A river for canoeing, a riverside forest as the main attraction, and an archipelago of five islands: Inhambane offers very different natural landscapes. In Pomene National Reserve, dunes, savannas, mangroves and swamps are as much a part of the scenery as the Mudocha River. Zinave National Park is defined by the Save River and its riverside forest; Bazaruto Archipelago National Park brings together islands, beaches, lagoons and dunes. To help you decide, it is useful to ask a simple question: which landscape would you like to make the focus of your trip?

Pomene: Habitats and a River for Canoeing

Pomene National Reserve was established in 1964 and is located in Massinga District, in Inhambane Province. It includes terrestrial and marine habitats. Vegetated dunes and savannas are among its listed landscapes, as are mangroves and swamps. This range makes Pomene an appealing choice if you are looking for more than a single natural feature in a protected area. The Mudocha River in the reserve is suitable for canoeing. This adds a specific activity to the variety of habitats.

The ruins of the Hotel de Pomene, built in 1963, are also located in Pomene National Reserve. The hotel’s construction in 1963 and the reserve’s establishment in 1964 mark two distinct historical milestones for the area.

Zinave: Riverside Forest Along the Save

Zinave National Park lies along the Save River in the northwest of Inhambane Province. The park forms a transition between humid tropical and dry regions. Its main attraction is the riverside forest along the Save, home to a diverse range of trees and large mammals. This gives it a different natural profile from Pomene: while the reserve includes several terrestrial and marine habitats, Zinave centers on the forest along the river. This makes it easy to match the parks to your interests: are you more drawn to a variety of habitat types and canoeing, or to riverside forest with large mammals?

Bazaruto: Five Islands, Lagoons and Dunes

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was established in 1971 on the coast of Vilankulo and Inhassoro districts, in Inhambane Province. It includes five islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangué. The five names also make clear that the national park encompasses a group of islands, not just Bazaruto as a single island. Its landscapes include beaches, natural pools of turquoise water and large, white-sand parabolic dunes. Flamingos live in the saltwater lagoons. Encounters with dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles are possible underwater, but not guaranteed. Unlike Pomene and Zinave, the landscape here is shaped by islands and lagoons as well as beaches and dunes. The park therefore combines established landscape features with the possibility of wildlife sightings, the outcome of which is uncertain. If you compare natural areas by their defining features, Bazaruto offers an island and lagoon perspective, while Pomene stands out for its variety of habitats and Zinave for its riverside forest.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Inhambane, Zavala, Mabote, Massinga, Mabsil, Inhassoro, Tofo Beach, Manica

For the main travel overview: Mozambique.