The 15 Kayaking & Canoeing Trips in Tanzania That Justify the Price

1.Transparent Kayak and Drone (with Pickup Included)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 427 reviews · 1 hour · from $45Our pick

Meet your instructor at Nungwi or Kendwa, then spend about 40 minutes paddling a transparent kayak off Nungwi Beach. You can see the seabed below while a drone captures aerial photos and video. Staff help with poses, paddling, and safety. Pickup, drinks, equipment, and drone footage are included.

“incredibly caring people. it was very important to them that the water and weather was good. I got collected on a quad so I feel I got 2 activities in 1 😁 such nice people and the photos were sent to me very quickly and turned out great. thank you so much to everyone.”

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2.Transparent Kayak and Drone (with Pickup Included)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 124 reviews · 1 hour · from $39Best value

Meet your guide near Nungwi, Kendwa, or Kidoti, then spend about 40 minutes paddling a heart-shaped or regular transparent kayak on the Indian Ocean. Guides including Nema and Jackson help with the photo session, while a drone records your outing from above. Pickup, soft drinks, and professional photos and video are included.

“Good framing, very nice photos. Tailor-made support to listen to the customer.”

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3.Jozani Forest, Kuza Cave and Stand Up Paddle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 34 reviews · 10 hours · from $150

Spend 10 hours in southern Zanzibar with private transport, a guide, and boat. Walk through Jozani Forest, see Red Colobus Monkeys, swim with sea turtles at Salaam Cave, visit Kuza Cave, paddle clear water, and stop at The Rock Restaurant. Guides speak English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

“Excellent. Recommended by us any day of the week. We had a rainy day and they were flexible and made some changes to the itinerary to fit our needs. We loved it.”

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4.Canoeing/Kayaking &/or Cycling Adventure (with Lunch)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 28 reviews · 4 - 10 hours · from $55

Start with a calm canoe trip on Lake Duluti, where your guide points out birds, monkeys, and monitor lizards. Then cycle through villages and coffee farms to Mangalia Waterfall, with time for a swim and a taste of Chagga banana beer. Guides such as Derek and Derrick are praised for their nature and culture knowledge. Lunch and hotel transfers are included.

“muy buena actividad, comienza con 2 horas aprox de canoa, observando difernetes aves en su habitan al igual que diferentes monos (azules y velvet) alimenrandose de los frutos de los árboles al borde del lago, muy tranquilo y el guía te va enseñando los diferentes aves y animales e historia del lugar, luego una cicletada de una hora aprox segun el estado físico de la persona, a traves de plantaciones de plátano y otros árboles para llegar a un merecio baño en la cascada para luego regresar casi solo bajada a un almuerzo reponedor para terminar la jornada junto al lago.”

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5.Coastal Odyssey: Kayaking Adventure at Kendwa & Nungwi Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 25 reviews

Paddle a transparent kayak for 30 minutes near Nungwi Beach, close to Gold Zanzibar hotel. Staff provide a safety briefing, paddles, and life jackets. You may spot fish, coral, and starfish below, though the activity area is limited and no guide is named.

“This is a scam, I never visited the activity. The owner of this activity asked me weird questions if i am alone, and who i am with together it was very weird. And then he said that he took a look at my work website and talk about my nude pictures. I did not ask him anything about doing this. He went online and look at my pictures and talk to me about this and ask me if we can chat together. Really unprofessional. All I wanted was just to book a activity. I said I am not doing the activity with him because I dont feel comfortable with him…”

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6.Jozani Forest, Tandem Clear Kayak, The Rock, Paje Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 21 reviews · 10 hours · from $145

This 10-hour private Zanzibar outing pairs Jozani Forest’s Red Colobus Monkeys with a tandem clear kayak through mangroves, The Rock Restaurant, and Paje Beach. Private pickup, a guide, and bottled water are included. Guides may speak English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. Lunch at The Rock costs extra.

“It was amazing. Our Guide Daniel and our driver Nasser were great. It was the best day of our trip. We wanted to go to Salaam Cave which was not included in the trip and they added it and took us there. They went over & above to make sure we are enjoying the day and are happy.”

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7.3-hour Kayak Tour through the Mangrove Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 3 hours · from $58

Meet your English-speaking guide at Eco Kayak Zanzibar in Unguja Ukuu Kaepwani for three hours on the water. You will paddle through mangrove channels, visit quiet beaches, learn about local life, and enjoy fruit drinks and a snack. Guide Amor is often praised for his care, patience, and strong knowledge of the area.

“Really good activity 3 hours of kayaking in the Mangrove Forest with spectacular views Amor was a great guide who know the bay very well and showed me the greatest bird watching spots and we saw so many African black ducks and herons - was truly an unforgettable experience and would definitely recommend”

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8.Mnemba Dolphin Tour, Clear Kayak, Cooking Class, Horse Riding

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $220

You’ll spend a full day moving between Zanzibar’s coast and spice farms, with hotel pickup, private transport, water, lunch, and a guide. The day includes Mnemba snorkeling, clear kayaking at Kendwa, spice tasting, a two-hour Swahili cooking class, and a short beach horse ride. Guides may include Mohamed, Ali, Abdul, or Andy.

