The small uninhabited islet of Bongoyo lies about 4 km off the mainland coast and is accessible in 35 minutes by boat from Dar es Salaam.

If you have an extra day in town and want to spend it by the sea, we definitely recommend Bongoyo Island. The local beaches are beautiful and definitely many times better than Coco Beach on the mainland.

Find the top beachfront hotels

Beach and things to do on the island

A beautiful sandy beach, washed by the sea on three sides, is located at the northern tip of the island.

You'll find sunbed and umbrella hire here with prices around 15 usd per set for 1 day. There is also a small snack bar, but the prices are quite high, so we recommend taking snacks for the day with you.

Bongoyo islet is about 1km long and is filled with almost impenetrable vegetation.

So go to Bongoyo mainly to relax on the beach.

Ferry and organized excursions

A regular ferry departs 4 times a day from the hotel and the Slipway Shopping Centre.

The problem is that the boat only sails if it fills up with at least 4 passengers. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this is not a problem and you are almost 100% sure that the boat will sail.

However, on weekdays it is more likely that the boat will not fill to capacity and you will not get on Bongoyo.

Slipway -> Bongoyo - boats sail at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30
Bongoyo -> Slipway - ships sail at 12:30, 14:30, 17:00
Sailing time is 35 minutes
Price - return boat ticket 30 000 tzs + entrance fee to Bongoyo Nature Reserve 50 000 tzs

Ferry ticket office on Bongoyo

Bongoyo Timetable

In this case you can at least use the small sandy beach in front of the Slipway Hotel.

Beach at Slipway Hotel

If you want to be sure of a trip to Bongoyo, then we recommend you pay for an organized trip with and pick up at the hotel. The price is around 150 usd and can be booked through getyourguide.com.

How to get to the Slipway Hotel

There is no public transport to this area of Dar es Salaam.

We recommend using Bolt or Uber where you always know the exact price. From the centre of Dar es Salaam, you will pay around 10 000 tzs, while regular taxi drivers will ask for 30 000 tzs.