Attraction
National Museum and House of Culture
Tanzania's first modern museum, on Shaaban Robert Street beside the Botanical Gardens, covering human origins, ethnography, colonial history, art and natural history.
Bongoyo Island
An uninhabited island in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve, about 30 minutes by boat from the Slipway, with a beach, snorkelling, forest trails and coconut crabs.
At a glance
- Type
- Island beach and marine reserve
- Area
- Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Good to know
- Beach
- Snorkelling
- Walking trails
- Food and drinks huts
Why we recommend it
Bongoyo Island is an uninhabited island about 2.5 kilometres off the Msasani Peninsula and the most visited of the islands in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve. The reserve was established in 1975 and is managed by the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, so a park fee is charged on top of the boat fare.
Almost all visitors land on the island's north-western beach, where boats moor and where the only facilities are found: a few thatched huts for shade and an open-air stall selling drinks and simple food. A second beach on the north-east coast is longer and narrower, has no facilities and is usually deserted. Mbudya lies to the north and Pangavini to the west, and the remains of a German colonial building stand in the middle of the island. Away from the beaches the island is covered in dense forest crossed by a few walking trails, and the terrain is rocky and sharp, so wear sturdy sandals rather than flip-flops if you plan to explore. A tidal lagoon fringed with mangroves lies on the northern shore.
The island is known for its endangered coconut crabs, and the shallow water off the beach is good for snorkelling. Bring your own mask if you can, as hired equipment varies in quality, and check the tide, since low water exposes rocks near the shore.
Boats to Bongoyo leave from the jetty at The Slipway on the western side of the Msasani Peninsula, and the crossing takes about 30 minutes. The Slipway has published a morning departure at 09:30 with a return at 12:30, running only when there are at least four passengers; times and prices change, so confirm on the day. Non-Tanzanians pay a higher park fee than citizens.
Bongoyo makes an easy half-day or day trip for families, couples and anyone needing a break from the city traffic. Take sun cream, a hat, water and cash for food and drinks, and expect weekends and public holidays to be busier than weekdays. The island is part of a protected area, so do not remove shells or coral and take your rubbish back with you. If you want a quieter, slightly longer trip, Mbudya Island lies further north in the same reserve.
Bongoyo Island FAQs
Where is Bongoyo Island?
About 2.5 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, off the Msasani Peninsula, in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve.
How do I get there?
By boat from the jetty at The Slipway on the Msasani Peninsula; the crossing takes about 30 minutes.
Is there a park fee?
Yes. A marine reserve fee is charged in addition to the boat fare, with a higher rate for non-Tanzanians.
Are there facilities on the island?
Only on the north-western beach, which has shade huts and stalls selling drinks and food.
Can I snorkel?
Yes. The water off the main beach is popular for snorkelling.
What wildlife lives there?
The island is home to endangered coconut crabs, and mangroves line a tidal lagoon on the northern shore.
Can I stay overnight?
No. The island is uninhabited and visited as a day trip.
What should I bring?
Sun cream, a hat, water, sturdy sandals, cash and ideally your own snorkel mask.