Snorkeling Mnemba Island: Dolphins, reef & sea turtles

Mnemba Island's reef and dolphins in one day, plus a natural aquarium of sea turtles

A full-day private snorkeling tour from Zanzibar visits Mnemba Island for reef diving and dolphin spotting, then moves to the Baraka Natural Aquarium to swim with endangered sea turtles, and ends on Kendwa Beach. A guide leads the stops. Pickup, entry fees and water are included. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zanzibar's hidden beaches and marine life

• Swim with dolphins at Mnemba Island
• Snorkel vibrant coral reefs
• Visit Baraka Natural Aquarium
• Observe traditional dhow construction
• Walk through Nungwi Fishing Village market
• Relax on Kendwa Beach

The experience

The day starts early (the driver calls 48 hours ahead with the exact pickup time), because dolphins tend to appear before 8am. You head out on the water with a 90% chance of spotting them, and if they show, you swim alongside them in their natural habitat. After that comes Mnemba Reef, where the snorkeling itself is the point: Angel Fish, Blue Spotted Rays, Black Snappers, Groupers, Red Tooth Triggers, Flounders, Octopuses, Leaf Fish, Scorpion Fish, Stone Fish, Frog Fish and Trevallies move through the water around you.

The Baraka Natural Aquarium is a tidal pool carved from coral bedrock, where the water level rises and falls with the tide and sea turtles live in the conservation lagoon. You swim there and watch the turtles in their habitat. Close by, local craftsmen work on traditional dhow boats, repairing fishnets and sails by hand: a chance to see how the fishing village has built its boats for generations. A walk through Nungwi's fish market rounds out the cultural part of the day.

Kendwa Beach is the final stop, a quiet stretch of white sand and clear water where you can swim or simply sit as the day winds down. The whole tour runs about seven hours, and the guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German depending on your preference.

What’s included

• Private transportation to all stops.
• entry to Kendwa Beach, Baraka Natural Aquarium and Nungwi Beach.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 7h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 135 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

AgesAdult (18 to 34 years) · Senior (35 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Minazi Tour And Safari Co. Ltd

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own group and guide rather than joining strangers, and the pace is yours to set at each stop. The early start and full itinerary suit travelers who want to pack multiple snorkeling sites and cultural stops into one day and don't mind an early wake-up to chase the dolphins.

Traveler reviews

4.76★★★★★★★★★★Excellent41 verified traveler reviews

5 ★35

4 ★4

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★1

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 (8 to 17 years); Child (4 to 7 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What kind of marine life will I see when snorkeling at Mnemba Reef?

Mnemba Reef holds Angel Fish, Blue Spotted Rays, Black Snappers, Groupers, Red Tooth Triggers, Flounders, Octopuses, Leaf Fish, Scorpion Fish, Stone Fish, Frog Fish and Trevallies, among other species. The reef itself is the draw. You're in the water doing the snorkeling, not watching from a boat.

Are we guaranteed to see dolphins on this tour?

Dolphins appear about 90% of the time, and the early pickup is timed to catch them before 8am when they're most active. Nature is free to roam, so sightings aren't guaranteed, but the odds are strong enough that the tour is built around it.

What is the Baraka Natural Aquarium?

The Baraka Natural Aquarium is a tidal pool formed in coral bedrock where sea turtles live in a conservation lagoon. The water level rises and falls with the tide, creating a dynamic habitat you can swim in and observe the turtles up close.

How early do I need to be ready for pickup?

The driver will contact you 48 hours before the tour to confirm the exact pickup time. Early starts are necessary to reach the dolphins before 8am, so expect to leave your hotel in the pre-dawn hours.

What's included in the price?

Entry to Kendwa Beach, the Baraka Natural Aquarium and Nungwi Beach; private transportation for the whole day; bottled water; and all fees and taxes are included. Lunch is not included.