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Rules of the Bongo Dice Game

Bongo is a fast-paced dice game that uses seven to 10 specialty dice with images on them, which are rolled at the same time. Players analyze the results of the dice roll and try to be the first to call out the correct answer based on that roll. It’s a game that requires quick thinking and analytical skills to win, with variable levels of play depending on which dice the players choose to use.

Bamboo Dice
- Two of the dice display bamboo shoots. Each side contains one to three bamboo shoots. Players analyze the dice looking for one of two outcomes. If both dice show the same number after the roll, that is the number players lock into. For instance, if both dice display one bamboo shoot, the number in play is one. If both numbers are different, players need to lock into the third number--the number that wasn’t displayed (if one die shows a one and the other die shows a two, the number in play is three). This number relates to our next section, the animal dice. The bamboo dice are required for all levels of play.
Animal Dice
- Five of the dice display animals, with three possible outcomes: a gnu, a rhino or an antelope. After the players determine the number they need, they analyze the animal dice, looking for the animal that appears that number of times. If the number that is locked in is a three, the players look at the five animal dice, searching for the animal that only appears on three of the dice. If there is an animal that meets that criterion, the first player to shout out the answer wins the round. The animal dice are required for all levels of play.
Scoring
- The player who wins the round receives a stick for the animal they called out. An incorrect answer for a round means the player loses all sticks for the correct animal. If the correct answer is “none” (no quantity of animals appear that meets the proper number), the winner of the round gets a stick of their choice, but an incorrect “none” answer costs the player all of their sticks. In order to win the game, a player must earn two sticks for each animal.
Advanced Play
- The two poacher dice are similar to the animal dice, but a darker color. The dice depict the same three animals as the animal dice, but the resulting animal is removed from consideration. Like the number dice, the outcome is based on what appears on both dice. If the same animal appears twice, that animal is “poached,” and removed from consideration when it appears on the animal dice. If different animals appear on the poacher dice, it’s the animal that wasn’t displayed that is removed from play.
  
  The second edition of Bongo added one more element for advanced play: a Ranger die, which also contains images of the three animals. The outcome of the Ranger die establishes what animal is protected from the poacher dice.

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