The Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System (DMRS) is a group of marine wildlife reserves in Tanzania, situated off the coast of Dar es Salaam Region. The reserve system consists of nine uninhabited islands, four north of Dar es Salaam (Bongoyo, Mbudya, Pangavini and Fungu Yasini) and five south of the city (Inner and Outer Makatumbe, Inner and Outer Sinda and Kendwa Island). It provides protection for several important tropical ecosystems; coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds.
Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve
Bongoyo Island lies close to Msasani Peninsula in dare s Salaam city, about 30 minute by boat ride from the city mainland. The place of departure for most visitors who wants to visit the Bongoyo Island is the ‘Slipway’mall complex on the western side of the Msasani Peninsula in Dar es Salaam.
Location: Bongoyo Island is located about 2.5km north of the Dar es Salaam city. This island is the most frequently visited islands in the city.
Accessibility:
– It is about 30 minutes ride by motorized dhow from Msasani slipway to Bongoyo Island.
– The Msasani slipway has boats, which makes go and return visits to the island 4 times a day. There are a number of visitors who arrives on the island by means of their private own boats or hired boats from beach hotels.
– 10 min by speedboat from Msasani bay.
Attraction:
– Marine species; the main coastal habitats around Bongoyo Island include sand beaches (beach I and II), coral reefs, sea grass beds, rocky shores, lagoons (shark lagoon) and algal beds.
– Plants and animals; Two species of hawksbill (eretmochely imbricata) and green turtles chilonea are reported to occur around Bongoyo and Mbudya islands
– Lagoon Cave & Sharks; Bongoyo Island is a popular destination for those looking to get away from civilization for a while. There are plenty of snorkeling opportunities in places like Shark’s Lagoon Cave that was named after young sharks that swim along the shores hunting for octopies.
– Hiking; Hiking around Bongoyo Island is also popular although many visitors like to simply sit on the beach with a good book or relax with a picnic.
Mbudya Island Marine Reserve
Mbudya Island (simply Mbudya) is an uninhabited island in Tanzania, north of the Country’s capital city, Dar es Salaam and is one of the four island of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve (DMRS).
The Island lies close to the beach resort and fishing Community of Kunduchi and is reachable by means of a 20 minutes motorboat ride crossing from the mainland. It is therefore a popular daytrip for both tourists and Tanzanian residents alike, serving as a location for a variety of leisure activities, including snorkeling, sunbathing and hiking.
The Island offers fabulous snorkeling and diving opportunities and is a fourable day outing for visitors to the section of Tanzania Coast. Mbudya Island is situated about 3km offshore, within easy reach of the hotels on the north coast of Dar es Salaam.
There are hereby sand beaches on the western and eastern sides. On the western side, it is possible to have barbecued fish with chips and drinks. There is plenty of shade under the casuarina trees.
There is a washroom located near the resting beach. On the beach there are bandas where you can rest while enjoying chips with fish and soft drinks.
Mbudya has many to offer and it is such a great way to spend a weekend in Dar es Salaam, Its a home of Crabs, Snorkeling, Diving, hiking and sunbathing. The water & scenery of Mbudya were picture perfect…so relaxing and amazingly beautiful. One is able to snorkel & see some of the colorful fish hiding in the Indian Ocean coral reef.
The Island is covered with dense stands of Palms and Baobabs. The rare Coconut crabs are found on the Island. To get to the Island, one of many local motorized dhow and ngalawa can be hired. The hotels like White Sands, Silver Sands, Kunduchi beach, Beach Comber and Bahari beach are able to provide more modern transport to the Island.
Pangavini Island Marine Reserve
Pangavini Island is an uninhabited island in the Zanzibar Channel in Tanzania, north of the country’s capital city, Dar es Salaam and is one of the nine islands of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System.
The island is small, only about 250 m long; it has a rocky coastline without beaches.
Pangavini Island is an important breeding, resting and feeding site to a variety of rats, birds and reptiles . There is also an assortment of insects including butterflies.
Fungu Yasini Island Marine Reserve
Fungu Yasini Island (or simply Fungu Yasini) is an uninhabited island in Tanzania, north of the country’s capital city, Dar es Salaam and is one of the four islands of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve (DMRS). It is about three miles offshore in the Indian Ocean (Zanzibar Channel).
