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.

What you actually see

• 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.

Honest expectations

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.