City Guide · MZ

Vilankulo (Vilanculos)

A beach town on Vilankulo Bay, with dhow trips to the Bazaruto islands, dugong waters, kitesurfing and a regional airport

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History & Heritage

Vilankulo (Vilanculos)

The town is named after a local chief, Gamela Vilankulo Mukoke, and some suburbs carry the names of his sons. In colonial times the town was called Vilanculos, and the district still keeps that spelling, while the town took the form Vilankulo at independence. Offshore lie the Bazaruto islands, which were formed from sand deposited by the Save River, since shifted to a new course. Some researchers think the archipelago may be the island called Crocodile in an 11th-century Egyptian text that lists places along the East African coast.

Portuguese records give Vilanculos a formal start in 1913: the settlement was established by ordinance 1,060 of 23 July 1913. It was raised to a town and municipal seat by ordinance 17,773 of 18 April 1964. In 1971 the waters and islands off the coast were declared the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, the oldest marine park in Mozambique.

Vilankulo gained an elected municipal council in 1998. On 22 February 2007 Cyclone Favio struck the town: reports say about 80 percent of Vilanculos was destroyed, four people died in the town and about 73,000 residents were affected. Since then the town has been rebuilt and has grown quickly. Its airport terminal was inaugurated on 13 April 2011, raising capacity from 75,000 to 200,000 passengers a year.

In December 2017 Mozambique's conservation agency ANAC signed a 25-year agreement with the non-profit African Parks to manage the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, which covers about 1,430 km² and five islands, three of them inhabited. On 25 February 2020 Vilankulo was granted city status. Today it is the base for dhow trips, diving, kitesurfing and horse riding, with the islands only a short boat ride from the beach.

Key Historical Places

Places of Significance

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park

Mozambique's oldest marine park, declared in 1971 and covering about 1,430 km² and five islands. African Parks has managed it with ANAC since a 25-year agreement signed in December 2017.

marine park 1971 conservation

Santa Carolina (Paradise Island)

A small rock island, about 3 km by 0.5 km, unlike the sand islands around it. The Bazaruto islands were built from sand carried down by the Save River.

island geology

Vilankulo Airport terminal

The new terminal was inaugurated on 13 April 2011 by President Armando Guebuza, after refurbishment that began in 2009, lifting capacity from 75,000 to 200,000 passengers a year.

airport 2011

Vilankulo town centre and Vilankulo Bay

The settlement dates from ordinance 1,060 of 23 July 1913 and became a town in 1964. It sits on Vilankulo Bay, with the archipelago to the east.

town 1913

Timeline

23 July 1913
Vilanculos settlement established by ordinance 1,060
18 April 1964
Raised to a town and municipal seat by ordinance 17,773
1971
Bazaruto Archipelago declared a national park
1998
Vilankulo Municipality created, with elected local government
22 February 2007
Cyclone Favio strikes Vilanculos; about 80 percent of the town is reported destroyed
13 April 2011
New Vilankulo airport terminal inaugurated
December 2017
ANAC and African Parks sign a 25-year management agreement for the national park
25 February 2020
Vilankulo granted city status

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