Vilanculos

Vilanculos sits on the mainland opposite the Bazaruto archipelago and functions as the base for it: dhows and speedboats leave from the beach for the islands, dive operators run trips to the reefs and to the dugong grounds, and lodges line the shore north and south of the town. The town itself has a market, a working fishing beach where the tide goes out a long way, and a strip of restaurants. It is the busiest tourism centre on this coast.

What you actually see

• The dhow trips - traditional sailing boats running out to the archipelago.
• The fishing beach - boats and the market where the catch comes in.
• The tidal flats - the sea retreating a long way at low tide.
• The dive operators - trips to the Bazaruto reefs and the two-mile reef.

When to go

May to October is the cooler dry season and the best for diving. Cyclone season runs from December to March and can be disruptive. South African holiday periods bring the largest crowds.

Honest expectations

Prices are the highest on this coast and rise sharply in peak periods. Dhow trips vary enormously in quality and safety; checking the boat and the operator matters. The tide goes out so far that swimming from the town beach is impossible for much of the day.

Nearby

Bazaruto is offshore, and Inhassoro is north up the coast.