Pangavini Island Marine Reserve is another uninhabited island located in the northern of the country capital city, Dar es Salaam and is one of the seven islands of the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System (DMRS). The island is small, only about 250 m long; it has a rocky coastline without beaches.
It provides protection for several important biological diversity and tropical habitats; sea grass beds, Coral reefs and different fish species.
Pangavini Island has the splendour of being the nocturnal home of most of the birds that hove over Dar es Salaam city during the day. It is also the nesting sanctuary of the birds. The reserves also save as a stopover of migratory birds during their flight from winter.
Pangavini Island is an important breeding, resting and feeding site to a variety of rats, birds and reptiles. The area is unique due to their good scenic diving and snorkeling sites and there are numerous and extensive sea grass beds within the reserve area.
Dar es salaam Marine Parks & Reserves
The Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves are unique for many reasons – their proximity to the city, potential biodiversity and richness, good scenic diving and snorkelling sites, marine birds and dolphin viewing. Occasionally hunchback whales are also spotted in the deep waters around the reserves from May to August.
The islands are open to visitors during the day and have bandas (to keep you out of the sun), information boards and nature trails. Drinks and freshly cooked fish can be purchased from local community members, who also serve as tour guides and rangers.
The reserve system consists of nine uninhabited islands, four north of Dar es Salaam (Bongoyo, Mbudya, Pangavini and Fungu Yasini) and five south of the city (Inner and Outer Makatumbe, Inner and Outer Sinda and Kendwa Island). It provides protection for several important tropical ecosystems; coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds.