Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, is located right along the Indian Ocean, and while you can go to beaches at places in town like Coco Beach, it’s not really recommended to swim there (and not always the safest).

So one of the closest swimming beaches, which happens to be an island, is Bongoyo Island. Visiting the small island in the marine reserve, is one of the top things to do in Dar Es Salaam.

Experience the Sun, Sand, and Surf at Bongoyo Island

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.