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 snorkelling, sunbathing and hiking.
In order to get here, take the daladala to Kunduchi or Bagamoyo and get off at the Africana stop. Then you can catch a taxi or bajaji (African tuk tuk) to White Sands Beach Resort. If you have a car, it’s a simple 40 minute drive to the resort from Dar es Salaam. Once you reach the gate, tell the gatekeeper you are going to Mbudya and he will give you a boat ticket plus a day pass for the island ($16). Then you walk through the resort to the beach where boats will be waiting to take a group across the Indian Ocean. The boats are small and wooden, and the ride takes about 25 minutes. Sometimes the tide is out, meaning you have to wade through shallow water to reach the boat, but that’s all part of the adventure.
Once there, you won’t have to worry about finding a banda, or beach hut, or vacant spot on the beach. Mostly only locals and expat residents know about it, which makes for a beautiful white sand beach untainted by obnoxious crowds. A limited number of people also means the development is limited: there is no hotel or established sit-down restaurant. Instead, you can have freshly caught and grilled fish or lobster brought directly to your banda, as well as cold water, soda or beer.
Once there, you won’t have to worry about finding a banda, or beach hut, or vacant spot on the beach. Mostly only locals and expat residents know about it, which makes for a beautiful white sand beach untainted by obnoxious crowds. A limited number of people also means the development is limited: there is no hotel or established sit-down restaurant. Instead, you can have freshly caught and grilled fish or lobster brought directly to your banda, as well as cold water, soda or beer.
