What better way to spend your time than with the sun on your back, surrounded by weird and wonderful Mozambican marine life? With crystal clear waters filled with over 6000 species of fish, the sugar-white sand beaches of Mozambique are considered some of the finest diving and snorkeling destinations in the world. Read on to learn a little bit more about the protected mega-fauna you should be on the lookout for on your next trip to Mozambique.
Whale Shark
This magnificent sea creature is the largest living fish in the worlds, spanning an impressive 14 meters in length. These endangered beauties have characteristic wide, flat heads and have a peaceful nature; eating only small schooling fish, plants and algae. You can tell these gentle giants apart by their thin vertical stripes, columns of white spots, and extremely large, horizontal mouths.
Manta Ray
Another deep sea heavy weight with a soft heart, the mysterious Manta Ray is not far behind the Whale Shark in size- reaching more than 7.6 meters in width, and weighing about 2300 kg. Directly related to the Sting Ray, they have an intimidating presence but don’t panic- Manta Rays don’t have a stinging barb like their fiercer cousins. The anatomy of this exquisite specimen make them fast and naturally acrobatic- keep an eye out to see them launch right out of the water.
Turtles
Mozambique beaches are largely unspoiled and unexplored, which makes them an ideal environment for nesting turtles. These docile creatures lay their eggs in the soft sand, and the hatching babies are a rare and moving sight. There are five species of threatened marine turtles that nest along the Mozambican coast, and protection efforts have been in place for over 40 years to preserve these docile creatures.
Dugong
A sighting of this strange and elusive mermaid-like sea creature is rare. This is partly due to the fact that the dugong is characteristically shy, but also because they are endangered. When spotted, they are seldom seen travelling alone, preferring to move in pairs or in large groups. The dugong is one of two marine animals that are known to be vegetarian, and they can be found munching on sea-grass. They can hold their breath for more than 5 minutes and stay safe from predators by keeping to shallower waters.
Southern Right and Humpback Whales
While exploring the spectacular coral reefs, look out for the Southern Right and Humpback whales. Between June and December, these giants of the deep and their calves can be spotted from the shores, while diving and boating in the waters of Mozambique. Despite their size, Humpback Whales are especially acrobatic, often seen leaping high out of the water, breaching the surface, tail slapping and spy hopping. A chance to see these majestic creatures up close is definitely something for your bucket-list, and definitely Mozambique marine life at its best.
Start planning your beach side getaway now so you can experience these gentle giants first hand, and since finding accommodation in Mozambique is a breeze with Venues4Africa, you’ve got no excuse.