride to the island though; it also includes snorkeling at the lively Two Mile Reef, and then an immaculate lunch set up under a tent on the white sandy mashed potato beaches at the southern tip of Bazaruto.
Unfortunately if you want to see the Mashed Potato Sand looking swirls from above, you’ll need to bring a drone or take the helicopter. Both are probably around the same price to be honest, and if you’re leaning towards a drone, and don’t have one yet, check out my Essential Guide to Traveling with Drones for some tips (coming soon, Subscribe for the update!
Even if you don’t have a drone though, the swirling sandbanks with warm blue waters in between their curves, and the pale orange sand dunes in the background are an absolutely stunning sight to see!
In fact, I consider both the white swirling Mashed Potato Sand, and the towering dunes that spill onto the shore two separate bucketlist checks!
What is a Dugong, Why Am I Obsessed with them, and Where to Spot Them
To be honest, it wasn’t until I started researching my adventure to Bazaruto that I learned that it’s also one of the few places on Earth where Dugongs still exist.
Not only am I all for seeing the rarest animals on Earth, but I’m also a huge animal nerd (I went to college for pre-veterinary!). So spotting one and hopefully swimming with it was immediately expedited to the top of my Bazaruto bucketlist!
If you don’t know what a Dugong is, I will be MORE than happy to explain! They are in the same family as, and look similar to a Manatee. They are also referred to as a “sea cow” because well…they look like a swimming cow with a fin, and spend most of their day grazing the sea bottom for grass.
That being said, you will likely only see them if you’re diving on the sea floor where they eat, or happen to catch them when they come up to the surface for air.
Both instances are highly unlikely according to everyone, HOWEVER, my animal-whispering luck came in full force, and I saw one breathing at the surface on my boat ride from the mainland to Bazaruto!
Let me just emphasize on how lucky that is; People have worked at the resort for over ten years and have never seen a Dugong. And I saw one within the first hour of being there. That is all.
Anyway! The more boat trips you take, the more likely you are to spot them, especially since the boat captains have an impeccable eye for anything swimming at the surface!
OH! And STORY TIME! Did you know….
The Legend of Mermaids Came from Sailors Spotting Dugongs!
Very, very sorry to say this, but mermaids are definitely mythical, and their legend was created by sailors who spotted Dugongs at the ocean’s surface. You may be thinking “Dugongs look NOTHING like mermaids”, but don’t be so quick to judge!
During the time period when the legend of mermaids was created, many sailors suffered from diseases, delusions, and were likely also drunk a lot. Dugongs were still uncommon, so imagine being on a ship for months and months seeing the same sea animals, then suddenly seeing one you’ve never seen before but only for a split second!
Their outlines underwater look like a voluptuous woman with a fin, and when they come up for air they just barely pop their head up, followed by a tease of their rump as they dive back down to the ocean floor. If I was drunk off rum or delirious from a fever, I would 100% think I saw a swimming human too!
Oh, and you can also get an idea of how superficial Disney is with their anorexic looking mermaids, since the original thought-to-be mermaid were heavy set, and what the sailors preferred!
Sand Dune Boarding on an Island
I’ve been to tons of islands, but not once have I seen massive sand dunes on one before. I’m not talking about your typical beach dunes either. I’m talking about 2-5 story high dunes similar to what you’d see in the Sahara Desert or Soussusvlei.
But the difference, and what makes these ones bucketlist-worthy, is that they spill down into the ocean! So while you’re sand dune boarding or hiking, you get an epic view of the sparkling amethyst and emerald waters below.
Sand dune boarding is also super easy the way they do it in Bazaruto. Instead of standing and sliding like you’re snowboarding, you sit down on them instead. It’s super easy and my friend actually couldn’t stop laughing whenever I went because of how elegant and graceful my landings were at the bottom.
You can arrange an entire sand dune boarding excursion (during the day or sunset) through Antantara, or you can opt to just explore them by foot.
Other Epic Activities to do in Bazaruto
Snorkel or Dive the Reefs
I lightly touched on this when I mentioned the boat tour to get to the Mashed Potato Sand, but to be honest, it deserves its own highlight.
