Snorkeling in Zanzibar: Menai Beach & Pungume Island

You'll stand on a sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean and see sea turtles in the water around you.

A full-day snorkeling trip from Zanzibar visits Menai Beach's sandbank, two snorkel sites near Pungume Island, and Kwale Island, with hotel pickup, lunch and equipment included. You swim in shallow waters, explore coral reefs and mangroves, and finish with a sunset cruise where dolphins sometimes appear. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day beach and snorkeling tour

• Enjoy sailing on Indian Ocean
• Relax on powdery sandbank
• Swim in shallow waters
• Sunbathe under Zanzibar sky
• Snorkel near Kwale Island
• Explore fallen baobab tree
• Walk along Kwale beach
• Swim in green lagoon
• Enjoy seafood lunch
• Taste exotic seasonal fruits
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a drive to Menai Beach, where a large sandbank sits in shallow water. You can swim here or simply rest on the sand while the boat crew sets up. If you're new to snorkeling or haven't done it in years, this is where you refresh your skills in calm, clear water before moving to the deeper sites.

From there, the boat heads to two snorkel sites near Pungume Island. The water holds colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, rays and coral formations. At Kwale Island, you'll swim over natural coral reefs and through mangroves. Lunch arrives mid-afternoon: grilled lobster, crabs, squid, octopus and tuna fish prepared with local sauces, followed by seasonal exotic fruits. The final leg is a sunset cruise back toward the coast, with a real chance of spotting dolphins along the way.

The trip runs seven hours total. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, snorkeling equipment is provided, and bottled water is available throughout. Children from age six are welcome. A live guide leads the group in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• snorkeling equipment.
• lunch with grilled seafood and seasonal fruits.
• bottled water.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• entry to the snorkel sites.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared full-day Safari Blue tour at Menai beachGuide in 5 languages · 09:00Includes pickup

Private Safari BlueGuide in 5 languages · 09:00Private Safari Blue: this is for clients who want a private trip; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (25 to 34 years) · Senior (35 and older) · Youth (18 to 24 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Smile Taxi and Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the shared tour if you're happy meeting other travelers and want the full day at a lower price. Book the private option if your group prefers to snorkel alone and set your own pace at each site.

Traveler reviews

4.50★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

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 (18 to 24 years); Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What will I actually see when I snorkel near Pungume Island?

The two snorkel sites near Pungume Island hold colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, rays and coral formations. At Kwale Island, you'll swim over natural coral reefs and through mangroves where hermit crabs move along the bottom.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join this trip?

No. The sandbank at Menai Beach is where you learn or refresh your snorkel skills in shallow water before the boat moves to the deeper sites near Pungume Island.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch features grilled lobster, crabs, squid, octopus and tuna fish prepared with local sauces, followed by seasonal exotic fruits. The meal is served mid-afternoon on the boat.

What time does the day end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The full-day trip lasts seven hours. Hotel drop-off is included at the end, so the boat returns you to your accommodation after the sunset cruise concludes.

Can my six-year-old come snorkeling?

Yes. Children from age six are welcome on the trip. They'll need to be comfortable in the water and able to use snorkeling equipment with supervision.