Tanzania · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
Most of the coast only makes sense from the water. The 13 below run from a sunset hour on a dhow to a full day between a sandbank and a reef, each priced and honest about how much swimming time you actually get.
Set out from Mama Mia near Kendwa at 8:30 a.m. with an English-speaking crew such as Hassan, Ludo, Abra, or Hamis. Look for dolphins on the way to Mnemba Atoll, snorkel over coral reefs, and stop at a disappearing sandbank for fresh fruit. The crew aims to keep a respectful distance from dolphins.
“Definitely worth it and the guide was really good and helpful”
From Stone Town, join guides such as Milano, Abdul, or Juma for a six to nine-hour boat trip to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. Visit old cells, see giant Aldabra tortoises, swim or snorkel, and eat a beachside seafood barbecue with fruit. Hotel pickup, equipment, drinks, and entry fees may be included depending on your booking option and date.
“We had a really great day on this tour to Prison Island and Nakupenda. At Prison Island, visiting the turtle sanctuary was a wonderful experience. We had enough time to walk around, take photos and enjoy the place without feeling rushed, which we really appreciated. The guides were fantastic, very attentive and always ready to help. They brought great energy to the group and created a friendly and fun atmosphere during the whole excursion. At Nakupenda, the lunch was excellent and very generous. The setting is beautiful and the mood was relaxed and pleasant. Small note: there were some jellyfish in the water. Of course this is natural and not…”
Join guides such as Salim or Bahama for a dhow trip from Stone Town to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. See Aldabra tortoises, explore colonial ruins, snorkel in clear water, and eat a fresh seafood barbecue with fruit. The $35 price excludes a $22 conservation and island-entry fee.
“Salim our guide was excellent and gave us lots of information. Lunch was plentiful and tasty. The snorkelling at Nakupenda wasn't great as the water was choppy and visibility was poor, but overall the day was very fun and well organised.”
Meet your captain at The Mora beach in Matemwe between 8:30 and 9:00 for a shared boat trip to Mnemba Island. Snorkel over coral, watch for dolphins and turtles, and enjoy fruit and water on board. Guides such as Lava Lava, Abdul, and Lil Nasr have helped make this a friendly, photo-filled half-day outing.
“Super happy we booked this tour. The tour starts at the end of the road and we stay at the Mora so we just walk to meet the guide. They provide all the gears needed for snorkeling and nice life vest on board. We initially took a small boat then transferred to bigger dhow Boat which is a lot more comfortable for 10 people. The first stop was to find dolphins which our guide took our camera and took 11 minutes amazing video. We then went to sandbar and did snorkeling. The water is so beautiful and clear but the site to snorkeling is so so. The service on board…”
Spend three to four hours on Zanzibar’s northern coast, with hotel pickup, a short transfer to Nungwi or Kendwa, and a traditional wooden dhow cruise. You’ll watch the sunset, hear live drumming and singing, enjoy fruit and water, and may swim from the boat. Guides speak English, German, French, Italian, and Swahili.
“Great experience! Super lovely tour guides. Would highly recommend if you want to see the sunset in an enjoyable way.”
Travel north from your Zanzibar hotel to Muyuni Beach, then take a boat toward protected Mnemba Island. You cannot enter the private island, but you can snorkel nearby, see coral and tropical fish, swim, enjoy fruit, and have lunch if selected. Guides may include Abdul, Hassan, Lava Lava, Tom, or Nagim.
“The Hotel Pick Up was organized well! We loved the snorkeling spot and saw lots of fish! We also saw some dolphins although we found it quite dangerous to get in the water with them when there were about 20 boats circelling the animals and not paying any attention to the swimmers. We were also a little sad we had our lunch not right at the beach as others did but in a shelter in the back. In general a fun trip though :)”
BoomBoom Boat’s 3.5-hour sunset party cruise leaves from The Z Hotel in Nungwi. You’ll sail past Nungwi and Kendwa, dance to music from the onboard MC, stop for a 25-minute swim, and enjoy a fruit plate. The boat welcomes guests aged 16 and over, with drinks available to buy at the bar.
“Loved it! Great fun but chilled party vibes. Met some great people too! Music was awesome!”
Set out from Nungwi or Kendwa at 9:00 for a four-hour English-guided boat trip to the Mnemba conservation area. You will look for dolphins, snorkel over coral reefs, and stop at a disappearing sandbank if the tide allows. Fruit, soft drinks, equipment, conservation fees, and boat transport are included.
“Buona escursione, buon itinerario, mare stupendo, guida ottima! Da migliorare l'organizzazione al punto pick-up dato che abbiamo aspettato 25 minuti prima che si presentasse qualcuno, oltre ad un ulteriore ritardo causato da altri ospiti. A parte questo l'escursione è andata bene!”
From Nungwi Beach, Uforo Tour and Travel takes you out on the dhow Kilimanjaro for a 2.5-hour sunset sail. Expect Indian Ocean views, seasonal fruit, loud live drumming, traditional dancing, and an optional swim near the end. Hotel pickup is available around Nungwi, with extra transport charges from farther locations.
“Lovely experience. Drummers and singers are loud if you sit near the front of the boat, so sit near the back if you have sensitive ears.”
Spend about eight hours on a shared traditional dhow from Zanzibar, visiting Kwale Island, a sandbank, the Blue Lagoon, and Niamembe Island. You can snorkel, swim, see an ancient baobab, and eat a seafood lunch with fruit, soda, water, and local beer. Guides such as Abas, Amina, and Sunnia have earned praise for attentive help.
“The tour guide was hospitable but can't say the same with the Captain. He caused an unnecessary conflict between himself and the passengers by wanting to overload the boat with passengers from his fellow colleague.”
Meet a Maasai guide at Maasai World Village, learn about customs and daily life, and try traditional clothing. Then board a shared dhow near Nungwi Beach for sunset, fruit, and a possible swim. Daniel is one named guide praised for friendly service. Bring a towel, since boarding can mean walking through water.
“Goed, maasai dorp heel interessant en goede uitleg. Bij de boot moet je betalen voor je eten en drinken, alleen 1 ronde fruit, hou daar rekening mee. Je kunt pinnen en contant.”
Sail from Stone Town on a shared traditional Arabian dhow as the sun drops over the Indian Ocean. You’ll see the waterfront from the sea, enjoy local snacks, soft drinks, and traditional music, then return to the Palace Museum meeting point. Plan for roughly 1.5 hours, though the advertised time is longer.
“Really enjoyable time, but it lasted about 1 hour and 20 minutes, not 2 hours as advertised”
Set out from Nungwi or Kendwa around 8:10 AM for a five-hour boat trip to Mnemba Island. You’ll look for wild dolphins, snorkel among coral and colorful fish, and receive equipment, water, seasonal fruit, and local guidance. Hotel pickup is optional, and dolphin sightings cannot be guaranteed.
“This activity is nice if you are a good swimmer i was not a good swimmer so as my friends and the boat had many people it was each person for himself the tour guide are supposed to assist those who are not very good and help them see the dolphins but unfortunately they were just jumping in the water together with the good swimmers watching dolphins and i was not so pleased on that then the snorkeling part it was great as they tried to assist whit a float for bad swimmers. The experience is amazing and they give fruit and water it was a lovely day met lovely…”
Pick a park, a mountain route or a stretch of reef.
