Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Close your eyes and imagine a desert island – the sort that pirates might bury their treasure on. You’ve just pictured Bazaruto! This small cluster of sandy islands just off the coast of Mozambique is a natural paradise that offers the very best of the Indian Ocean.Protected as a national park, the archipelago boasts just a few small eco-lodges, so you can enjoy this paradise with a clear conscience. Bazaruto has interesting wildlife on the islands – especially birds – but it’s below the waves that things really come to life.Dive or snorkel in the warm, clear turquoise waters in search of coral reefs and turtles, or seek out the elusive, endangered dugong – believed to be the original source of mermaid myths. Don’t miss the opportunity to sail in a dhow, the traditional wooden vessels with their triangular sails that have been plying this coastline for centuries. Bazaruto is just about perfect, so come on in – the water’s lovely!