I was really looking forward to my day trip to Mbudya (pronounced: M-bood-ja) Island on Saturday. I originally planned to go to Bongoyo Island, but my coworker recommended going to Mbudya Island instead because there would be less crowding. Both islands are frequented by tourists & locals alike for snorkeling and laying along the beach.
Mbudya is north of Dar es Salaam, and one of 4 Marine Reserves of the city. We took about a 30 minute boat ride from the mainland to the island, where we were dropped off and immediately shown the way to a cabana.
We were even able to order a fish or lobster lunch. I opted for the lobster, which cost about $15 (25 tsh). I didn’t have a fork, knife or napkin but I managed to crack that sucker open. It was delicious. Because there was a large party ahead of us, I’m pretty sure they caught the fish and lobster we were eating right before they served it to us. Talk about fresh!
There was also a small bar serving drinks. I bought a Ndovu beer. It’s labeled “Tanzania’s Premium Lager” and tasted much like a Heineken (both are light beers). It was a little more watery, but definitely had the punch of the beer we’re used to in the US. My coworker (who’s been living here for almost a year) said that this is one of the better beers in Tanzania. The others tend to be watered down and not comparable to beers brewed in the US.
The water & scenery of Mbudya were picture perfect…so relaxing and amazingly beautiful. We were able to snorkel & see some of the colorful fish hiding in the Indian Ocean coral reef. It was such a great way to spend my inaugural weekend in Dar es Salaam. It set the tone for the rest of my time here. I can’t wait to see what Dar es Salaam has to offer next weekend!