Tanzania · SNORKELING
Visibility is best in the morning and the boats know it, which is why almost everything leaves before eight. These 15 cover the Mnemba atoll, the Blue Lagoon and the sandbank runs, with gear, lunch and time in the water each spelled out.
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.”
Spend seven hours exploring Zanzibar’s southwest coast by van and traditional dhow. Snorkel for starfish and reef fish, visit Kwale Sandbank, swim in a tide-dependent lagoon, and eat a generous seafood barbecue on Kwale Island. Guides such as Omar and Osman are known for warm, attentive service.
“Our tour was very nice even though it was raining. Omar is the best guide. Would recommend to everyone!!”
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…”
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”
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.”
From Paje or Jambiani, you’ll travel to Fumba and sail by wooden dhow through Menai Bay. Expect a sandbank stop, coral-reef snorkeling, a seafood barbecue, tropical fruit, and time around lagoons and mangroves. The advertised guide languages include English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, but language support may vary.
“Guide en français (comme demandé) la prochaine fois car incapable de nous dire 2 mots en français, il faut annoncé que le Blue Lagoon n'est visible que rarement selon les marées (donc pas vu!!!), avertir qu'il faut impérativement des chaussures pour marcher dans l'eau”
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!”
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”
Join Nungwi Aquarium Adventures for a five-hour trip from Mnarani Aquarium to Mnemba Atoll. With a maximum of seven people, you’ll snorkel among reef fish, look for dolphins, picnic on fruit and soft drinks at a sandbank, then swim with sea turtles in a natural lagoon. Snorkeling gear and park fees are included.
“The service was great. We managed to spot the dolphins . They gave us ample time to do snorkelling. They also provided us with delicious snacks”
From Kizimkazi, you sail to Pungume Reef for snorkeling, then relax on a white-sand bank with fruit and a seafood lunch. If the tide allows, the boat continues to Uzi Island for mangroves, coconut crabs, and possible red colobus monkeys. Dolphin sightings are possible, not guaranteed. Hotel pickup is included.
“Was a great time! Did not know initially that we would be a hop off like five to seven times for searching for the dolphins, but made it very exciting and fun! Just remember when they say JUMP!, jump off and look down for your dolphin friends :)”
Pick a park, a mountain route or a stretch of reef.