“This was one of the best excursions I've ever experienced. From pick-up to drop-off, everything went smoothly. Our tour guide and driver, Mohamed and Ali, were exceptional. They picked us up on time and kept us engaged during the drive bRead more”

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9.Horse Riding and Kayaking with Video and Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 10 reviews · 6 hours · from $230

Combine a guided beach horseback ride at Pwani Mchangani with kayaking near Kendwa, plus drone photos and video delivered to your phone within 24 hours. The private experience includes transport, safety gear, entry fees, and multilingual guides. David and his team are noted for friendly help and careful photography.

“Excellent!!! My guide was very friendly and helpful to everything I ve asked for. The photos and the videos prepared were perfect!!! It is also good that the distances are not too long and you are not getting tired. Great adventure for few hours”

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10.Zanzibar Clear Kayak & Drone Photoshoot with Pickup Includes

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 50 minutes - 3 hours · from $42

Paddle a transparent kayak in Zanzibar’s clear coastal water while a guide helps with poses and drone photos. The outing usually centers on Kendwa, with hotel pickup and drop-off available on selected options. Expect about 50 minutes to 3 hours, depending on your package, and check whether drone photography is included before booking.

“The service provider was amazing, patient and kind. He even shows us poses to get good pictures. The pictures and videos came out well with good quality. Highly recommend”

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11.THE GREEN TOUR: Jozani Forest & Mangrove Kayaking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · 8 hours · from $99

Spend eight hours with local guides Raul and Mohammad, kayaking quiet Uzi Island mangrove creeks, sharing tropical fruit, visiting a village, and walking Jozani Forest trails among Zanzibar’s red colobus monkeys. The private tour includes transport, equipment, park entry, and guides in several languages.

“The activity was great, we first went kayaking in the mangroves which was great. I hear that it’s not a big tourist attraction so definitely worth doing for something different. Raul, the guide, was so good at talking through the mangroves and the wildlife and the area. He then took us to his village, I highly recommend taking him up on this offer as it is a true look into Zanzi life. After this we went to Jozani forest where Mohammad took over the tour, he was very knowledgeable about the forest and the monkeys. I am very glad we booked this one, it didn’t have a lot of reviews…”

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12.Kayak Mangrove Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $45

At Ally Kayak in Michamvi, you’ll spend two hours paddling calm mangrove channels with an English-speaking guide. Stable single and double kayaks make this easy for beginners. Start times follow the tide, and a high-tide evening trip may include a memorable sunset over the bay, followed by fresh coconut and fruit.

“Très belle activité à faire, apaisant, magnifique avec un super guide et un incroyable sunset ! Merci beaucoup”

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13.Private Canoe or Hike Tour on Lake Duluti

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $50Top rated

Spend three to four hours near Arusha exploring Lake Duluti by canoe or on foot with private guide Reuben. Expect calm water, birdlife, reptiles, Mount Meru views, and stories about Meru culture and local legends. The tour also includes a short visit to The Small Things in Nkoaranga, with proceeds supporting its community work.

“Outstanding experience. Reuben was a knowledgeable and personable guide. Lake Duliti was beautiful and I saw dozens of birds as well as many types of native trees and plants. I also learned about The Small Things, an admirable and fascinating social service organization. Check their website for all the trips they do to fund their important work.”

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14.Kuza Cave, Rock Restaurant, Jozani Forest, Clear Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3 reviews · 10 hours · from $150

Spend 10 hours exploring southern Zanzibar with private pickup, a guide, Kuza Cave, Jozani Mangrove Forest, sea turtles at Salaam Cave, The Rock Restaurant, and clear tandem kayaking. Guides speak English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. Lunch is not included, so plan for that extra cost.

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15.Kuza Cave, Tandem Clear Kayak, Rock Restaurant, Paje Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3 reviews · 8 hours · from $145

Spend eight hours exploring Zanzibar’s southern coast with a private guide and hotel pickup. Visit Kuza Cave near Jambiani, paddle a clear tandem kayak through calm waters, stop at The Rock Restaurant, and finish on Paje Beach. Lunch at The Rock costs extra, and you should bring beachwear and a towel.

“The start of the tour was mixed. The guide seemed quiet and the car ride was bumpy. The Kuza Cave was the first stop and it was surprisingly boring, dark and not a place we wanted to swim. Maybe it makes sense to come later during the afternoon where there is more light in the cave. The history of the cave was very intriguing though! Snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon was an amazing experience! First off within a reef with a rich fauna and many colorful fish. After this, we went to see starfish of all sorts. There were plenty of fresh fruit on the boat ride, which was also…”

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