Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System

Dar es Salaam


The uninhabited islands of Bongoyo, Mbudya, Pangavini and Fungu Yasini, just off the coastline north of Dar es Salaam, form this marine reserve system. Bongoyo and Mbudya – the two most visited islands, and the only ones with tourist facilities, offer attractive beaches backed by dense vegetation. Swimming is possible at any time, unlike on mainland beaches, where swimming is tide dependent. The islands are also home to coconut crabs, and dolphins can sometimes be spotted in the surrounding waters.

There are several nearby dive sites, most off the islands’ eastern sides. Fungu Yasini is a large sandbank without vegetation, while Pangavini has only a tiny beach area. Much of its perimeter is low coral outcrops, making docking difficult, and it’s seldom visited.

The admission fee to enter the reserve, including visiting any of the islands, is included in the price of excursions and collected before departure.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Dar es Salaam attractions

1. Kunduchi Ruins

3.31 MILES

These overgrown but worthwhile ruins include the remnants of a late 15th-century mosque as well as Arabic graves from the 18th or 19th centuries, with…

2. Nafasi Art Space

5.37 MILES

Aiming to be the leading contemporary art centre in Tanzania, Nafasi is a complex of studios housed in an old industrial warehouse in Mikocheni. Many…

3. Village Museum

6.09 MILES

This open-air museum features a collection of authentically constructed dwellings illustrating traditional life in various parts of Tanzania. Each house…

4. St Peter's Church

6.55 MILES

In addition to being almost always packed to overflowing during services, St Peter's is a helpful landmark showing the turn-off from busy Ali Hassan…

6. Botanical Gardens

9.02 MILES

Although in danger of disappearing beneath development, these botanical gardens provide an essential shady oasis in the city. They were established in…

7. National Museum & House of Culture

9.12 MILES

The National Museum houses a copy of the famous fossil discoveries of zinjanthropus ('nutcracker man') from Olduvai Gorge, plus other archaeological finds…

8. Askari Monument

9.23 MILES

This bronze statue, dedicated to Africans killed in WWI, is now a favourite haunt of street touts and dubious moneychangers.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "tanzania/dar-es-salaam/dar-es-salaam-marine-reserve/attractions/dar-es-salaam-marine-reserve-system/a/poi-sig/1498163/1331666",
      "destination": "Dar-es-Salaam",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Tanzania",
      "city": "Dar-es-Salaam",
      "position": "superzone"
    }