The São Sebastião Cape (area 5 on the map to the right), just 20 km south of the Bazaruto archipelago, is geographically similar in terms of assets, threats and potential outlined above for Bazaruto. As such, and together with Bazaruto, it forms part of the 5 IUCN EBSA hotspot sites in Mozambique. The Government of Mozambique declared it a total protection area in 2003, covering 439.3km2 of terrestrial and marine areas (175.7km2 is marine protected area). 


A 25-year co-management agreement (ending in 2028) was awarded to Santuario de Bravio de Vilanculos LDA, or “the Sanctuary”, which is responsible for all conservation and commercial activities in 300km2 of the protected area. The Sanctuary’s modest economic-livelihood activities include local community grants (a population of about 5,800), a lodge and a home development program. Fifty-four residential houses with a maximum 12 beds each and 3 commercial sites for lodges for a total of 120 beds have been approved for The Sanctuary's capital development within the park boundaries. Two islands can be found within the Sanctuary: Lunene and Chilonzeune.


What differentiates São Sebastião Cape from Bazaruto is its protected status - it is classified as a total protection zone, the only total protection zone designation in Mozambique. The protected status designation means the area is oriented towards the reproduction, shelter, feeding and research of certain species of fauna and flora. This is accomplished through protected no-fishing/notake zones to create a “sanctuary” for fish to breed and replenish regional fish and invertebrate stocks. The Park management works closely with local fishing communities. Despite this designation, a few limited economic activities are allowed in the protected area so long as they do not impact the reproduction, shelter and feeding of the target species identified in the area.


Leatherback, hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles all have been confirmed to nest within São Sebastião park boundaries, while the Olive Ridley turtles have been sighted feeding in waters of the park. Off the coast of São Sebastião, deepsea upwellings bring plankton nutrients that attract large numbers of manta rays and whale sharks, as well as the massive humpback whale. Dugongs can also be found in São Sebastião’s protected waters, usually around Bangue Island and further north towards Paradise Island. 


Schools of humpback dolphins can also be seen in park waters. The 2017 bird census identified 298 species of birds in the Sanctuary. Seven species of Mangrove are found within São Sebastião and provide nesting and protection for many species of marine life and water birds. Mazarette seagrass beds can also be found within São Sebastião park boundaries which provide food for dugongs and habitat for razor clams, sea anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. The empty shells of the razor clam create good hiding spots for small and Sebastião from Bazaruto is the limited amount of highly capitalized luxury resorts, marine enterprises, shops and economic activity that can be found within BANP, and a single integrated park manager that handles the tourism operations within a much smaller park, about 85% smaller than BANP.


 Building on the close proximity to the BANP, São Sebastião holds niche marine economy potential, particularly around coastal and marine tourism as well as marine research activities. Visitors can travel directly to Vilanculos on flights from Johannesburg as well as through regularly serviced flights on LAM from Maputo, and a 30-minute boat ride from Vilanculos makes access relatively easy and convenient. Dive operations can service the dive and ocean safari clientele, most of whom stay in the Bazaruto area. However, despite the close proximity to Vilanculos by boat, a drive will take 2.5 hours from Vilanculos, which means once you are in the park, there is a light human footprint and limited economic activity. 


There are two resorts known by the authors, Nyati Beach Lodge and the Dugong Beach Lodge. At the time of writing, Myati Lodge is no longer open to the public and not functioning as a lodge any more. Outside of these resorts, there are only a few private houses. The anemones sometimes harbor colorful shrimp – the Glass Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis). In addition to these resident species, the seagrass beds also provide important habitat for mobile species. In March 2017, a spawning aggregation of cuttlefish was also observed in the newly protected area of the Mazarette seagrass bed. Both fish and shrimp utilize seagrass beds as nurseries.



 For example, juveniles of some species of butterflyfish, the Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus), and the Blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) have been observed in the Mazarette seagrass bed.Other than Santuario de Bravio de Vilanculos LDA, or “the Sanctuary”, the legal entity that manages the São Sebastião MPA, our desk research has not found any other donor or partner providing support to São Sebastião. As mentioned in the section on BANF, MMF has an MOU to do research in the Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary where they focus on a wide range of endangered, critically endangered and extremely rare and understudied species in and around the park and San Sebastian.