Information
Landmark: Bongoyo IslandCity: Dar es Salaam
Country: Tanzania
Continent: Africa
Bongoyo Island, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
Overview
Bongoyo Island, just 7 kilometers north of Dar es Salaam, sits uninhabited under swaying palms, a quiet tropical escape washed by clear blue waves.It’s part of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve and draws crowds of locals and visitors alike, many coming for a sunlit day by the turquoise water.Bongoyo Island, with its soft white sand underfoot and water so clear you can spot fish darting below, is the perfect spot to leave the city noise behind and soak up the quiet beauty of nature.Bongoyo Island sits about 7 km from Dar es Salaam, just off the Msasani Peninsula, and you can reach it with a breezy 30‑minute boat ride from the Slipway Shopping Center.Foreign visitors pay roughly $20, including the Marine Park fee, while Tanzanian citizens pay about $5.Round‑trip boat fares run around TZS 25,000–30,000 ($10–$15), with departures in the morning and returns in the afternoon.Once there, you can snorkel over bright coral, swim in clear shallows, or stretch out on one of two soft white‑sand beaches under the shade of a thatched banda.The water glows turquoise in the sun, warm and clear-a perfect place for a long, lazy swim.Around the island, snorkeling spots reveal bursts of coral in reds and golds, schools of parrotfish, clownfish, and angelfish darting past, and every so often, a sea turtle or shy octopus gliding by.Tip: Bring your own snorkel gear, or rent a set from the boat crew-mask, fins, and all.On Bongoyo Island, a narrow trail winds to the far shore, weaving past towering baobab trees and the salty scent of coastal brush.This quick trail leads you to a cliff where the sea stretches out in deep blue.On the beach, local vendors serve up freshly grilled lobster, prawns, fish, and octopus, their smoky scent drifting through the salty air.Visitors can join a lively volleyball game, toss a frisbee across the sand, or stretch out in the shade of a thatched banda with the sound of waves in the background.If you like your own food, pack some snacks, a cold drink, and a few picnic treats.The dry season-June to October and December to February-brings sunny skies and calm, glassy water perfect for snorkeling, while the rainy months from March to May mean fewer visitors but choppier seas; pack sunscreen, a hat, swimsuit, towel, optional snorkel gear, a camera, and some cash for food or the boat ride, and you’ll be set to enjoy Bongoyo Island’s easy 30‑minute hop from Dar es Salaam, its untouched beaches, bright coral, abundant marine life, and the quiet, unhurried pace that lingers in the salt air.
