Tanzania · MNEMBA ISLAND TRIPS
Nobody lands on Mnemba, which is private, but the atoll around it is the best snorkelling on the island. These 15 leave from Matemwe, Nungwi and Kendwa, and they differ mainly on departure time and how long you get in the water.
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”
Set out from Muyuni Beach or add hotel pickup for a half-day trip to Mnemba Atoll. Guides such as Khamis, Ali, Ramadan, and Fransic lead dolphin watching, snorkeling, and fruit stops. You may swim near wild dolphins, though busy boat traffic can affect the encounter.
“Fantastic!!! amazing experience and the tour guys that we were on the boat they were very friendly and helpful. 🙏🏽 Great team and the vibe was great 😊 Felt a bit sorry for the dolphin that we kept chasing but hopefully it has get used to it.”
Set out from Mama Mia Restaurant, Nungwi, or Kendwa around 8:30 AM for a four-hour boat trip with Captain Barnaba Excursions. Look for dolphins, snorkel Mnemba’s coral reefs, and visit a sandbank if the tide allows. Equipment is provided, pickup is available, and groups are limited to eight people.
“We did this trip again on our last day to chance it :)) ...and we were able to swim with dolphins this time! it was breathtaking seeing them swimming underwater.... We also had a chance this time to go to the sandbank! Of course the snorkeling was great too. it was so nice to book it with the same guys again!”
Set out from Nungwi or Muyuni for a 4.5 to 6 hour boat trip near Mnemba Island. Look for bottlenose and humpback dolphins, snorkel with a guide over coral reefs, then relax in shallow water with fresh tropical fruit. Rasheed is often the guide, and hotel pickup, lunch, and private options depend on your booking.
“Rasheed was an excellent guide. He was friendly, fun and made sure we enjoyed our day! We saw some amazing colourful fish and managed to swim with the dolphins. I wish we had time to go again.”
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 a full day seeing Zanzibar by road and water. Your private guide and driver take you to Mnemba Atoll for dolphins, snorkeling and a sandbank, then to Prison Island and Salaam Cave for giant tortoises and sea turtles. The Rock Restaurant adds a memorable coastal stop, though lunch is extra. Guides include Abdallah, Regalo and Mohammed.
“Both our guide and driver were very welcoming, polite, happy and knowledgeable about not only the excursions but also the area in general and they were very forthcoming in informing us.”
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 :)”
You’ll spend about three hours in Zanzibar’s northeastern waters, looking for wild dolphins, snorkeling at Mnemba Reef, and relaxing on a nearby sandbank. The private tour includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, boat transport, equipment, bottled water, and tropical fruit. Guides such as Ahmed and Msomali are noted for patient, friendly help.
“Une formidable matinée , une excursion à recommander , de beaux poissons et récifs. L’équipe est vraiment chouette et excursion vip à deux , plateau de fruits, boisson ... top. Merci vous”
Join Mody Zanzibar Tours & Safaris for a private boat trip from Zanzibar City to Mnemba Atoll, where you can snorkel among tropical fish, turtles, rays, and moray eels. Guides such as Mody and Hassan help with the water time, followed by seafood, fruit, and bottled water. The five-hour outing includes hotel transport and boat fees.
“This entire experience was incredible. Mody was kind and patient. We went with our 6 year old son and he thoroughly enjoyed it. We ended up booking another excursion with Mody based on this great tour. The food was also amazing. 10/10”
Set out at 8:30 from Nungwi or Kendwa by fiber boat for open-ocean dolphin watching, coral-reef snorkeling, and a possible sandbank stop near Mnemba Island. Guides including Juma, Fau, Issac, and Tarzan are praised for careful, friendly help. Fresh fruit, water, equipment, conservation fees, and return transport are included.
“Very nice half day trip, seen dolphins and starfishes. Start and end near the hotel, nothing bad to say.”
From Matemwe, Pwani, Kwingwa, or Uroa, you’ll ride by van and boat to look for dolphins, snorkel around Mnemba’s coral reefs, and visit a sandbank when tides allow. Small groups are limited to eight. Guides such as Juma, Fau, Isaac, and Bakari are praised for safety, local knowledge, and helping with photos.
“We had a brilliant day out with our guide Fauz, who made it his priority to ensure that everybody had the best experience. Pickup at the hotel was arranged for us at short notice - and arrived on time as well. I can highly recommend this experience.”
Set out from Kendwa at 9 a.m. on a private traditional dhow for Mnemba’s clear water, coral reefs, colorful fish, and a seafood and chicken barbecue. You may spot dolphins on the way and can swim if conditions allow. Guides including Matthias, Mbwana, Yusef, and Musa have helped guests snorkel and made the day easy for families.
“This was 100% worth it! Never have I ever seen such beautiful beaches. What I liked about this was it was private, when you're on the water you'll see other boats crammed with people. The lunch was great, 10/10!”
Spend about five hours around Mnemba Island with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a private boat. Snorkel among reef fish, watch for bottlenose dolphins, and relax on a low-tide sandbank with fruit and soft drinks. Guides such as Ali, Ally, and Anwary are praised for friendly service and clear local knowledge.
“We were looked after very well by our guide Ali and driver. A lovely little trip, definitely worth doing. Saw lots of dolphins, the water and scenery were amazing. A true paradise.”
Start at 8:00am with hotel pickup and drive toward Matemwe. Your private boat heads toward Mnemba Island for dolphin spotting, guided snorkeling, sandbank time, fruit, soft drinks, and a seafood lunch by the shore. Musa has guided some departures, and Spanish-speaking guests should confirm language support before booking.
“My guide and boat captain were great, helped me view dolphins up close and took me to a beautiful sand bank and then snorkeling. Very courteous and efficient. They served fruit and a nice lunch with soft drinks/water as well as supplying snorkeling equipment. I had a great time.”
From Nungwi, you travel by boat to the Mnemba area for coral-reef snorkeling, dolphin watching, fruit, and a stop at a clear-water sandbank. The tour suits beginners who are comfortable in the sea, with gear, a life jacket, and a snorkeling guide included. Hotel pickup, private groups, and four guide languages are available.
“The boat driver did a great job tracking the dolphins and we got three jumps out of the boat to swim next to them”
Pick a park, a mountain route or a stretch of reef.
