welcome to

A privately managed conservation landscape where land, ocean and community are held in long-term stewardship.

here, custodianship safeguards what is increasingly rare.

In a world that is ever more noisy and polluted, it is virtually impossible nowadays to find a wilderness area that is easily accessible, climate-friendly and touched with the utmost sensitivity by man only for the gentle pursuits of conserving and preserving that natural masterpiece and its inhabitants.

The Sanctuary is just such a place.

the vision

A world-renowned conservation area that preserves marine and terrestrial biodiversity, delivers meaningful benefits to local communities, and is sustainably funded through nature-based tourism, built on strong partnerships between Sanctuary management, the Mozambican government, private investors, and participating communities.

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extraordinary fishing opportunities

Both deep sea and seawater fly-fishing opportunities, reputed to be amongst the best along the East Coast of Africa, abound in the waters of The Sanctuary

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a birds perspective

The Sanctuary is home to a remarkable mix of resident and migratory birds, drawn to its wetlands, mangroves, estuary and coastal woodland, with everything from waders and waterbirds to raptors and sunbirds recorded on the checklist.

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snorkelling adventures

Clear, sheltered reefs and shallow coral gardens make snorkelling in The Sanctuary easy and rewarding, with colourful reef fish and marine life often visible just metres from the surface in calm, warm Indian Ocean waters.

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a place set apart

the sanctuary

A rare combination of protection, partnership, and wild coastline.

close, yet entirely elsewhere

Just two hours by air and sea from Johannesburg, the Sanctuary lies at the tip of the São Sebastião Peninsula on Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast.

A Protected Vision Since 2000

A product of the pioneering vision of the Mozambique government and a group of founding investors, The Sanctuary was established in 2000. Since then The Sanctuary has gained widespread respect in conservation and ecotourism circles as a leading example of the ideal cooperative alliance between government, private investors and local communities.

Land and Sea. One Reserve

One reserve where land and sea function as a single system—43,900 hectares of protected coastline, dunes, freshwater lakes, forests, mangroves, reefs, and open ocean, spanning from bush to shore.

Few places of this scale and integrity remain accessible.

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A Mosaic of Wild Habitats

The reserve features a rich mosaic of wetlands, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, small islands, tidal mud flats, salt marshes, fresh water lakes, estuaries, and tree and shrub forests alongside coastal dunes, tree savannah and Miombo woodlands.

Wildlife Richness

In addition to the different habitats, The Sanctuary hosts 354 species of birds, provides safe breeding grounds for 5 marine turtle species and marine protected areas for the critically endangered Dugong and other marine life. The Sanctuary also boasts growing populations of large mammals including eland, blue wildebeest, zebra, kudu

A Biodiversity Hotspot

It is an area where some of the richest biodiversity in Mozambique is found and ranks amongst the top biodiversity “hotspots” in Africa.

community matters

The Sanctuary’s community partnership is built on co-management, regular dialogue, and local support, improving livelihoods through jobs, education, healthcare initiatives, and conservation programmes with Queuene’s traditional leaders.

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