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Safari
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Special Interests
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Bongoyo Island Reserve -
Dar es Salaam
Bongoyo Island is an uninhabited Tanzania Island,
located 2.5km north of the country's capital city, Dar es Salaam. It is the most
frequently visited of the four islands.
The island lies close to the Msasani Peninsula is
reachable by means of only a 30 minute boat ride from the mainland. The point of
departure for most visitors to the island is 'The Slipway' mall complex on the
western side of the Msasani Peninsula
The reef around the island is very shallow and access is difficult at low water
except at the main sandy beach, which is used as mooring and landing site for
both the Slipways boat charter and other visitors.
The underwater habitat range from shallow gently sloping coral reefs, sandy
expanses and sea grass beds.
Coastal shores of this island support several clearly defined communities of
plants and animals. Their distribution is predominantly determined by physical
conditions including the type of substrates (whether sedimentary or rock), slope
of substrates, tidal and
current regimes, exposure to wave action and the influence of fresh water. 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.
FAUNA AND FLORA AT BONGOYO
The Island has forest with vegetation described as bush land with emergent
trees. Plant species are chiefly characteristic of the dry land coastal forest
of East Africa.
About 59 plant families are found in Bongoyo. Both island of Bongoyo and Mbudya
have very similar vegetation type differing by few aspects. Sand dunes of these
islands are colonized by pioneer species such as Cyperus crassipes,
Crotolaria laburuodes, Tephrosia pumila var aldabresis, T. pumila var dumesis,
Asytasia gangentica and Ipomoea pesi-caprae.
Fishes around the coral reef and the seagrass beds includes Butterfly fish
Chaetodontidae, Sweet lips Haemulidae, Grouper, Serranidae and banded coral
shrimps Stenopus hispidus. Other intertidal organisms includes Sea urchin
(Diadema sp), Giant clamps (Tridacna sp), Octopus (Octopodidea), Tigger cowry,
(Cyprea tigris), Starfish (Protoreaster linck), Cushion starts (Oreasteridae)
Nudibranchia, Hermit crabs (Anomura), Edible sea cucumbers (Holothuridae) and
Sea turtles are reported to be frequently seen by the divers over the reefs.
Two species of Hawksbill (Eretmochely imbricata) and Green turtles Chilonea
mydas are reported to occur around Bongoyo and Mbudya islands.
Facilities Available:
Bongoyo island there are mooring sites where the visiting boats anchor. There
are 2 mooring buoys at the landing site that are used by the visiting boats as
anchors. There are number of bandas on the sand beach for resting (roof only).
Msasani Slipway has a mobile bar, which serve cold drinks and can serve fish and
chips for visitors. The staff ensures that the area is clean and tidy at the end
of the day. There is one Honorary Ranger who is always at the is
The Island is approximately 30 minutes ride from
the mainland with motorized dhow from Msasani Slipway and 10 min by speedboat
from Msasani Bay.
Scheduled Boat / ferry service from Msasani Slipway or hired boats from Yatch
Club or and Beach Hotel northern coast of Dar Es Salaam. The Msasani Slipway has
boats, which makes return visits to the island 4 times a day.
A Number of visitors also arrives on the island by means of private own Yatch
Boats or hired boats from beach hotels. Marine Parks’ entrant tickets to Bongoyo
are available at Msasani Slipway and Dar Es Salaam Yatch club.SHARK’S LAGOON
NATURE.
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Northern Safaris |
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Southern Safaris |
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Western Safaris |
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Indian Islands |
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Coastal Regions |
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