Inhambane
Vilankulo
The gateway to Bazaruto: a wide tidal bay, dhow sails on the horizon and an easy, sociable town.
Vilankulo is the mainland base for the Bazaruto Archipelago. At low tide the bay empties into a huge expanse of ripples and sandbars where people walk out to collect shellfish; at high tide it fills with turquoise water and dhow sails.
Almost everything here points offshore. Day trips run to Bazaruto and Benguerra, dive boats head for Two Mile Reef, and the flat water at low tide has made the bay a favourite for kitesurfers from May to October.
The town has an unpretentious mix of markets, beach bars and lodges, and the community's fishing life is very much still the main event.
Things to do
- Dhow trips to Bazaruto and Benguerra
- Two Mile Reef snorkelling
- Kitesurfing in the bay
- Vilankulo market
- Low-tide sandbank walks
Gallery
Where to stay
Where to eat
Nearby
Inhambane
Tofo
Manta rays, whale sharks and a beach village that has kept its character.
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Inhambane
Inhambane Town
One of the oldest towns on the East African coast, still built around a working dhow harbour.
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Inhambane
Bazaruto Archipelago
Five dune islands in a protected national park — turquoise channels, towering sand ridges and dugongs.
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Inhambane
Inhassoro
A quiet fishing town north of Vilankulo, the closest launch point for Santa Carolina.
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