The islands that speckle Mozambique’s coastline are a welcome vision of paradise for every guest. Seamlessly blending in with the natural beauty that surrounds them, Bazaruto Island is an ideal destination for marine adventurers. Equally breathtaking as the stunning ocean views offered along the 2,500km of Mozambique’s coastline are the extraordinary sights that lie just below the surface.
Falling within the protective border of the Bazaruto Archipelago, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort offers extraordinary oceanic adventures in pristine, unspoilt waters. Now that Mozambique’s whale-watching season is here, wildlife lovers can enjoy front row seats for the annual migration from the island resort.
Every winter, pods of whales embark on their annual migration from Antarctica to Africa, one of the longest migrations in the world. They can be seen passing through the waters of Mozambique between June and December.
The whale-watching season offers an exciting opportunity to witness these majestic creatures during their migration, as well as a chance to explore the turquoise Indian Ocean waters, spot dolphins and whales, and swim with sea turtles too. The most common whale species spotted are humpback and southern right. The whales migrate to cold waters in high latitudes for feeding, before moving on to warmer waters for mating and giving birth.
From vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, to some of the world’s largest populations of dolphins, whales, sharks, turtles and dugong, it is these remarkable ecosystems and the surrounding crystal-clear waters that make Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort a premier whale watching destination.
Southern right whales are best seen close to shore in the southern part of the Mozambique Channel from June to December, close to Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort. Between July and October, the humpback whales showcase their acrobatic skills in the waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago. These creatures can propel their upper bodies as high as ten metres above the surface.
Guests at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort have a choice of two ways in which they can experience the whale migration. A trip in a charter boat sets off in the morning for a three-hour excursion or a half-day tour in search of whales and snorkelling amongst spectacular vibrant coral reefs and bountiful marine at Two Mile Reef.
A half-day tour is followed by a picnic lunch at Pansy Island or Paradise Island. The picnic offers a tailored menu of barbecue delights and salad with beverages, served by a personal waiter and chef at a shady table on the beach. For an aerial escapade above the Bazaruto Archipelago, a scenic 30 minutes helicopter flight will give guests a bird’s eye view of the majestic and gentle humpback whales as they journey through the Indian Ocean.
The whale watching trips are guided by Anantara’s expert guides who are knowledgeable about marine life and Mozambique’s ocean. Whale watching can be combined with dolphin watching, which is possible all year round. An excellent alternative to diving, dolphin watching gives guests the opportunity to go on an ocean safari and get up close with the dolphins in their natural element, not to mention other marine life, such as whale sharks and turtles.
Guests can book a All-Inclusive Stay Longer offer at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort from US$522 per room per night which includes:
*Accommodation in a beach villa
* Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
* Daily beverages from a select menu of house wine, local beer, house spirits, tea, coffee and soft drinks
* One dhow sunset cruise
* Non-motorised water sport activities
* Complimentary in-room minibar
* Upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability
And include a whale watching experience as an add-on activity, for US$165 per person for a three-hour ocean safari excursion, or US$209 per person half day ocean safari and US$780 per helicopter flight excursion.
For more information about Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, please visit https://www.anantara.com/en/bazaruto-island/leisure/?category=whale-watching. For reservations, email [email protected].
A luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, Anantara has connected guests to genuine places, people and stories in some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations since 2001. Each Anantara embraces the surroundings and culture of its destination to create unforgettable memories for every guest. From city to sea, Anantara delivers heartfelt, Thai-inspired hospitality at its collection of over 50 hotels and resorts across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.
Anantara is part of global hospitality group Minor Hotels and a member of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme.
Visit anantara.com for more information, and connect with Anantara on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
