I h`d already been to the nearest island – Bongoyo and liked it. I had heard that it was definitely worth going a little further and having a look at Mbudya island. My friends have a speed boat and they persuaded me to go with them for lunch there.
It only takes about 15 minutes on a clam day in a motor boat to get there but it feels like a world away. It was much better than I could have possibly imagined. The beach is much bigger than Bongoyo and there is a reef very close to the beach where you can go snorkelling. Bright colourful fish darted through the coral. I was pleased I had invested in my own mask and snorkel.
I expected the food and drink to be really expensive because they have a captive audience but I was pleasantly surprised. I instantly fell in love with Mbudya Island and promised to go to back the following month for the whole day rather than a flying visit just for lunch and a swim.
I set off with Hans early on Sunday morning and made the boat at White Sands Hotel at about 10am. The tide was out so we picked our way across the mud along with some Koreans to the small boat.
We were early enough to get a banda at the beach front where we settled in for the day. Even for a busy Sunday the island doesn’t seem crowded because there plenty of space for people to spread out. Bongoyo on the other hand feels crowded with only a handful of visitors.
I took a short walk into the island interior which was very similar to that of Bongoyo – full of tree roots and overhead vines and branches.
Costs: boat from White Sands Hotel (and back) 10,000, banda 15,000, park fee 30,000, chicken and chips 15,000, beer 5,000. A day at Mbudya is going to cost you about 70,000 which is about $30. I cannot think of a better way to spend $30.