Cabo Delgado
Quirimbas Archipelago
Around thirty coral islands, mangrove channels and reefs, protected within a national park and a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The Quirimbas stretch for roughly 100 km along the far northern coast: some thirty coral islands, many uninhabited, edged with mangroves, seagrass beds and reef walls that drop into deep water.
Quirimbas National Park covers the southern islands and a large area of mainland forest, and the wider archipelago was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018. Marine life is exceptional — turtles, reef sharks, dolphins and, in season, humpback whales.
Getting here takes effort: light aircraft or boat from Pemba, and lodges that are small and widely spaced. That is exactly why it remains one of the Indian Ocean's least crowded island destinations.
Things to do
- Ibo, Matemo, Quilálea and Medjumbe islands
- Mangrove channels by dhow
- Wall diving and reef snorkelling
- Quirimbas National Park
- Turtle nesting beaches
