MOZAMBIQUE
THE SANCTUARY
WELCOME TO THE SANCTUARY
The Sanctuary is a 43,900-hectare marine and terrestrial conservation area on the San Sebastian peninsula, along Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast near Vilanculos. It lies within the Great Bazaruto Key Biodiversity Area and the Inhambane Seascape Hope Spot, highlighting its rich ecological value.
The reserve encompasses diverse habitats including wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, small islands, tidal flats, lakes, estuaries, forests, dunes, savannah, and Miombo woodlands, which together support a wide range of wildlife and bird species. Established in 2000 as a Fully Protected Area under private management, The Sanctuary is recognised as a leading example of cooperative conservation involving government, local communities, and the private sector.
Climate
The Sanctuary enjoys a warm subtropical climate throughout the year. Summers, from October to March, are hot and humid with temperatures between 28°C and 33°C. Visitors can expect beautiful sunny days, often followed by short afternoon thunderstorms that quickly clear the air. This season also brings most of the annual rainfall, creating lush, green landscapes, and is considered peak tourist season.
Winter, from April to September, is cooler and drier, with daytime temperatures ranging from 22°C to 27°C and misty mornings that give way to clear skies.
Between January and March, cyclone season can bring stronger winds and higher spring tides, while the average water temperature remains inviting at around 25°C, climbing to 30°C in summer.
Marine Environment
The Sanctuary’s coastline forms part of a vibrant marine ecosystem fueled by nutrient-rich upwellings. These waters attract some of the ocean’s most iconic creatures, including manta rays, whale sharks, and humpback whales that now thrive after decades of conservation. Several turtle species depend on the area, with leatherback, loggerhead, and green turtles coming ashore to nest, while Olive Ridley and hawksbill turtles forage in the shallow waters. The critically endangered dugong finds shelter in tidal areas, and playful pods of dolphins are often spotted cruising along the beaches at high tide.
To safeguard this wealth of life, Marine Protected Areas have been established in partnership with local fishing communities. These no-fishing zones are allowing fish stocks, invertebrates, and sensitive habitats like seagrass beds to recover and flourish, creating a haven for marine biodiversity.
Flora and Forna
Despite a history of slash-and-burn agriculture, much of The Sanctuary’s vegetation has regenerated into a thriving mosaic of habitats. Open grasslands, Msasa woodlands, wetlands, and freshwater lakes now form rich landscapes that are carefully managed through fire control, alien plant removal, and bush clearing. These environments provide food and shelter for a growing diversity of wildlife.
Over the past decade, several large mammal species have been reintroduced, including eland, sable, wildebeest, kudu, nyala, giraffe, zebra, and waterbuck. Many of these herds have flourished, with wildebeest and eland populations now numbering in the hundreds.
Smaller species such as duiker, suni, steenbok, and bush pigs are also thriving, while artificial waterholes create reliable gathering points for excellent game viewing. Visitors may even glimpse giraffes and eland moving through mangroves, drawn by the salt on the leaves. Careful monitoring and anti-poaching patrols ensure that this delicate balance between animals and their habitats is maintained.
A birds perspective
The Sanctuary is a critical stopover on the East African migratory flyway, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Each year, thousands of waders and shorebirds descend on its estuaries and sand spits, including Grey Plovers, Curlew Sandpipers, Crab Plovers, and many other species that use the area as both a feeding and resting ground. The site also provides vital wintering habitat for Palearctic migrants. Alongside these seasonal visitors, the reserve is home to an impressive variety of resident birdlife.
Greater Flamingos, Yellow-billed Storks, Woolly-necked Storks, African Openbills, and Mangrove Kingfishers can be spotted year-round. Rare and endangered species such as the Southern-banded Snake Eagle and Plain-backed Sunbird also find refuge here. From mangroves and wetlands to dune forests and open savannah, each habitat offers unique opportunities to encounter charismatic and often rare bird species, making birdwatching a highlight of any visit.
Mangroves
Mangroves are one of The Sanctuary’s most distinctive features, with seven species found here — more than across the entire South African coastline. These hardy trees thrive in tidal zones that are submerged and exposed twice daily, creating rich, evergreen habitats in areas that would otherwise be barren.
Mangroves play a critical role in the ecosystem, providing breeding and nursery grounds for fish and invertebrates, as well as safe nesting and roosting areas for water birds.
They also help stabilize coastlines and supply nutrients to surrounding marine environments. The Sanctuary’s mangrove forests, particularly around its estuaries, are a testament to the resilience and importance of these remarkable ecosystems.
Reefs and Diving
Beneath the surface, The Sanctuary offers some of Mozambique’s most remarkable diving and snorkelling experiences. Artificial reefs, carefully established within Marine Protected Areas, have rapidly become thriving underwater worlds. They now host over 78 fish species, including massive brindle bass weighing up to 200 kilograms, making the area one of the few places in the world where such giants can be seen during a simple snorkel. Natural reefs along the eastern shoreline are equally impressive, with dramatic caves, overhangs, and a stunning variety of fish and marine life rivaling the best dive sites worldwide.
Thanks to the nearby continental shelf, divers can explore depths of up to 40 meters in exceptionally rich waters. For visitors eager to explore, safe snorkelling spots are accessible directly from The Sanctuary, while private diving and deep-sea excursions can be arranged through experienced operators in Vilanculos.
The Sanctuary is a 43 900 ha marine and terrestrial conservation area situated on the San Sebastian peninsula along the Indian Ocean coastline of Mozambique, 20km southeast and across the bay from Vilanculos. The Sanctuary falls within the Great Bazaruto Key Biodiversity Area and the Inhambane Seascape Hope Spot, both of which recognise the exceptional biodiversity value of The Sanctuary, and forms the southernmost portion of the Bazaruto Archipelago.
The reserve incorporates a rich mosaic of wetlands, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, small islands, tidal mud flats, salt marshes, fresh water lakes, an estuary, and tree and shrub forests alongside coastal dunes, tree savannah and Miombo woodlands. These habitats support an abundance of wildlife, including a number of large and small herbivore species which were reintroduced to The Sanctuary, as well as an impressive inventory of birds. Our three core functions are conservation, community upliftment and eco-tourism development.
The Sanctuary is the product of pioneering vision by The Mozambican Government who declared it a Fully Protected Area under private management in 2000. Since then a progressive symbiotic alliance between Government, homeowners and the local community has led to The Sanctuary being recognised as a leading example of successful cooperative development and a prime example of the private sector contributing substantively to authentic biodiversity conservation.
Only 54 residential (maximum 12 beds each) and 3 commercial sites (120 total beds) have been approved for development on The Sanctuary. This serves to ensure extremely low density development in order to keep the lightest possible footprint and to maximise exclusivity of The Sanctuary as a tourist destination.