Declared a protected area in 1971, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park is one of the most important marine sanctuaries along the East African coastline. Made up of five islands, three of which are inhabited by some 7,000 people, its waters are home to iconic megafauna, including whales, sharks, sailfish, manta rays, dolphins, marlin and nesting marine turtles, as well as East Africa’s last-known viable population of dugong. The sheer beauty of this seascape, along with the diversity of its wildlife, has made Bazaruto a globally sought-after tourism destination.
In 2017, the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) invited African Parks into a partnership agreement to manage its oldest national marine park ensuring that this valuable resource could be sustainably protected long into the future. Over the last five years, positive collaboration with local communities, tourism operators and government partners is helping to secure a more sustainable future for people and wildlife. The park’s management team has grown, infrastructure has improved, conservation measures have been enhanced and illegal activities significantly curtailed. A conservation-led economy is being bolstered through tourism, creating jobs and local skills development.