Bazaruto is in the Indian Ocean, which in my opinion has some of the best coral reefs and underwater wild life in the world. I was not disappointed with all of the colorful fish and massive coral reefs I saw when snorkeling around Two Mile Reef, and can only imagine how amazing it would have been to dive!
You can also sometimes see turtles while snorkeling, and while diving you might be able to see turtles, reef sharks, dolphins, and if you’re super lucky…a Dugong!
Take a Sunset Dhow Ride
Sunsets at Anantara Bazaruto were freaking STUNNING and absolutely not to be missed! I’d highly recommend doing the traditional Dhow boat ride during one of your evenings there, because it’s nothing short of magical!
Your boat captain will gently sail you along the calm waters as the massive African sun melts down into the horizon. They’ll also provide you with snacks and beverages!
See the Inner Island Nature and People
Although most of my bucketlist items were located in or near the water, taking a Cultural Island Tour through the inner areas was also a great adventure!
You truly feel like you’re in an untouched, authentic area of Earth that hasn’t been completely spoiled by tourists, and it will also give you a good insight on evolution! The tour is arranged through Anantara, and they’ll take you around with a guide on a safari vehicle!
During the tour you’ll see some of the lakes on the island, which are note-worthy because of the Nile Crocodiles that inhabit them. How did Crocodiles from the Nile River get into the lakes of an island off Mozambique! Go ahead and imagine that this chunk of land was once attached to a mainland area where the Nile River is, and let your mind be blown.
Seeing one of the Nile Crocodile is said to be as rare as spotting a Dugong, but low and behold…we saw two!
Another reason why the lakes are note-worthy are because they are slowly but surely vanishing. The giant sand dunes move inland about 7mm per year, and the lakes are all along them, so soon they will be filled with sand.
The People of Bazaruto
Your Cultural Tour will also take you through a couple local villages along the way. The people live relatively simple lives, with circular thatched homes, and only four schools on the island. Many of the locals work at Anantara, and the resort actually just recently funded the newest school on the island!
Everyone one was extremely friendly, with big smiles when we passed and a wave from literally every single person! There are two local dialects that they speak (one from mainland Mozambique and one specific to Bazaruto), and some speak Portuguese and English!
Horseback Riding on the Beach
Probably one of my favorite activities I got to do was riding one of the friendly horses on the beach at Anantara. I’m not going to lie, since it was a collaboration I got a little more freedom than you may have on a guided ride, but it was so amazing that I can’t not talk about it!
I galloped up and down the beach and finally my horse decided it would be fun to go swimming, so yeah. That happened! You can book a horseback ride in the morning or for sunset!
Take a Cooking Class
There’s a World-Renowned chef at Anantara Bazaruto and in my opinion he should 100% be on Top Chef! There’s also a sustainable garden, where many of the fruits and vegetables for the dishes are grown! It’s the definition of Farm to Table!
Chef Ronaldson will explain to you what all the different plants are, and what dishes they go into that you’ll be cooking. Then he’ll give you an easy-to-follow class with recipes that can be made in under ten minutes!
We made a delicious mango-coconut milk fish stew, curry rice and shrimp, and a beautiful quinoa garden salad!
All in all, this is definitely one hell of a bucketlist destination you NEED to experience! Whether you’re seeking adventure, seeking paradise, or looking for a little bit of both!
The information imparted was very useful, it was a great help.
Thanks Anna! Glad you found it helpful!
Great article on a place I never knew existed. Such amazing photos and wonderful details in this article. I am going to research other interesting places off the coast of Africa now!
Thanks for reading! There’s TONS of amazing African islands! I’m posting Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles next!
Hi there
Thanks for sharing the article, wonderful insights. Keep up the good work.
I am planning a trip to New Zealand and there is conflicting advice on when the ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) will commence.
Do you know whether it is the 1st of July or 1st of October for New Zealand ?
Thanks
Varun
Is that for the visa? If so I think it already has electronic visas!
Wow, that seems like such a fab place – but seriously, don’t make it seem so awesome because I want to go straight away! Btw, what other exotic islands do you have on your list? I’d love to go to Svalbard – no outdoor showers there though!
Haha well I hope you do go straight away!!! My other TOP islands I’ve been to are Easter Island, Samoa, Cook Islands, Philippines, and currently in Mauritius….Svalbard was fascinating but yes SO cold!