The Sanctuary

Declared a Fully Protected Area, the Sanctuary boasts a rich mosaic of wetlands, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, small islands, tidal mud flats, salt marshes, fresh water lakes, estuaries, tree and shrub forests – not to mention wild coastal dunes, trees and Miombo woodlands.

It’s safe to say The Sanctuary provides some of Africa’s richest biodiversity. As such, our three core missions are conservation, community upliftment, and eco-tourism development.

Take a walk on the wild(life) side of things:

The Sanctuary’s seabed, which provides a plankton ‘soup’ for sea creatures, attracts a large number of manta rays and whale sharks, as well as the impressive Humpback whale.

Jellyfish, which feed on plankton, attract the critically endangered Leatherback turtle. Past research has shown that while male Leatherbacks stay in this area, the females lay their eggs near the border between Mozambique and South Africa. However, recent sightings have confirmed that Leatherback turtles actually nest on The Sanctuary, joining the Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead and Green turtles.

The elusive and critically endangered Dugong also finds shelter in The Sanctuary’s tidal areas and may be seen around Bangue Island and further north towards Paradise Island. Porpoises are also a regular visitor in The Sanctuary’s waters; parading up and down as high tide sets in.

To further protect these increasingly rare species, and to promote fish and invertebrate breeding, The Sanctuary has implemented Marine Protected Areas; or ‘No Fishing Zones’, with support from the local fishing communities. Sensitive areas such as seagrass beds are recovering well with benefits for dugongs, fish, invertebrates, and birds.

The Sanctuary aims to provide a network of protected marine areas and breeding grounds for fish and invertebrates, with the intention of repopulating our oceans.