Safari Blue Zanzibar: Private Dhow Tour with Dolphins

A traditional wooden dhow carries you past dolphins and across sandbanks to an island feast.

Safari Blue is a private full-day dhow tour departing from Fumba village in southwest Zanzibar, sailing through the Menai Bay Conservation Area with stops for snorkeling, dolphin spotting, and lunch on Kwale Island. You board a traditional wooden boat handcrafted by local artisans, explore pristine sandbanks with clear water visibility, and end the day watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean as you sail back to shore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Safari Blue adventure

• Board traditional dhow boat at Fumba
• Sail to pristine sandbank for snorkeling
• Explore Menai Bay Conservation Area
• Swim alongside dolphins if lucky
• Travel to Kwale Island for lunch
• Enjoy traditional Swahili seafood feast
• Visit ancient baobab tree on Kwale Island
• Sail back to Fumba at sunset

The experience

The tour starts early from Fumba, a small fishing village on Zanzibar's southwest coast, where you board a traditional dhow: a wooden sailing boat built by local craftspeople. The boat carries you into the Indian Ocean toward a pristine sandbank, the first stop for swimming and snorkeling. The water clarity here is strong enough to see vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and starfish without difficulty. After time in the water, the dhow continues into the Menai Bay Conservation Area, one of Zanzibar's largest marine-protected zones, where Indo-Pacific bottlenose and humpback dolphins live. Spotting them is not guaranteed, but the waters here support rich marine life, so the chance is real.

Lunch happens on Kwale Island, where a traditional Swahili seafood feast waits: grilled fish, prawns, octopus, calamari, and lobster, served with coconut rice and fries. The island also holds an ancient baobab tree over 500 years old, a landmark worth seeing between courses. After eating and resting, you return to the dhow for the sail back to Fumba. The return timing is set to catch the sunset over the water: the day ends with that light rather than in the dark.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language throughout the day. Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and all fees are included. The boat itself is the transport, and the full day runs about eight hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your location.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• traditional Swahili seafood lunch on Kwale Island with grilled fish, prawns, octopus, calamari, lobster, coconut rice and fries.
• snorkeling equipment.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (24 to 73 years) · Senior (74 and older) · Youth (11 to 23 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Wise Tour Guide

Is this one for you?The full day on the water (eight hours from Fumba and back) suits travelers who want time to swim, explore, and eat without rushing between stops. The pace is set by the dhow's sailing schedule and the lunch break on Kwale Island, so this is not a quick excursion but a day built around being at sea.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 23 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What kind of marine life might I see while snorkeling on Safari Blue?

The sandbank stop offers visibility into vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish, and starfish in shallow water. The Menai Bay Conservation Area is home to Indo-Pacific bottlenose and humpback dolphins, though sightings depend on the day and the dolphins' movement.

Can I bring my own snorkeling gear, or is equipment provided?

Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour price, so you do not need to bring your own or rent separately.

What is the baobab tree on Kwale Island, and how old is it?

Kwale Island holds an ancient baobab tree that is over 500 years old. The tree is a landmark on the island where the group stops after lunch before returning to the dhow for the sail back.