Mnemba Island Snorkeling Tour: Turtles, Nungwi & Kendwa Beach

Swim with sea turtles, then dive into Mnemba's coral reef

A full-day Mnemba Island tour from Zanzibar combines four stops: the Baraka Natural Aquarium for close encounters with green sea turtles in waist-deep water, Nungwi fishing village and its dhow construction yards, snorkeling at Mnemba Island Atoll to observe fish and marine life in the Indian Ocean, and Kendwa Beach for sunset. Private transport, snorkeling equipment and a guide in your choice of five languages are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Mnemba Island and Zanzibar beaches

• Meet guide, skipper, and captain
• Snorkel at Mnemba Island Atoll
• Visit Baraka Natural Aquarium and watch sea turtles
• Explore Nungwi Fishing Village and Fish Market
• Visit Nungwi Dhow Construction Areas
• Relax at Kendwa Beach and enjoy sunset

The experience

The day starts at Baraka Natural Aquarium, where you wade into waist-deep water to watch green sea turtles up close and learn their life cycles from an instructor. From there, you head to Nungwi on the island's north coast, spending the afternoon in the fishing village itself: walking through the fish market and the dhow construction areas where wooden boats are still built by hand. This is not a photo stop. You move through the working village and see how the catch arrives and how the boats take shape.

The centerpiece is the snorkeling run at Mnemba Island Atoll. You board a boat with your guide, skipper and captain, then enter the Indian Ocean to observe the reef's fish and marine creatures. Mnemba sits in a protected atoll, so the water clarity and abundance of life are what make the site stand out on Zanzibar's north coast. Snorkeling gear is provided, and the guide is with you in the water.

The tour ends at Kendwa Beach on the west side, where you have time to feel the calm water and white sand before the sunset. You return to your hotel after nine hours out, having moved through four distinct stops without arranging transport between them.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• snorkeling equipment and use of it at Mnemba Island.
• all fees and park entry charges.
• a live guide in your choice of language.

Information

Lasts 9h, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 120 per person, with live guides in 6 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (26 to 74 years) · Senior (75 and older) · Youth (11 to 25 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by mango travel & tours ltd

Is this one for you?The nine-hour day moves between four stops without breaks for arranging rides, so you see the turtles, the village, the reef and the beach in one outing. Pick this tour if you want to cover ground and spend time in the water rather than on a boat between sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 25 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Baraka Natural Aquarium and what do you do there?

Baraka Natural Aquarium is a shallow-water park where green sea turtles live in waist-deep pools. You wade in to watch them and learn about their habitats and life cycles from an instructor on-site.

Can I snorkel at Mnemba Island if I have never done it before?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and your guide is in the water with you. The atoll's marine life is abundant and visible in clear water, so first-time snorkelers see plenty.

What happens at Nungwi, and how much time do you spend there?

Nungwi is a working fishing village on the north coast. You walk through the fish market where the daily catch arrives and the dhow construction yards where traditional wooden boats are built. You spend the afternoon there, moving through both areas at a pace that lets you see how the village operates.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, so you can choose where and what to eat. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What time does the tour end, and when do you see the sunset?

The tour runs nine hours total. You reach Kendwa Beach in the late afternoon and have time there to watch the sunset before heading back to your hotel.