Bongoyo Island – Day Trip from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

By Mark Wiens 26 Comments
Bongoyo Island is just a 30 minute boat ride from Dar Es Salaam
Bongoyo Island is just a 30 minute boat ride from Dar Es Salaam

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, is located right along the Indian Ocean, and while you can go to beaches at places in town like Coco Beach, it’s not really recommended to swim there (and not always the safest).

So one of the closest swimming beaches, which happens to be an island, is Bongoyo Island. Visiting the small island in the marine reserve, is one of the top things to do in Dar Es Salaam.

Boat to Bongoyo Island
Boat to Bongoyo Island

To get there you have to take a boat from the Slipway Center where you pay a fee for the day, board a boat, and they’ll deliver you to Bongoyo and bring you back at a later time.

The boat ride costs $20 per person (or the equivalent in Tanzanian Shillings), and the ride takes about 30 minutes.

The problem is that, they won’t depart unless there are 4 people or more. So if there’s not enough people for the 9:30 am departure, they won’t leave until 11:30 am (unless you pay more to accommodate 4 people) – can be a pain.

On the boat
On the boat

The ride to Bongoyo Island departs from the Slipway shopping center on the peninsula, and especially the afternoon journey can be a bit choppy.

If you get sea sick easily it might not be the best idea for you to visit (of course, this all depends on conditions and time of year).

Also make sure you have some plastic bags or a waterproof bag to keep your valuables in during the boat ride as sometimes you can get splashed quite heavily.

Bongoyo Island
Bongoyo Island

Bongoyo Island, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Bongoyo Island is part of the Dar Es Salaam marine conservation area.

It’s a leisure island, mostly used for relaxation as a swimming and snorkeling beach that’s close and easily accessible from Dar Es Salaam.

Make sure you grab a banda for some shade
Make sure you grab a banda for some shade

Once you arrive on Bongoyo Island there’s not much to do other than relax on the beach, wait for lunch, and hang out. There is the option to do a little walking around on and across the island, but it’s often just too hot and sunny, and the walk is not all that spectacular.

Shade bandas (little huts) cost 5,000 TZS, and they are definitely worth it if you plan to stay at Bongoyo Island for a few hours.

Calamari and chips was good
Calamari and chips was good

As soon as you arrive, someone will come around and ask you for your lunch order. There are a number of seafood items normally available, but be sure to ask which ones are available on that particular day (because typically not everything is available each day).

A few years ago when I visited Bongoyo Island, I had the whole grilled Changu fish which I remember being quite delicious, but the last time I went, they didn’t have any fish that day.

So instead we ordered one plate of calamari and chips and a side of crab.

Crab looked good... but it was terrible
Crab looked good… but it was terrible

Lunch is served whenever the food is ready, normally around 12:30 or 1 pm.

Though they invite you back into the dining hut for lunch, you can also retrieve your food and bring it back to your banda so you can eat with a view of the ocean.

The calamari plate was pretty good, the squid was nice and tender and the fries were typical Tanzanian food style, not crunchy enough, and pretty oily, but still quite tasty. A pool of tomato sauce made things better!

The crab on the other hand was terrible, it was all dried out, and despite it looking pretty good from the outside, there was only a tiny bit of meat on the inside. I was disappointed with the crab.

Also, you can bring your own food and beverages so you don’t have to purchase anything once you’re on Bongoyo Island.

About to take a swim at Bongoyo Island, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
About to take a swim at Bongoyo Island, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

The beach at Bongoyo island is not quite Zanzibar, but it’s a good little escape from the city of Dar Es Salaam, and it’s easy to get there.

Weekends can be busy, but if you go on a weekday, the island should be nice and quiet.

About to get back on the boat to Slipway
About to get back on the boat to Slipway

Relax under a shaded banda, take a dip in the sea, and when you’re ready, jump back on the boat and head back to Dar Es Salaam.

26 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • وبلاگ ماندگار

    3 months ago

    Hi – It was great for us and very useful – also some useful links for you

  • رنگ مو

    3 months ago

    Hello – Hello, thank you for this. I have saved this link to come back later and see it more carefully, thank you

  • Aines Hamesi

    1 year ago

    Very nice and useful information
    Thanks

  • High Rated Gabru

    3 years ago

    WOW!! Cool blog Mark. Keep writing.

  • Ned Ng

    3 years ago

    Thank you for taking the time out and writing about Bongoyo island. I am planning to go there this September..

  • Rollie

    3 years ago

    I hope its nice place but i have few question to ask plz kiddly reply my email

  • Deb

    7 years ago

    Wow what a nice experience. I am planning to visit there as a team building of about 10 people and have a picnic there . hope it will be enjoyable like yours. ????????????

    • Mark Wiens

      7 years ago

      Hey Deb, awesome to hear that, hope you have a great time!

  • Hasina

    8 years ago

    Very nice n useful information
    Thanks

  • Maryam

    8 years ago

    Hello, I’m Maryam me and my school freinds planned to come this coming Tuesday for the trip to bongoyo , we r like 9 of us maximum I was asking for the minimum price you can set for us as we r citizens and students as well.????Hope I get a good reply thanks

  • Mahmoud Al-Alawy

    8 years ago

    Did you observe any bees in the forest areas?I keep bees near the fish market and am working on getting a permit to keep bees on the island!

  • Mahmoud Al-Alawy

    8 years ago

    Did you observe any bees in the forest areas. I keep bees near the fish market and am working on getting a permit to keep bees on the island!

  • elias

    8 years ago

    its your nice enjoyment wanna go there couse you are the one encourage me

    thanks

  • Charles Benjamin

    9 years ago

    Hi Mike!
    Feel great reading your Blog about food around the World. Did you ever come across Arusha we do have the Traditional Maasai BBQ (Nyama Choma) i am sure you will love it come and experience it when your next visit in Tanzania.
    Congrats for great job Man.

  • Dejan

    10 years ago

    Hi Mark, great job. I don’t know if I like more traveling or food but when I see your photos I get hungry.

  • ethanbrown

    10 years ago

    Really great..!!!! incredible Bongoyo island there are lot of things are to do.i really want to visit and see ..i just heard about bongoyo beach is very beautiful there are much relaxing rather than not to do other things..there are many seafoods are available ..thanks for sharing your experience at bongoyo island..

  • Ashley

    10 years ago

    Fabulous , really a nice a Island .Would love to visit here definitely.This island is just like the Panama city beach.What I liked most this Island is we can bring your own food and beverages .

  • Red Hunt

    10 years ago

    Too bad about the crab, looks like a very chill place though and a nice escape from Dar!

  • Isis Drummond

    10 years ago

    Hi I’m from Brazil and I follow your blog a little while, but I have been fascinated with your travels! There are many cultures and fantastic food around the world. Would one day come to Brazil to meet our food! Congratulations for the great job, Mark.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hello Isis, great to hear from you. I would really love to visit Brazil in the future!

  • Rebecca

    10 years ago

    Nice! Looks like a great place to escape city life to.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Rebecca, yes it makes a nice little day trip!