Mbudya Island (or simply Mbudya) 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).
The island lies close to the beach resort and fishing community of Kunduchi
and is reachable by means of a 20 minute 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.
On a good sunny day, take a speed boat from
Jangwani Sea Breeze Resort/ Whitesands to Mbudya Island. Be sure to go early to
secure a banda and also bring along enough friends, a cooler box and snacks for
a fun day out. The water at Mbudya is crystal clear and perfect for swimming
and snorkelling and the sun hot(for those looking for a tan). The beers are
cold at the bar(but they are notorious for only having one brand of beer and
not the other) and the seafood fresh and yummy. Try the grilled lobsters with chips;-)
You can take a walk along the beach with your special someone and collect
shells.
Rumour has it that on the deserted side of the island, green
turtles nest. And if your lucky, you could just come across a turtle nest
hatching. All in all, its a great place for a family day out, hanging out with
friends or just enjoying quality time with a special someone. I suggest you try
it one day when you just wanna get out of town for a day!
Succulent fish and seafood freshly caught by fishermen on their
traditional, wooden swahili boats called dhows is barbecued infront of
you while you relax on chilled drinks in your private, thatched-roofed
sun deck chair or banda. You can choose to do a tour of the island and
maybe spot some dolphins or small sharks.
sunset
It is a beautiful experience, peaceful, quiet, a genuine contact with
nature.
