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Quirimbas Archipelago travel info The southernmost 11 of these islands and a vast expanse of mainland forest are included in the Quirimbas National Park - a conservation effort to preserve and protect the area. Quilálea was also the 'seed' from which grew the much larger Quirimbas National Park. After a visit to Quilálea, the WWF joined forces with Quilálea's partners and local government in an effort to replicate the Sanctuary concept on a wider scale. This effort led to the declaration of the Quirimbas National Park, which includes Quilálea as well as 110 kilometres of coast both north and south.
Park Regulations allow fishing by local residents using traditional techniques, but also mandate the creation of sanctuaries in 30% of the total sea area of the Park.
Four new sanctuaries have been established within the past year. Eight more communities within the park have also requested sanctuaries and these will be established this year. The Sanctuary concept has even been extended to other provinces. The WWF and Quilálea shareholder, Peter Bechtel, are currently setting up another national park in the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago, 500 kilometres to the south, using the same principles that worked so well in Quilálea.
The Quilálea Sanctuary contains three of the WWF's Global 200 habitats (those habitats considered most important worldwide for biodiversity):
Southern Inhambane-Zanzibar Coastal Forest, East African Mangroves and the Eastern Africa Marine Eco-region.
Seasons
The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from December through to April. Almost every day is sunny, and rainfall is usually in the form of brief, intense showers. Daytime temperatures vary from the mid-30s in the warmer months to the mid-20s in the cooler season from May to September. Water temperatures vary between 24 and 27 degrees celsius, ensuring comfortable diving all year.
Wildlife
The Quirimbas Archipelago is noted for the size of its reef fish, with parrotfish, angelfish, cave bass, morays, and others all reaching exceptional sizes. Long-nosed hawkfish are found associated with the gorgonians. A wide variety of game and pelagic fish also visit the Sanctuary. Resident schools of kingfish of the three species (giant, yellow, and indigo) accompany most canyon dives as well as snorkellers along the beach. Dugongs are present but shy; it is easier to find their grazing marks than the animals themselves. A slow dive through the seagrass beds yields brightly coloured nudibranches, up to 195 species of fish, and swimming scallops that will come up and dance in midwater. Turtles range widely throughout the Sanctuary, with green turtles and perhaps Olive Ridleys nesting on the islands. Humpback whales visit the Sanctuary from June to December every year, coming inshore to feed and shelter their calves. Dolphins include spinner, common, and bottlenose, with humpback dolphins appearing occasionally inside the Sanctuary but common in the mangrove channels of Ibo Island just to the north. Blacktip and whitetip sharks, blue spotted stingray, and electric ray are common. The Zambezi shark, the hammerhead shark, the tiger shark, and the manta ray have also been sighted. The area is home to 140 taxa of molluscs, including giant clams. Three hundred and seventy-five species of fish have been identified in the Sanctuary area, including threatened pipefish and seahorses.
Precautions
Mozambique is a malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart. back to Quirimbas Archipelago top
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