Dugong Feeding Grounds — Bazaruto

About this spectacle

Gliding over the shallow, sun-dappled waters of the Bazaruto Archipelago, visitors may catch the rare sight of dugongs grazing slowly through vast seagrass meadows below the surface. These gentle, rotund creatures move in calm arcs, their paddle-like tails sweeping as they crop the grass close to the seafloor. The water here is extraordinarily clear, lending a luminous turquoise quality that makes underwater shapes visible from a boat. The archipelago itself feels remote and unhurried — warm, humid air, the sound of wavelets against a hull, and occasional glimpses of dugong backs or snouts breaking the surface. Because this is Africa's last viable dugong population, any sighting carries a sense of quiet rarity. Mornings are the favoured time, when light and sea conditions tend to be calmest and the animals most active in feeding. Beyond dugongs, the seagrass beds attract turtles and a rich array of reef fish, making the experience layered even if the dugongs remain elusive on a given day.

When to go

Year-round

Getting there

Nearest airport: INH. Nearest city: Inhambane.

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