Page 71 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 71
iGap Travel Guide | Africa
71
Kunduchi
Mafia Island
South of Dar es Salaam
This one is in easy reach of the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, making it the perfect place to escape the city.
About 20 miles north of the city you’ll come across a few different beaches, of which Kunduchi is the most
exciting, separated from being right on the ocean by a lagoon. This is another popular resort area where there
are big hotels, but the beach is long enough for everyone and there is almost too much to do. Excursions
extend to outlying islands, and there is windsurfing and snorkelling to enjoy too. Tanzania’s largest water park,
Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park, sits along the shore, with 38 slides and nine pools to thrill adrenaline junkies,
and sticking with that theme there is also a go kart centre.
Luckily the name of this island near Zanzibar just
means archipelago in Swahili, so you probably won’t
find mobsters playing beach ball. What you will find
instead is stunning ribbons of sand that are yet to be
affected by mass tourism. Tiny coastal villages that
dot the island have been unchanged for hundreds of
years and many people make their living by fishing.
It is fun to explore the island on foot and find a
beach somewhere and you’ll feel like you are in an
adventure novel. While on the island you must check
out the snorkelling in the clear waters where you will
see tropical fish galore, manta rays, and octopus that
are protected by the Mafia Island Marine Park.
We know, it might be a bit of a cop out to be this vague and just recommend any beach south of the capital,
but for a start, many of them don’t have names and besides, you just can’t go wrong here. The mainland coast
of Tanzania is really all about relaxation; divers and water sports enthusiasts all head to outlying islands like
Zanzibar so you’ll be exclusively in the company of people topping up their tans or hauling in the daily catch
if you’re in the company of anyone at all. The beaches south of Dar es Salaam are quiet to the point of near
desertion, with all the lodges being tiny affairs.
71
Kunduchi
Mafia Island
South of Dar es Salaam
This one is in easy reach of the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, making it the perfect place to escape the city.
About 20 miles north of the city you’ll come across a few different beaches, of which Kunduchi is the most
exciting, separated from being right on the ocean by a lagoon. This is another popular resort area where there
are big hotels, but the beach is long enough for everyone and there is almost too much to do. Excursions
extend to outlying islands, and there is windsurfing and snorkelling to enjoy too. Tanzania’s largest water park,
Kunduchi Wet ‘N’ Wild Water Park, sits along the shore, with 38 slides and nine pools to thrill adrenaline junkies,
and sticking with that theme there is also a go kart centre.
Luckily the name of this island near Zanzibar just
means archipelago in Swahili, so you probably won’t
find mobsters playing beach ball. What you will find
instead is stunning ribbons of sand that are yet to be
affected by mass tourism. Tiny coastal villages that
dot the island have been unchanged for hundreds of
years and many people make their living by fishing.
It is fun to explore the island on foot and find a
beach somewhere and you’ll feel like you are in an
adventure novel. While on the island you must check
out the snorkelling in the clear waters where you will
see tropical fish galore, manta rays, and octopus that
are protected by the Mafia Island Marine Park.
We know, it might be a bit of a cop out to be this vague and just recommend any beach south of the capital,
but for a start, many of them don’t have names and besides, you just can’t go wrong here. The mainland coast
of Tanzania is really all about relaxation; divers and water sports enthusiasts all head to outlying islands like
Zanzibar so you’ll be exclusively in the company of people topping up their tans or hauling in the daily catch
if you’re in the company of anyone at all. The beaches south of Dar es Salaam are quiet to the point of near
desertion, with all the lodges being tiny affairs.
