Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park

Mnazi Bay was gazetted in 2000 and runs from south of Mtwara down to the Ruvuma estuary at the Mozambican border, covering reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forest and the estuary itself. The reefs here are among the least disturbed in the country because so few people come, with high coral cover and good fish numbers. Dugong have been recorded in the seagrass, humpback whales pass offshore between July and September, and turtles nest on the beaches.

Background

The park dates from 1 July 2000 and covers 650 square kilometres, 33% of it on land, reaching from the northern part of the Ruvuma Estuary to Mnazi Bay and the headland of Ras Msangamkuu. Within it lie rocky and sandy shores, mudflats, salt pans, fringing and lagoonal patch reefs, and three islands, Namponda, Mongo and Kisiwa Kidogo, along with many small rocky islets. Green and Hawksbill turtles nest here, and the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin has been seen. A large population of crab-plovers earned the area Important Bird Area status in 2001. The last confirmed dugong sighting was in 1992. Close to 30,000 people live inside the park, in 11 villages and 8 sub-villages.

Source: Wikipedia, "Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park"

Highlights

• The reefs - among the least visited and least damaged coral in the country.
• The mangrove forest - extensive stands along the estuary and creeks.
• The humpback whales - passing offshore between July and September.
• The turtle beaches - nesting sites along the park's shoreline.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the best for diving and roads. Whales pass between July and September. The long rains from March to May close much of the access.

Things to know

There is almost no visitor infrastructure and diving must be arranged from Mtwara. Roads within the park are poor. It is a long way from anywhere and the journey is the main obstacle.

Nearby

Mtwara is north, and Mikindani is beyond it.

Key facts