Maputo National Park
Maputo National Park (formerly Ponto d’ Ouro Partial Marine Reserve - POPMR) is part of the Tentative list of Mozambique in order to qualify for inclusion in the World Heritage List. It is a proposed extension of iSimangaliso Wetland Park WHS.
Maputo National Park comprises the former Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve and the Maputo Special Reserve. Ponta de Ouro Protected Marine Area is a 100 km long stretch of coast on the southern end of Mozambique, protecting 8 key biodiversity sites, from the clear waters of the Indian Ocean with scenic coral reefs, to long sandy beaches with parabolic dunes, extensive system of lakes, coastal lagoons, deep rocky formation (gorgonians), extensive marshes and flooded grasslands with endemic fish and plant species. Its southern end borders South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Map of Maputo National Park
Load mapThe coordinates shown for all tentative sites were produced as a community effort. They are not official and may change on inscription.
Community Reviews
Angie Gullan
I am overjoyed to say that today was a victory for the resident/semi dolphins and migratory whales within the Ponta do Ouro Marine Protected Area. The management plan has been approved and presented which means that the dolphin and whales have more protection within the waters. Well done to all involved in making it a better place for these intelligent beings that live in the ocean! Now we are looking forward to the area gaining World Heritage Site Status!
For the Love of Dolphins!
Angie Gullan
A partial marine protected area was declared in July 2009.
It is now June 2011 and we are STILL waiting for the management plan to be gazetted. During this time, the area is seeing the unsustainable growth of coastal tourism and there is fear of a Port Development within the reserve!
World Heritage Site Status would put a stop to the Port!
Would it not?
Alexis Kriel
Ponta D'Ouro in Mozambique is exquisite. I love going there, but during peak holiday season the natural peace is destroyed by quad bikers and jet ski's. The jet ski's especially should be banned. They are noisy and have no consideration for swimmers in the bay. I would imagine that they also would chase away dolphins and whale sharks. For me, it brings down the quality of the esperience of visiting there. I hope there is some intervention. Already, high-end tourism - which pays more and understands the value of pristine nature has moved elsewhere.
Angie Gullan
As a permanent resident in Ponta do Ouro, I can vouch for its beauty and splendor...Most of all it has a resident population of some 250 inshore bottlenose dolphins, is breeding grounds for both loggerhead and leatherback turtles, is situated on the humpback whale migration route AND sees many whale-sharks! These species would benefit hugely from the MPA. It has been a long time dream of mine (since 96) to see this area protected. It is sad to see the huge, unsustainable growth in development now taking place. If we dont get the MPA soon this will forever be lost.
Site Info
- Full Name
- Maputo National Park (formerly Ponto d’ Ouro Partial Marine Reserve - POPMR)
- Country
- Mozambique
- Added
- 2022
- Nominated for
- 2025
- Extension of
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park WHS
- Type
- Natural
- Categories
- Natural landscape - Marine and Coastal
- Link
- By ID
Site History
2022 Revision
Successor to Ponta de Ouro Protected Marine Area (2008)