On weekends and free days, you can explore the surroundings. Here are two possible options.
Mbudya Island
The first option is Mbudya Island. First, you need to arrive at the White Sand hotel, and from there, you can take a boat. The return ticket costs Tsh 10,000, and the Island fee is Tsh 20,000.
The Island itself is nearly a paradise, with white sand and warm, turquoise water. You can pay for the sunbed, but I didn’t even consider this, because for me, the whole point of going to the beach is to get a tan on the sandy surface. You can also enjoy some nice snorkelling in the clear waters.
Food on the Island is excellent. You can get a good-sized plate of fish or calamari and chips for Tsh 15,000. Soda will cost Tsh 200, and a beer will cost Tsh 44,000. If you leave after the tide has started to go out, prepare to walk through water and mud, as the boat is unable to come to shore.
Bagamoyo
The other option is to go to Bagamoyo. To get there from Madale, you must first go to Tegeta and take a local bus. This daladala will cost Ts 2000. The drive usually takes about 5 minutes, but can last up to an hour and a half if the traffic is bad.
Bagamoyo is an old town where the slave trade took place. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Arab slave traders took huge numbers of enslaved people from Tanzania to European colonies in the Indian Ocean. Mainland Tanzania was under German rule from 1890 until the First World War. Then, Tanzania was handed over to British rule. You can still see remnants of old ruins from the German and British colonial periods.
There is also an art market where you can purchase ebony sculptures, paintings, jewellery, and more. Many people also visit the crocodile farm to see baby crocodiles and other reptiles.
On national holidays, it will be packed with local people. Food-wise, there is a lot of food available.
If you plan to visit Bagamoyo, it’s best to reserve the whole day in case of delays. Visiting museums and ruins in Bagamoyo will require you to pay entrance fees and hire a tourist guide. You can make this trip independently, but Art in Tanzania can also arrange hassle-free trips for you with a car and a driver.
Tia Maria
