Bongoyo, a much-loved island getaway, lies off the Msasani Peninsula, about four miles north of Dar es Salaam. Idyllic white-sand beaches with thatched umbrellas, crystal clear waters that are perfect for a relaxing swim or snorkeling, exotic marine life inhabiting the surrounding coral reef, and nature trails that wind their way through the baobab trees – Bongoyo is home to a myriad of extraordinary experiences just waiting to be discovered. And when you’ve worked up an appetite, you can head over to the open-air snack bar serving cold drinks and fresh barbecued seafood.

To get there you have to take a boat from the Slipway Center where you pay a fee for the day, board a boat, and they’ll deliver you to Bongoyo and bring you back at a later time.

The boat ride costs $20 per person (or the equivalent in Tanzanian Shillings), and the ride takes about 30 minutes.

The problem is that, they won’t depart unless there are 4 people or more. So if there’s not enough people for the 9:30 am departure, they won’t leave until 11:30 am (unless you pay more to accommodate 4 people) – can be a pain.