Marine National Parks and Reserves in Tanzania : Tanzania is a renowned safari destination with a number of Safari attractions and activities.
Mnazi Bay – Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP
Situated in the Mtwara district of Southeast Tanzania, Mnazi Bay – Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP) stretches all the way to the Mozambique border. 33% of the 650 square kilometre area, which is thought to have internationally significant marine biological assets, is on land. The park encompasses the Ras Msangamkuu headland and stretches from the northern part of the Ruvuma Estuary to Mnazi Bay.
Mangroves, rocky and sandy beaches, mudflats, salt pans, bordering coral reefs, lagoonal patch reefs, sea grass beds, three islands (Namponda, Mongo, and Kisiwa Kidogo), and a large number of tiny rocky islets are all found within the park. Surveys conducted within the Park’s reefs have revealed over 250 species of hard coral, 400 species of fish, and 100 species of echinoderms. The climate, physical features, influences of the Indian Ocean, and overall integrity of the combination of habitat have all contributed to the presence of marine and coastal plants and animals found within the Park, which includes nesting grounds for Green and Hawksbill turtles, a number of marine mammals (including migrating Humpback whales and the Indopacific Humpback dolphin), and a significant population of crab-plovers has led to the area’s designation as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in 2001.
Dugongs were also formerly resident in the area, though there have been unconfirmed reports since 1992. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1992. Within the park’s boundaries are 11 communities and 8 sub-villages, home to some 30,000 people whose primary source of income is marine resources. Poverty is widespread because there are few prospects for growth. This has led to a continued use of harmful fishing techniques and an excessive reliance on marine resources.
1982 saw the discovery of gas in Mnazi Bay, and in 2006 wells were put into service. Presently, gas from the wells is routed to Mtwara, where it is used in a gas-to-power plant to supply electricity to the Lindi and Mtwara districts.
Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary
With more than 200 different types of coral serving as a haven for more than 400 different species of colourful fish, Chumbe is home to some of the most pristine and vibrant coral reefs on Earth.
It is not allowed to dive in the marine park in order to preserve these coral reefs. With a mask, snorkel, and fins, everything is readily visible on the shallow reef. In addition, there is a coral-rag forest that is home to numerous bird species, enormous coconut crabs, hermit crabs, and the critically endangered Ader’s Duiker.
Every day, guests are taken on snorkelling and forest tours by knowledgeable experts. You can spend a day or more in Chumbe, where you can stay in “eco-bungalows” with views of the Indian Ocean.
The management and staff of Chumbe Island are local Zanzibar’s from the fishing community, with voluntary assistance from foreign professionals. All tourism-related income are put back into the Park’s conservation and educational initiatives.
The UN Secretary General acknowledged Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd’s efforts to preserve and manage the Chumbe coral reefs sustainably in his report to the General Assembly on the subject of protecting coral reefs for sustainable development and livelihoods in advance of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which took place from June 4–6, 2012. Under the category “National legislation’s role in preserving coral reefs (including the significance of including local and indigenous communities)”
Mbudya Island Marine Reserve
One of the four islands that comprise the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve is Mbudya, an uninhabited island located to the north of Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam.
It takes 15 to 20 minutes by speedboat to go from the mainland to the island, which is near the fishing hamlet of Kunduchi. It is located about 3 km offshore and is easily accessible from Dar es Salaam’s north coast hotels.
Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mbudya Island is a stunning place that bears resemblance to Zanzibar, which is located near Dar es Salaam. For those seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam, Mbudya Island, with its white sand beaches and pristine turquoise oceans, is the perfect destination. Popular things to do on this island include swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing, and just hanging out by the water with friends.
Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve
The deserted island of Bongoyo Island Marine Reserve is situated 2.5 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, the capital of the nation. Within the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves System (DMRS), it is the island that is visited the most frequently.
The island is about half an hour’s boat trip from the mainland and is located near the Msasani Peninsula. The Slipway shopping complex, located on the western side of the Msasani Peninsula, is the starting point for the majority of tourists to the island.
Sea grass beds, sandy expanses, and shallow, gently sloping coral reefs are among the underwater habitats. This island’s coastal coastlines are home to a number of distinct plant and animal populations. Physical factors such as substrate type (rock or sedimentary), substrate slope, tidal and current regimes, exposure to wave action, and freshwater influence are the main determinants of their distribution.
Pangavini Island Marine Reserve
One of the seven islands in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System (DMRS), Pangavini Island Marine Reserve is another uninhabited island in the northern part of the nation’s capital, Dar es Salaam. The island is small, measuring only 250 metres in length, and its shoreline is stony, devoid of beaches.
Sea grass beds, coral reefs, and several fish species are among the significant biological variety and tropical environments that are protected by it.
Due to its location at night, Pangavini Island is home to a large number of birds that are normally found over Dar es Salaam city. Additionally, it serves as a bird sanctuary for nesting. The reserves are also used by migratory birds as a place to rest during the winter.
Sinda Island Marine Reserve
This reserve is located on Dar es Salaam’s southern coast (Kigamboni).The area of the Inner and Outer Sinda Islands is 23.31 and 23.96 hectares, respectively, and the Marine Reserve is approximately 288.7 hectares. Sand beaches and steep cliffs may be seen along the Sinda Islands’ shoreline.
The highest depth of Sinda is less than ten metres. In the direction of the reserves, the outer Sinda and outer Makatumbe islands are just 1.8 and 3.2 km, respectively, distant from the deep water (> 50 m). The seaward sides of the reserves are vulnerable to strong tidal currents and waves due to their proximity to deep waters, particularly during spring tides. All reserves’ seaward edges are marked by rock cliffs and can be classified as high energy zones, or locations with significant wave effect.
Tanga Marine Park & Reserves
The coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, is a kind of plant that is highly abundant in this park and is well-known worldwide. In the coastal seas near Tanzania, the endangered “living fossil” fish were found again in 2003. Has been seen often in the TACMP region ever since. The coelacanth is now seen by many park visitors as a symbol of the area’s abundant coastal resources and ecotourism prospects.
Marine life includes migratory water birds, sea turtles, tropical fish species, and endangered species like the dugong, which was sighted off Kigombe in 2006. In order to meet its goal of conserving species and biodiversity, the park is putting a lot of effort into protecting coelacanths.
Mafia Island
Mafia Island (394 km2) is situated across the Rufiji River delta on Tanzania’s east coast. The Mafia Channel is the 20-kilometer-wide waterway that separates the island and the delta. Mafia Island is one of the larger islands in the small Tanzanian Mafia archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Other islands in the archipelago include Jibondo, Chole, Juani, Bwejuu, Mbarakuni, Shungumbili, and Nyororo. of which a portion are occupied. Kilindoni, located on the west coast of Mafia, is the principal town. A peaceful beach in the south is Ras Kisimani, which is situated across from Bwejuu Island and Utende.Chole Bay, the Mafia’s traditional port and safe deep-water anchorage, is located on the east coast. The bay is dotted with islets, sandbanks, and beaches, while Juani Island and coral reefs shield it from the east.
